25-07-2015     Norcia → Assisi,   119 km

Copious, virginal breakfast

Another copious breakfast; today I can make a picture of a 'virginal' buffet. I have a chat with Corrado, and later Alberto comes along and confirms that indeed his phone had been in his room . . . under some magazine. I leave Norcia sunnier than I have ever seen it. I go north, which means that in three days I pass by all of the four entries to Norcia. Today I also see the town a bit from above, since the road to the north goes up in some 6 km to the Forca di Ancarano (1008 m).

Norcia on a sunny morning

Norcia 'from above'

Nice morning

in nice Umbrian hills

Another long village list

Going up to

Croce

Happy after rescheduling

No cappu, but a nice view

And a shy companion

Six weeks later Norcia will be in the news in Holland because of the earthquake close by. A quiet road brings me down to the P209, and from there I guess I'll go into the mountains again. I have planned coffee break and bus reservation time in Croce, 3 km up – quite steeply (at least 200 m higher) – from the P209, but the village appears much smaller than I expected. At the village pump, under the scrutinizing eyes of a dog, I do book a seat though in the bus from Tuoro tomorrow. The bus has already left from Amsterdam, but it's okay! Now there's a relief . . . .   Also, the end of the trip is suddenly very near! Coffee isn't near: there is none in Fematre, Riofreddo, Rasenna, Forcella, and neither in Atelloni, Collecurti (in the province of Marche), Voltellina, San Martino, Costa, Corgneto and Cesi!

	The long search		through beautiful Umbria
	for coffee		Happy man
	(which?) village on a hill		Great environment

So when finally, around 13:30 I reach Colfiorito, I take a long lunch break, with coffee/cola, French fries and an omelet with vegetables. And am a bit too late changing to a normal t-shirt . . . .   The region/range between Colfiorito and Nocera Umbra is quite cultivated. Which is good for nice views, also with some dark clouds above the steep hills (no good news!)

Dark clouds approaching

Nocera Umbra

When it starts to rumble and to rain I take shelter in Starvignano (or was it Sorifa). Anyway, the (moderate) thunder and rain don't last, and the rest of the day I will keep it dry. That is, when I don't take into account the sweat that the small road into the Parco del Monte Basio costs me. Ouch!   The P271 from Molina (just north of Nocera Umbra) is much steeper than I expected, and ends in an unannounced pass (Valico di Montemezzo, some 300 m higher than Nocera Umbra).

	Steep hill, just north of N.C.		P271 into the Parco del Monte Basio
	Steep and windy		So that's where they grow these . . . .
	Oh, hey, nice, un passo		Molto giallo descent

From there a lovely descent to Assisi, with near the end a great view unto one of the churches of Assisi. Assisi is wonderful, but not especially suitable for cycling, or rather, not at all: all roads are cobblestoned, and most roads are steep. I find the tourist information (for a map of Assisi) just before closing time, and on the doorstep meet Cosima and her baby boy; two of the German/Norwegian family I met a week before! Even with the map it is hard to find B&B Casa Tua (the house numbers are not very clearly placed), but what a nice place that is! With VERY friendly people. Who propose I join them to (another!) concert, this evening. My room is in a separate apartment two blocks (and two stairs up) away, and has a beautiful view to the south!! I prefer to have breakfast at their place, though. I have to hurry through my last pizza meal to get back to "Casa Tua" from where we three walk (and chat) together to the church where the concert takes place. It is an 'interesting' concert, organ, flute and soprano with a program that is a mixture of modern and renaissance music. It's not very appealing to my ears, so, with the problematic night tomorrow in the bus in my head, I skip it halfway and – not without difficulty – find my way back to 'my' apartment. So, one day to go . . .   That is a pity, but I feel happy too.

First view of one of the basiliche

Assisi

Medieval Assisi

B&B with room for a bike

'My' apartment

'My' view

Walk down

to a restaurant

for a quick pizza