Another walk. . . .

Planning a walk is a lot less fun than walking the walk.  Monday I fly to Rome and then take a train to Lucca in northern Tuscany.  There I'll join the Via Francigena for a mini-pilgrmiage to Sienna. This week long walklet is the consolation prize I awarded myself when grander plans to walk all the way into Rome collapsed.  I've discovered, though, that planning a short walk is as just about as much a matter of lists, internet searches, various small purchases, etc. as a longer trip.  Especially so in this case, since my walk will be unsupported (except for some good advice from Kate Goad of www.Andaspain.com, who scouted this section of the Via F. in laying plans for the pilgrimage to Rome that didn't happen).  So I've been making hotel reservations, downloading maps, translating the "official" Via F. directions from Italian into English, etc., etc.  I can hardly wait to put all this busywork behind me and start walking. . . .