Bore da Geoff! Greetings from a Scotsman in exile in Carmarthenshire.
I walked from Canterbury to Rome last year. Began mid-July, reached Rome mid-September. For most of the way through France I walked canal towpaths rather than the waymarked VF. I followed the official trail from Besancon to Rome. A great experience - very varied. For me reaching the Mediterranean was even more special than reaching Rome: as a John Hillaby fan I loved the idea of walking from the North Sea to the Med. You may not have much company in the French section but will almost certainly find fellow pilgrims in decent numbers in Italy. Nothing like the hordes along the
Camino Frances though. A very different pilgrimage experience.
Have you looked at Ivar's other forum dedicated to the VF?:
www.viafrancigena.me You may find other kindred spirits on there too.
Pax et bonum.