Fog as usual. The challenge was to get to Arras 30km along my route. I had shortened my daily distances to max. 25km to be realistic and avoid problems. Public transport into Arras? The original distance to Arras from Caucourt, my earlier planned stop 6-7km further on , was 23.5km so the total would come closer to 30km which I wanted to avoid. Anyway let’s see how it goes. Back on my route and after about 2km on the footpath of The Chausee Brunehaut the D341 main road joined from the left. My own originally planned route was to turn right off the main road. I had now measured the distance to Arras along the straight D341 main road and it was a further 19km. The total distance would be 21km i.e. within my comfort zone. (The short side of an A4 page is 21cm = 21km on a 1:100000 scale map).

It was Saturday, bright sunshine and very little traffic, no lorries on the wide road with a good grass verge. I decided to take the direct D341 route to Arras.

I have passed a couple of places like the restaurant above. They were all old with a big gate. I assume the horses and stage coach stopped inside, so the travellers could embark dry without stepping on to much muck and avoiding the gaze of the locals. Further on, time for a short break on a BENCH ! Outside a cemetery.

But after about 7km on the D341 i.e. still 12km to Arras, I got intense pain in my right big toe and hobbled along to the next cross road. I never had any problems like this before.

After some map reading I found the closest railway station was about 5km to the right. I had to hobble along to it.

Luckily after about 10 minutes I could hear a bus from behind. I stopped, turned around and could read “Arras Gare” on the lit sign on the bus. I waved my walking sticks. The bus stopped. I ran/hobbled up to it. I feared I would have to present some sort of pre-paid card to travel. But I was asked for and paid one Euro and boarded it. Obviously Divine intervention after my previous prayer at the Abbey. God was on my side. It must have passed every village and every school North-West of Arras before passing two Lychees and arriving at Arras station. If you want an education in the countryside you have to travel. I tipped the driver 2euros.

• In spite of the 30km distance, I assumed I could find public transport in the outskirts of Arras and had booked accommodation in Arras the night before.

After 6 minutes of hobbling I arrived at the Hotel Diamant Arras ** at Place des Heros, basic but OK.

My feet are not something of beauty you will see on Roman or classic sculptures. You can buy plaster casts of those on the internet. On my feet, two bunions have developed over the years, but no real problems until now. Anti-inflamatory cream will help, I hope. Rest day in Arras.