Day 4 - Gambassi Terme to San Gimignano

 Another super breakfast before setting off for San Gimignano, via the Gambassi Terme village where we bought piazzette for lunch. We were only three kilometres away from Sant' Ilario when the rain came crashing down and our road ran like a river. We huddled under an inadequate shrub for twenty minutes until it eased enough to go on. Time to get out the trekking pole.

More beautiful scenery, wineries open for tastings and mud. We stopped for a break and took off our ponchos but before we had eaten our dried fruit and nuts the rain had returned.

On we went through  a variety of terrains, but wet long grass with a muddy base was a particular favourite.

We have not been passing through any villages but today we came to Pancole and visited the Sanctuary. We got another stamp in our pilgrim passport and visited their almost life size 'presepe', nativity scene.

Then after climbing endless hills with spectacular views of perfect Tuscan countryside, past beautiful houses and many small holiday accommodations, we finally got our first glimpse of San Gimignano. 

All day we had been following several sets of foot prints and one bike. About 5 kms out  of San Gim. we lost those prints despite the GPS indicating that we were on the right path. Once it turned rough and waterlogged we decided to return to the main road and take the better, if not original, path.

We entered through the medieval gate and stopped at the first place with seats available. Today I toasted Sigeric (or Sig, as Kel calls him) with a Coke no sugar! San Gimignano is a thriving tourist attraction and there were sooo many people. After the silence of the past few days it was a bit shattering.

But maybe we shattered their day by our appearance. Footwear not quite so muddy as yesterday but wet hair and strange clothing. We certainly looked out of place.

This is the altimetric profile for today from our GPS. See us arriving at the end!

These boots were in a shop window nearby. Love them, but don't think they would be very successful on the trail.

The Hotel La Cisterna is perfectly located only metres from the Duomo. When we checked in we were told that our room was in the tower. Our second tower in three days, I might start feeling like a princess. Great views too!

The hotel has a restaurant and that was about far enough away for us. An Aperol Spritz, a bottle of sparkling water and a pizza and I was ready for bed.