Stage 4 - Chatillon to Verres (Part I)

At 06.30, as the moon set and the sun rose over the mountains, I left Aosta station for Chatillon, 

where I retraced my steps and then climbed from the centre of town to the church, looking back towards Aosta.

 From here there was a killer climb up to the Ru, where I walked east along a rocky path, passing vineyards and orchards.

By now fully alert after the climb, I passed through sleeping hamlets with old doggies raising one drooping eyelid at my approach. Along a street of Aleppo pines in St Vincent, I skirted the thermal springs, went under a funicular, and literally sat on the ru to eat my first snack, the bench being positioned on a grille above the water.

Another climb to Cillian, with a tiny chapel, 

then more climbing to Feilley. Just before I reached it, the smell of basil filled my nose, and, looking down to the right, I saw an elderly couple working in their immaculate vegetable plot, the signora picking handfuls of basil.