Stage 36a: San Quirico d'Orcia to Gallina. Sunshine, a diversion and more hills. Part 1.

Leaving San Quirico reluctantly, because I've rather fallen for it, I set off up the gradually steepening, but not long, track leading to one of the best viewpoints in this section, at Alto Vignoni, looking across the valley to Rocca d'Orcia, praying I'd not have to climb it. 

It was a glorious day and all was going swimmingly as I came down the long hill by Bagno Vignoni until this point. 

If you are reading this in spring 2023, then do not go this way, because the bridge over the Orcia is closed. Instead go down to the T Junction, turn left, not right, cross the road and find a pedestrian bridge right next to the dangerous road bridge. Follow the road uphill (careful, there's a nasty overgrown grille just as you get to the layby where the barrier stops). At the first junction go right and uphill, and at the bend go straight downhill on the gravel track to pick up the Via again. This diversion is not signed at all.