We have tales to tell of a two day trip to Firenze earlier this week, getting back yesterday, but I'll post them out of sequence and put in today's photos today ...
With a poor forecast for the weekend, we had to make good use of the sun today, and decided to tackle another of the mountains opposite us above the Serchio valley - the tree-covered Monte Palodina. The ascent is up from the high shepherds' village of San Luigi, which can be reached by a narrow road.
Te ascent was acceptably easy for our out-of-practice legs, which seem to have been pounding pavements for weeks! It was rewarded with a tree-free summit giving fantastic views over the Apuan Alps, the Appenines and the Garfagnana valley. The tranquility of the scene was punctuated occasionally by the slightly unnerving booming sound of the blasting in the distant marble quarries of Carrara.
For the buffs, Monte Palodina is 1171m (3842ft) high.
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| Breathtaking view of Barga's highest mountain - Pania della Croce, villages of Trasillico and Vergemoli visible on the right |
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Sitting down to lunch - got to get my strength up to
pull Excalibur from the rock! |
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| posing after lunch ... |
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| Barga spread out below us on the other side of the valley |
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| Looking back to San Luigi, our starting point |
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| A mixture of sun and shade on the trees on the way down |
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| Nearing San Luigi again, Monte Gragno behind |
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| The sun setting over Monte Palodina - the pointy one second from left - as seen from our house |
Well done! And what a clear day to be on top of Monte Palodina!
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