(1) On the Sunday we did a series of small peaks on a ridge, from which this view of the Pantani lakes suddenly appeared, with horses and cattle gathered around the tiny lakes (Day 1)
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(2) This marked the summit of Monte Utero (Mount Uterus) which I nicknamed 'a womb with a view' as it had a delightful 360 degree view from the top.
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(3) Another nice view from the ridge.
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(4) Some of the group heading down from one summit and towards the next.
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(5) A carpet of blue flowers on the edge of a wooded area.
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(6) Descending along a track near the woods. The walk today was about 8 miles.
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(7) The walk on day 2 began and ended at the hilltop village of Castelluccio. A feature of this holiday was the wide diversity of wild flowers adorning the mountainsides.
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(8) A section of the Piano Grande, a former lake bed which is nowadays planted with lentils and other crops, forming a colourful patchwork across the huge flat plain.
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(9) The end of the walk as we head up to enjoy an ice cream or drink at Castelluccio (the walk was 10 miles).
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(10) Day 3 and today's walk started and ended at the Hotel Felycita at Frontegnano. Here stunning limestone crags tower above us.
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(11) The track levels out to grass as we head south towards today's objective.
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(12) A view over one of the villages scattered across the area.
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(13) The ridge leading to the summit. Here only 3 of us opted to continue to the peak as a lightning storm was raging about 2 miles to the south.
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(14) Here we are at the summit of Monte Bove Sud (2169m). There was only about enough room on the tiny summit for a small car.
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(15) Heading down on what in winter would be a ski run back to the hotel where I myself had a nice beer. Walk was 6 miles but a lot of ascent and descent.
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(16) Day 4 was a 'rest day' and I decided to walk the 4 mile Norcia to Serravalle route along the old railway line. It was a lovely walk and the weather was perfect.
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(17) The abandoned tunnel just before the end of the line.
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(18) I stopped for a coffee and cake at the cafe across the bridge before setting off back the way I came. I only encountered 5 or 6 people on the way.
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(19) Back in Norcia I took this photo of the town square with the town hall and one of 17 churches found in the town.
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(20) You won't find many civic theatres around the world as pretty as this example near the war memorial.
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(21) Day 5 (Thursday) and today the hard walk group tackles the highest peak of the week - Monte Vettore. There were one or two steep climbs, levelling off, then more.
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(22) Rugged crags with scree fields and patches of snow still unmelted in June.
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(23) Here I am at the summit (2476 metres, which is 7,547 feet).
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(24) At the foot of this peak is a strange dark blue lake which is inhabited by freshwater crustaceans which apparently turn the lake pink in the summer.
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(25) Yet more flowers thriving amongst the limestone. Today's walk was 7 miles, weather absolutely perfect, even on the summit where we had our lunch.
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(26) Day 6 (Friday). Here we filled our bottles at a cascade of cattle troughs. I unblocked one of them (a plumber who charges nothing).
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(27) After a lung busting ascent lasting a good 30 minutes I get to the top of Monti Patino (1886m).
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(28) One of countless attractive views we enjoyed on today's ridge walk which skirted the western edge of the Piano Grande (this is of course the 'big plain' and not a large musical instrument).
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(29) To celebrate the fantastic week with the harder walks group, Andy the leader (hidden), Liam (standing), David and Carolyn (and of course I), enjoy lunch and a cup of sparkling Fonseca below the cross at the top of Monte Patino.
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