As we talked to the pilgrims we met yesterday who are travelling opposite direction, they encouraged us not to push on too far today but take an easy day and prepare for the pass coming up over the next two days. I think their real motivation was to share a gem of the VF with us. Sister Maria from Togo in Africa is one of two sisters who live and work at a Centre for Spirituality attached to the Church of Fornovo del Taro. Don Mario the parish priest met us at the 8th century church and drove us 2 kms up the hill to the retreat centre where we were given a warm welcome, our own hermitage cottage and served an amazing lunch and dinner this evening. Sister Maria laughs and smiles non stop. Her joy is quite infectious and had us all feeling great very quickly. The walk was only 11 kms so we are now feeling more ready to tackle 21 kms of mountain pass climbing tomorrow. The hostel in the next stop point does not seem to open or functioning so we have resorted to a small country hotel for the evening. I am aware from the books that many of the mountain hostels close at the end of September due to the weather. Thankfully it looks OK at this stage but it could be wet and cold over the top in two days. Sister Maria has offered to make us breakfast before we leave so it is now off the bed ready for an early rise and shine.
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