The day began with a fabulous 7 kilometre freewheel from the Rocca in Montalcino down to the valley of the Asso and the town of Torrenieri.
On such descents you have to forget what might come later - and suppress any doubts that you might be going down the wrong hill.
Beyond Torrenieri the route joins the ancient pilgrim and trade route - Via Francigena - as it wiggles its way towards the small town of San Quirco d'Orcia.
In San Quirco the Bar Centrale in Palazzo Chigi seemed to be an excellent place to stop.
Palazzo Chigi houses the Romanesque Collegiata and has views directly into the 16th Century Horti Leonini.
From San Quirco d'Orcia the route climbs on a strada bianca over a hill into the Orcia valley.
Near the summit a sturdy defensive tower overlooks the hamlet of Bagno Vignoni below.
Below the tower I found evidence that honey really is produced locally.
In italian bees are called ape - which is also the name given to the small 3-wheeled vehicles which are popular for deliveries in narrow urban streets.
Wasps of course are called vespas.
At the top of the hill views open up along the Val d'Orcia.
More hill top towns appear, including Pienza which is to be the target for tomorrow.
Many of the towns have tower cranes rising above them - a sign of much development activity.
On entering Bagno Vignoni the first priority was to find a cafß .
La Bottega di Cacio had shade and a range of both drinks and snacks.
Bagno Vignoni is sited where warm sulphur laden springs arise.
The Medici constructed a Renaissance piscina here which has recently been restored.
A small group of hotels and restaurants surround the open air bath into which a regular supply of sulphurous water is delivered.
Below the formal Piazza the warm water is conducted through channels where the public can soothe their feet - or if they are prepared for a walk can bathe in pools at the base of the cliff.
Bagno Vignoni seemed to be a centre for cycling - there is a bike hire shop and lots of people were arriving and setting off on rather exotic racing machines.
Kirby James
