D43 Cecinno to St Ambrogia

Posting from my tent tonight - the wonders of modern technology.Riding out of Ceccino a couple of fellow cyclists took me under their wing and soon we were at the cyclists' cafe. Lovely exchange of information with Ivano who runs a cycle tour company and his mate.
Onto Prasena which wasn 't on the planned itinerary but having climbed up the wrong road the bonus led into a relatively isolated valley with a small hilltop town right in the middle.
Fortunately it was lunchtime as I had spotted a sign on the way in advertising local cuisina typica which sounded good. The little town\village felt deserted but after making enquiries I was directed to a restaurant at the top of the town for what was my best lunch of the trip so far.... Bean soup followed by rabbit in olive and sage with aubergine on the side.....to die for. Their range of pickled vegetables was picture worthy I thought though when I shared these pics at a cafe this morning the lad was clearly rather unimpressed and commented it was just as his grandma did.

The afternoon started with a hard slog out of the valley  rewarded by a really special atmosphere - a little Shangri La in Campania as I am learning to call this region stretching North of Naples and intersecting with the Casino valley which heads down eastwards to Rome. The geography is complicated by a series of volcanic outcrops and the fact that the rivers drain South finding there way down to the med between Rome and Naples.

This hexagonal building was at the top of the pass - function obscure - but clearly ancient and reminiscent of the Carolingian chapels previously encountered. Anyway no time for further research - onwards in a swooping descent back down to the main valley and a late well fed push on. 

As the sun dipped I approached a hill town San Ambrogia on a smallish volcanic outcrop and having rejected low lying fields for a wild camp as looking rather mosquito infested I headed up hoping that  I might find some human company and a corner of grass to put  the tent up. Sure enough I spotted a patch of grass as the road wound up to the town just before the first house with a strange welcome display which I figured would shield me effectively in my furtive camp. Even better there a was a mini market where I was greeted warmly by Simone and his wife and was able to resupply and exchange Roma Liverpool banter. Yes Mo Salah was a steal Simone! But you have a pretty good view from your shop mate!