DAY 24 REST DAY IN WISQUES

The Hotellerie Saint Charles, a former hunting lodge in the grounds of the Abbaye de Notre Dame on top of the hill, is perfect for our planned rest day (we promised ourselves no more than five days marching without a day’s rest). Its faded grandeur belies its level of comfort, with large rooms and tall ceilings. The window of our room looks out over the garden and the plains below, toward Saint Omer.

There are seven rooms, a well equipped kitchen and adequate bathrooms. Occupying the upstairs rooms is a group of university students, taking advantage of the calm and quiet to revise for exams. All four are studying English and are keen to practice on us. How ironic that we should walk all this way and not be able to get a French word in edgeways! Evening meals are taken in the Abbaye, though not with the nuns, and we don’t have to be silent!

LAbbaye de Notre Dame

At lunchtime we gave ourselves a treat at the Hotel-Restaurant La Sapiniere, just around the corner. We’ve stayed here on a number of previous occasions when on our way south from the Tunnel with the car. The Waterzoi d’egelfin (haddock) was especially good.

Finding accommodation ahead has not always proved as easy as we’d hoped, but Soeur Lucie, who runs the lodge, has been especially helpful with recommendations and contacts. Tonight we plan to attend Compline after supper.

The weather is soft but grey. Tomorrow’s forecast? Snow! Oh well, we’ll cope.

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