Walk. And rest day.

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Opportunity to have a warm bath. Two days without and my body required that! On the scales I am a trim 77.5kg and have covered 107.9kms on foot since leaving Canterbury on Wednesday morning. But I read somewhere that back weight ratio should be only 15% of body weight. So I might have to really send back some items to get the optimum weight down to 11.675kgs including boots, water, food and warm layers.

This village is Labuissièrre on the IGN and it has an ancient church - Saint Martin. I am not too far from Vimy Ridge which I missed in 2014. So perhaps it would be necessary to visit the site of the trenches - get a feel for the horror of trench warfare. It is not in the village, but to the South West. When I head north again. The war was such a horrible consequence of the ego. Which side was God on in this conflict? To see an image of a whole trench of dead Germans killed in an instant. We are not made aware often enough. Just two minutes once every year! It just isn't enough. Every school child should be brought to the front to remember to forget war!

Michelle and I had a nice dinner together and I got to finish Robinson Crusoe. Which has a little barbaric at the conclusion, with the killing of the bear for sport although I understand defence again the wolves. On the path yesterday I took a wrong turn and suddenly was upon two gentlemen with guns come to shoot ducks, pigeons or anything on wing. I disturbed their culvert and so probably saved the life of some clueless fowl?

It is time to sleep and consider Monday my rest day as I head to Arras via Bethune on the train. Setting off again on Tuesday at eight, on foot, for Bapaume. The weather appears to be better.

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Stunning absolutely stunning! I could eat no more food! It is the most I have eaten since I set off. At the Monastery Saint Claire they have me a bed, washed my clothes and provided me with footwear so I wouldn't be cold at the dinner table. But the food! Soup, green beans, beetroot, mashed potato and confit of chicken. I had half a bird and a pile of vegetables! That was missing from my journey so far! The mid way meal. Why wasn't I stopping for a plate of the day when I had the chance? So thoughtless to walk on an empty stomach. This is an error of my progress! I don't need to hurry when I can stop and be rescued by glorious gourmand.

Now it's the time for a siesta! I need for nothing on my rest day - not even slippers.

...

Amazingly deep sleep! I definitively needed that full belly. Was awoken by the travalier who is fixing a hole where the rain gets in. Now I've returned to the place des Héros for a much needed biére of the artisans - Paix Dieu. Too strong for refreshment. It is getting busy as folks come out to enjoy the sun. Chilly but azure. A family are next to me on under the arcade of pillars at a quarter to four drink coffee. It is only Monday. But really the day doesn't matter because I have many Achilles heels. Another beer please man from Congo!

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