Follow the Mountains : Italy - Day 9: Clouds on Monte Panormo and lots of paved roads

Wednesday, May 18, 2022

Italy - Day 9: Clouds on Monte Panormo and lots of paved roads

Todays highlight was Monte Panormo (1742 m), which I walked up this morning. Clouds were blown over the peak, but I also had really good views.

Also the paths were beautiful, often I was qalking through a carpet of Bärlauch, clearly indicating the trail.

After lots of down on switchbacks, I ended up in Sicignano degli Alburni, where I bought a package of italian biscuits in a small alimentari. I really like them, the only problem is that they come in 400 g packages (or even larger) and it takes a lot of discipline, not to eat them all in one go, which wouldn't be a problem at all for me.

I knew the next bit wouldn't be great, passing the highway and nearly all the time walking on paved roads. And while there were still clouds in the morning, when I was in the forest, in the afternoon the sky was blue above me and I was sweating like crazy.

Another short walk through Contursi Terme, picking up some water from the public fountain and then I was close to the highway again, which I will also hear tonight...

However, the road walking wasn't as bad as I expected and the people of the Sentiero Italia really tried to take quiet roads whenever possible. Already before 5 p.m. I decided, that I have seen enough roads and that I save the last 14 km of roadwalk for tomorrow morning, when it is cooler ;)

I nearly forgot: the advantage of being not even 100 m above sea level and sweating like crazy is, that I found the first ripe cherries and mulberries today!!!!