It started overcast and dreary, with rain overnight. Until yesterday we had enjoyed beautiful blue skies and warmth since our arrival in Italy on September 13, twelve days ago. However, our walking confidence had been shaken when Anne had trouble with her right hip and left knee against strong winds on out first full scheduled walking day leaving Milan.

Since then, Ed has patiently arranged for rest and rides, including a great deal of kindness from strangers (see posts “Struggling above rice fields” and “Encouragement and help.”) Then we gradually tried walking 6 km one day, then ten km, and yesterday, 16 km.

Today we took two local trains, breaking our journey to look around Parma, famous for outstanding ham and cheese, as well as a Benedictine monastery (more on that in another post) and a beautiful pink and white Baptistery next to the cathedral.

Disembarking from the second train at Fornovo de Taro, we faced a lengthy uphill climb of an hour to our B&B La Vecchia Quercia (“The Old Oak”) with dramatic views over the almost-dry Fiume Taro far below. It is a charming old farmhouse and our hostess, Manuela, is sending delicious aromas out from the kitchen as we wait for dinner. (Thank goodness we don’t need to go down and up the hill to eat!)

Tomorrow’s forecast is again for cool temperatures and showers. We look forward to a steep uphill climb for ten km. Ed says he figures that tomorrow will be our most challenging day for climbing. “We shall see,” he says. We shall pray. Stay tuned.

AGAIN we share news of a loss of which we just learned: Paul Hullar, a son of Ed's oldest sister, Margery, passed away unexpectedly a few days ago. He was only 60 years old.  Paul's mom, Margery, known as Margie, was named after Ed's mother. Margie was the first of the ten siblings in Ed's family to pass away (from ovarian cancer, 20 years ago). With Bill's recent passing,  only five of the ten siblings are still living. 

We pray for Paul and the family.