Up to the Porticciola

In 2012, our first high level walk was this hike up from Renaio to the pass called La Porticciola (the little door).  We have been there several times since, once to climb farther to the neighbouring summit of Monte Giovo (1991 m, 6530ft).  This time there was still too much snow, so we contentd ourselves with the col, and the chance to look over to the Emilia-Romagna side, where lie Modena, Parma and Ferrara - all of which we have visited this year.

We stopped at Pegnana to enjoy this meadow of  an unknown clover which
produces beautiful intense red flowers

It's hard to stop enthusing about the beech trees in their new spring garb ...

As we emerged from the tree-line, we were amazed to find drifts of crocuses still
blooming among the juniper and late snow patches

More crocuses ... 

... and yet more

Monte Giovo on right, and the peaks of Emilia Romagna at the left

A walk around Cascio

Yesterday, we decided to try for an easy walk, on a path from the village of Cascio, down to the slightly bigger village of Molozzana.  We have a soft spot for Cascio - we visited a chestnut festival there on our first day here in 2012.
However, the lady running the cafè warned us that the path is all overgrown now. So we had to be content with a general ramble around the village.

Both villages can be seen across the valley - to the trained eye!

Bill among a host of an unidentified flower

And in close-up - suggestions welcome!

... photographs don't do the meadows justice

Perhaps aerial shots are better ...

Ox-eye Daisies- Burns would have called them Gowans ...

Some public-spirited soul had left two chairs outside the metato ...

A hike on the Saltello road

For four years, we have been aware of the Saltello road - an ancient road which joined the Garfagna to Modena, passing over the Appenine range.  Yesterday, we took the car to Capraia, and set off among the beech forest, now in full young leaf, along this road which is spectacularly well preserved in many parts.

For those in the know, we were hoping to get to the Basso del Saltello, but only managed as far as the Basso della Barca.  The word "saltello" implies jumping, and "barca" suggests boats.  Needless to say, neither of these were involved in our very enjoyable tramp.

Our two mountains - the Pania della Croce and Pania Secca seen from Sillico
on the way to Capraia

Unknown purple orchid at Sillico

Unknown pale yellow orchids at Sillico

Pale yellow orchid close-up

Looking over the Garfagnana valley ...

Barbara in front of he same scene ...

The road

On the road ...

... on the road again

That pesky selfie stick ...

On the way back - the walled town of Castiglione in the distance

Flowers and shepherds ...

Barbara has always wanted to visit Monte Croce because it is known for its wonderful display of giunchiglie.  Giunchiglia, is presumably our word jonquil, but the flower is really a version of our pheasant's eye narcissus.  We knew that the full show would be in May, but we were also assured by the landlady of the cafe in Palagnana that we would not see any this early in the season.

How frustrating then to see the leaves all over the hill as we neared the summit, with quite a few nearly open flower buds, but, as we had been assured, no flowers.  However, as we descended, and again reached civilisation, we met up with a friendly shepherd (and his five dogs!).  He said that in May, the giunchiglie grew so abundantly, that the hill looked as it was covered in snow.  But then he thought he had seen a few early ones ... And strolling only a few yards, was able to show us not just one, but several clusters of the fragrant flowers.  Beautiful.  Back down at the cafe, the landlady was incredulous - but Barbara was able to show the proof, as the shepherd had casually picked one and presented it to her!

Cowslips grew abundantly among the limestone rocks

The beech trees show off their wonderful new leaves in the sunshine

Interesting old boundary stone marking the border between the Grand Duchy
of Tuscany and the territory of the Este family (bigwigs of yore)

Old shrine showing a beautiful grown-wood lintel at the front ...

The shepherd and Barbara chat about flowers ...

... and there they are!

Finalmente - Monte Croce

Monte Croce is the last of the mountains opposite Barga which we haven't climbed.  It is quite a long drive, and in winter the roads on that side of the valley are very dark and gloomy.  However, a late snowfall kiboshed plans of doing the climb until the recent thaws.  Monday was our lucky day ...

The driving was on spectacular (and rather scary) roads to a little village called Palagnana (with a cafe!) where we picked up the CAI (Club Alpino Italiano) path.  The countryside was idyllic in the spring weather, and the going was easy until a rocky gorge known as Le Scalette (The Ladders).  Near the top of this, there are rock-cut steps, and a chain is provided for safety.  Above this , we were backin sunlit woodland, until we emerged onto grassy meadow up to the summit - very like a climb in Scotland.  The summit is at 1314m (4311ft).

The first stretch of CAI path No.8

At the spectacular Foce delle Porchette, where we get our first glimpse of the sea ...

Mystery mountain looking south

Bill scales Le Scalette

Barbara uses the chain to tackle Le Scalette

Made it!

"Path only for Expert Hikers" - that would be us then?

Barbara at the summit (where Scottish mountains have
a trig point - Italian hills have a cross ...)

The spectacular twin peaks of the Pania della Croce (which we have climbed)
 and Pania Secca (which we haven't - too hard!)

The distant Appenines, seen across the wide valley of the Serchio.
The tree-line ids just visible below the snowy peaks.

Bill surveys the Panie

The Tyrrhenian Sea peeps out under the cloud in the centre

Cake at Boghi and Dino's

The other day we were invited down to our neighbour's for afternoon tea ...

Boghi enjoys whipping the cream ...

Bill enjoys licking the beaters ...

Dino and his Mum Teresa enjoy the warm day out on the terrace

Bye Bye Betty ...

On Friday we went for an overnighter to Pisa, as Betty's plane was pretty early, and we had to get up at half-past four - gulp!  Everything went according to plan and we got a text from Betty from the Jedburgh bus before we got home ourselves!

Our hotel had a room with a view ...

It turned out that Pisa was having a garden fair, and there were flowers everywhere!