Stage 26b: Pietrasanta to Camaiore. The end of my Via. (Part 2).

Then alongside a pleasant waterway, on quite a long section entering Camaiore, another very pleasant town, stuffed with history, where I easily found a stamp in the Commune, (top left of the square) which may be a lesson learnt too late.

Only 11km, but my foot was very painful by the end, and I felt low, finally coming to the acceptance that it won't be possible for me to complete the last leg to Lucca, as my foot won't take any weight and that stage is logistically challenging, apart from being 24km, with two steep climbs. So it's the end of the road and the Via for now, with at least 440km under my belt since Ivrea, possibly more if you count those notched up on transfer days and evening strolls. Lucca will have to wait until next time...

Stage 26b: Pietrasanta to Camaiore. The end of my Via. (Part 1)

A difficult day, both physically and emotionally.  

The foot still at odds, and dosed up with Ibuprofen, I set off through Pietrasanta's main street, onto country roads and passing a sculpture works. 

Then up a tunnel of trees, 

Winding through hamlets perched above the seaboard.

If you can read it, the bit at the bottom of the board is a splendid example of why you should always get a native speaker to do your translation.

Pontremoli and Pietrasanta. Transfer day.

First class passenger pigeon?

I didn't take any photos of Pontremoli, the name of which means something like "wobbly bridges", because of the many rope bridges that there used to be when the town was surrounded by shifting estuaries, or so one local informed me. It is full of tall palazzi, their doorways giving tantalising glimpses into graceful central courtyards, and cool winding streets between. There are also numerous stone bridges and green spaces by the river. It has seen better days, however, and I wasn't captivated.

My apartment also suffered from noisy 24 hour engineering works, except on Sunday, which diminished my enjoyment of the place.

On then to Pietrasanta, a lovely town, famed for its maquette museum and centre of the sculpture industry, with casting workshops two-a-penny, no doubt evolved from the still healthy marble industry in them thar hills.

A lovely setting, and central square, with quirky giraffe sculptures, and a good deal of civic sculpture on display, including one outside my front door.