Cammino di Assisi

Well, the Camino di Assisi started slightly inauspiciously. I found Don Alfeo at the Dovadela Refuge & registered my presence etc, & was given the promised detailed maps & instructions for following the Cammino. In Italian! Apparently he had no English instructions. That was rather daunting to say the least but I decided to write out each day's instructions in a handy notebook (thanks Annalisa!) from an email I was sent by the Cammino some months ago.

The 1st day I was walking well until I became unsure of the way. The last Cammino sign I had seen was kilometres back. Then I hit a main road not in the instructions so stopped at a restaurant to ask the way. I was about 10km in the wrong direction! With the help of the people in the restaurant, 2 friendly bus drivers & a random man who gave me a lift I reached the 1st refuge. I had a good night there, nice family, good meal, & slept well. Optimistic me!

I set out on the 2nd day walking well, climbing well, a bit steep but I could do it, reached the summit, took some photos & then descended that mountain. I was a bit worried about the next as it was a much higher climb. Then I found that I was a lot too slow on the 1st one, arrived at the first stop about 2 hours late. I had got lost twice but just about .5km each time, not so bad. I decided it would take way too long to climb that next mountain at my speed so I cheated & got a ride to the next refuge! Which according to my instructions was near a statue of Padre Pio. Which it wasn't! Finally found the refuge with a lot of help, totally somewhere else, & with my confidence in the instructions shattered decided to stay an extra night.

I had found my backpack was way too heavy, about 11kg, totally my fault & main reason I was slow, so I posted about 5 kg off to Assisi to the hotel I'll be staying at there. Helpful lady at the Post Office rang the hotel to expect & hold the parcel.

Some pilgrims were to come the next day so I was hopeful I would be able to walk with them & not get lost. But they were Austrian women used to the high mountains & walking at about 5-6 km per hour. My speed is about 4-4.5 km on the flat. Not a chance. I was told I had to decide about continuing then as the next 4 days were harder, higher, longer, etc, with no way back except hiking. No buses, no taxis, etc. So I stayed in Premilcuore at the refuge till today, did some short walks & checked out the town. (More on my time in Premilcuore in my next post)

I have now returned to Forli to sightsee & slowly make my way to Assisi to resume my plans. So my slowness, probably too limited hill training, a too heavy pack, & possibly out-of-date instructions combined to undermine my confidence, drat it. We live & learn!

I am undaunted though. Next time I will do the easier option with luggage help & proper instructions!