VIb.34    Section Passo Chiapparino - Passo del Bocco   18km

Once I had settled down in the chapel I had a good nights sleep. Breakfast in the morning and on I went on the last section of hiking to Passo del Boco. It became a cloudy day with the mountain tops covered in clouds. I decided to hike along the gravel and later paved roads to todays destination. It staid dry but it was another cool day. Some time past lunch I arrived at the pass and went to the bar we had been almost a month ago. Here I was recognised and asked: Where is your fellow American hiker? I explained and was surprised they now had an Austrian server. Her speaking German of course helped a lot. I learned from her that the bus we had been waiting for did not run that day. Also the bus does never stop at the bus stop we had been waiting at. She gave me a ride to Santa Maria del Taro where I bought a ticket for the bus. I went to Bedonia where I had to change buses to continue to Borgo Val di Taro. The train to Parma was out of service and replaced by a bus to Ghiare di Berceto. From here to Parma I could finally take the train.

In Parma I had booked a room near the station for the night. Being in Parma I bought some Parmesan cheese and some Parma ham to take home. Than I booked my train ride back home via Milano and Basle to Hamburg. Luckily I went north as the train service south from Parma was stopped due to the torrential rains and subsequent flooding. I heard that 16 people where cilled in the floods.

The train ride back home went smoothly. In hindside this was another nice hike along E1. While hiking I felt some parts need a lot to be desired for hiking and the weather could have been better (drier and warmer). To complete the E1 I have to hike the part from Cittaducale to Reggio Calabria in mainland Italy and then finally Sicily. Well, another year another goal.

Staying for the night inside the chapel at Passo Chiapparino

The chapel at Passo Chiapparino

View along E1

Cloudy day short of Passo del Bocco

Passing through Santa Maria del Taro on my way to Parma