3 Guînes to Wisques
884m climbing
4h 37m elapsed
20th July 2018, 16°C, drizzle
50.99km
3h 31m moving
51% off-road
Red line - the route I took, Orange line - “official” Via Francigena, Blue line - Sigeric’s probable route
Rain. Rain. Rain.
First up today I yet again missed something I’d travelled within a few metres of. The place where the first Channel crossing (by the aeronaut Jean-Pierre Blanchard and Dr. John Jeffries) in a hot-air balloon landed: there’s a column very close to the entrance to the forest of Guînes that I’d totally missed. The forest was great to cycle, plenty of off-road varied paths and gravel.
Just after is Liques where there’s a few good shops for bread and cheese.
Highlight of the day was perhaps the “big climb” (not much) from Audenfort to Le Val and then shortly afterwards the iconic Chapelle de Guémy.
It rained a lot today. The biggest issue with that is that it turns the previously cement-like clay paths into something as slippery as ice. And with predictable results: just putting on the brakes going down one hill send the back wheel sliding and I lost control. No major injuries but a pretty bloody elbow. Reminder to self: pack a better first aid kit next year.
La Chapelle de Guémy
The Chapelle de Guémy is magical, especially so with the drizzle and lower clouds but still getting the views of the surrounding countryside. Apparently it was a place of worship for druids in the distant past and allegedly restored in 1930.
Lunch unsurpirsingly is cheese and a baguette.
Abbaye Notre-Dame de Wisques
Had a tour of the convent by mother superior. I didn’t really understand much of what she said... lots about random saints and Catholic stuff but we did touch on just how few nuns there were… I think only around 30 in this giant place… with very few youngsters; quite how they’ll survive in the future I don’t know.
I’d booked into the fine hotel down the road and she seemed a bit put off when I said didn’t need a place to stay that night.
Overnight: Wisques, La Sapiniere
Very helpful folks helping me with buckets / cloths to wash the bike down after a day in the mud/clay. Nice enough room in an annex and a great evening meal. Would come again.