Orio Litta - Piacenza - Fiorenzuola 22 + 32 km, 26 and 27th of September

Yesterday we had to take a boat on the Po river to get across. The ferryman Danilo does this only for pilgrims and he takes us over the water to his house some 2,5 km down stream. It was misty and the water was very quiet so it was  a comfortable trip with 7 other pilgrims that meet each other all the way. At his house the ferryman told us the tale of Sigeric who was the first Frankish bishop to make this journey albeit the other way around from Rome to Canterburry in 992 AD. Sigeric was the first to document this route in detail and that's why it is called the way of the Frank's. Via Francigena. 

It was otherwise a good day for walking through the fields and on the dikes of the rivers in the area. Only the last 6 or 7 km into Piacenza were busy with heavy traffic and the temperature was high. I was fortunate to get a hike into town by car by a friendly person who rattled on in Italian like I understood it all 😀 I had a good BnB in the centre and a good nights rest.

To day we walked mainly on asfalt through large industrial areas leaving Piacenza. A bit boring one might say. Also half of these 32 km we had to walk along a local highly trafficked highway, SS9 between Piacenza and Parma, so needles to say we didn't like it and some of us got ourselves a hike for a good stretch so as to be done with it and walk on through the large heavy clay fields of which many now have been plowed. Amazing how large all these fields are. I forgot to mention that I somehow have managed to catch a cold somewhere this week and walk around coughing with a slight fever, a headache and a running nose. Not ideal in this heat.

In addition it is difficult to find accommodation so things are not looking great at the moment. I suppose pilgrims have to suffer a bit. I'll see how I get on .

As I couldn't find accommodation in the next place I will deviate a bit from the route to spend the night in a Spa Hotel. Still a 6 hr walk. I might stay there one more night  if possible to recuperate from my cold. Anyway, the Appenines can now be seen on the horizon and I look forward to crossing them.

Have a good night ( even if I don't)