Via francigena 2017 - Page 5

Ivrea - Santhià (34 km)

The path led through the suburbs of Ivrea out into the green, sparse forests, meadows and cornfields alternate with small villages. After Piverone the way led in the blazing sun for a long time along the road, so that we had to take a break in the bar. Then it went on over dirt roads past kiwi and vine plantations, at some point we saw the Lago di Viverone. After the village of Viverone we rested at a wash place, before it went on to Cavaglia.

Originally we wanted to spend the night in the local pilgrim hostel, but due to the increasing heat we decided to walk until Santhià, because tomorrow's route is shorter. Continuing on dirt roads, we reached Santhià already quite exhausted, the heat had been bad today. We stood only briefly before the pilgrim hostel, as the cafe owner came from across the street with the key. Friendly we were checked in and the hostel had everything a pilgrim needs. As a thank you we spent the evening in his cafe, from the church in the square sounded wonderful organ music.

Santhià - Vercelli (33 km)

In the morning we first ran into town to a cafe, breakfast must be. Then it went on the main road out of town. There followed forever long dirt roads, past rice and corn fields. No more hills in sight, blazing heat, mosquitoes. Vercelli is considered the European rice capital. The rice-growing area, the Lomellina, consists of farms (Cascina) and endless mosquito-infested fields. Against the mosquitoes one settled special dragonfly species here, this was also noticeable on the way.

Where countless colorful dragonflies circled around us, the pests were kept within limits. Rarely we passed through small, almost deserted villages. In one of the latter, Montonero, we first had to cool off for half an hour in the shade of a churchyard. Afterwards we went to the lively town, the accommodation was a bit outside the center. Not particularly friendly was one here, also the rooms and the location were rather bad. At least the supermarket was around the corner.

So Manu ran back into town while I went shopping. In the evening I slayed felt 100 mosquitoes and then could not sleep after all, too warm, still surviving mosquitoes, terrible 😕.