Another huge breakfast allowed us to also make lunch again for there will be no shops on the way.
Our walk seems to be more well known as villages become smaller and walkers more noticeable. This makes it easier to get directions not only for our walk but to certain shops and sleeps.
The endless torch seems to slip in and out of its fast flowing grey/white cover aided by that huge gusty breath. Early on it was very helpful as it pushed us along saving our legs for some predicted rises. Later it whipped across our faces and pushed us from side to side. Then it stopped us like a wall as we altered direction.
The people-high canola oil plants, like a flood of sunshine, swayed gracefully as they contrasted to the lower grain plants and the newly ploughed earth. Small pockets of forest dotted the countryside and gave us reprieve from nature’s very cold breath.
Passing through peaceful villages in between mostly farmland we saw few people, while I can’t remember seeing even 1 walker – a meditative track if ever I saw one. A couple of tractors were the only life out there besides clumps of friesian cows, a collie, some hidden barkers, a hare and a nearly dead road-daring duck.
A gorgeous path-hugging hedge led us into Wisques and our huge new home, ‘Abbaye Notre Dame’, a breathtaking establishment. Sister Lucie, was a gust of fresh air with her joyfulness and pleasure of meeting us as she moved so quickly and gracefully taking us on a tour of our ‘rooms’.
First the dinner place, a 2 minute jog to our quarters (huge bedroom with lounge chairs, a kitchen with everything and breakfast, upstairs bathroom, a lounge area with a library, and a tulip garden surrounded by exotic trees and tantalising views. Three students have the upstairs while the ground floor is all ours.
We finally leave the sun and the wind outside to do us a big favour, to prepare our newly washed clothes for tomorrow’s journey.
