---
title: 'Before the Heat Arrives'
date: '2026-09-05 08:30'
template: entry
published: true
hero_image: ''
lat: 43.078
lng: 11.676
location_city: Pienza
location_country: Italy
weather_temp_c: 21
weather_desc: Sunny
---

Six o'clock and the valley below Pienza is still in shadow. We left camp early on purpose — the route to Siena is long and September sun waits for no one. On the strade bianche the tyres make a sound like distant applause. No cars for the first two hours. Just the road and the light doing things to the cypress trees that would be embarrassing to describe in any other context.