VIA FRANCIGENA | Day 4

Wisques to Auchy-au-Bois, 28.4 km

Woke up at the abbey and had breakfast at 8:00 am with the nuns and a mother and her daughter walk a stretch of the via Francigena. Café con leche and toast.

Soon I was back to familiar sights on the countryside. Hydrated by a haystack. French dogs don’t seem to like me very much. Found a misfired bullet in a field, and a few more war memorials.

A chocolate croissant at the local bakery and a beer later at Café Jeux and I was feeling in good spirit.

Today I took out cash and waited half an hour for the mini-market owner to come back from lunch. Belly full, stocked up with supplies I set up the trolley to dry my clothes and headed back on the country roads.

Not an open church insight or a working water fountain but plenty of farm life. I came across a night’s templar theme hotel ideal to cut the day short but it was fully booked. Made a wrong turn and came across a windmill farm, definitely the highlight of the day.

A hot tub at the hotel was a close second thanks of course to my mom’s donation. A boutique hotel full of surprises.

Finally got rid of the UK power adapter.

Accommodations

"Helfaut"

Camping étang Henri Holland

0321938056

campingpechedesgenets@gmail.com

"Lumbres"

Chambres d'hôtes ferme de laby

0321397893

route de Niellesles-Bléquin

Le Moulin De Mombreux

0321986872

70 Chemin de Mombreux

moulindemombreux.com

lemoulindemombreux@gmail.com

"Thérouanne"

Hôtel Bal

0321356590

500rue Du vieux Château

hotel-bal.com

contact@hotel-bal.com

Gîte Eden

0321932313

0680107907

30 Grand Rue

lamaisonpresdumoulin@laposte.net

Chambres d'hôtes: la maison près du moulin

0321932313

3 rue du moulin

Chambres d'hôtes

0321356056

30 rue de Valenciennes

henri.lysensone@orange.fr

"Auchy-au-bois"

Les Cohettes

+33 3 21 02 09 47

+33 6 07 06 65 42

rue de Pernes

www.lescohettes.fr

lescohettes@gmail.com

La Ferme de la Vallee

+33 3 21 25 80 09

13 Rue Neuve

http://www.lafermedelavallee.com

brigitte.de-saint-laurent@wanadoo.fr