Thursday 28th April - Chips and ketchup... lovely!!

A bit of a chilly night saw me awakening at 7 AM, having breakfast of bread and jam, and making sandwiches of pate and cheese with what was provided for us the night before. We swept up and were ready to leave our little 'salon' just before 9 am.

 









It wasn't as cold today as other days, however it was chilly and misty and we set off just as the local children were getting the school bus and wishing us 'bonjour' in a very friendly way! 
What a nice friendly place for a pilgrim to start from... 

As we travelled back onto the Roman road the only other thing moving in the town were the farmers on their tractors going out to do something with their crops

We were making good progress across the undulating countryside with our road stretched out ahead of us.. and behind

We have been given a map by Micel the day before, which cut down our journey distance and gave us in the main a lovely quiet route for all day... One of the points to take note of was a large farm with a very welcoming sign outside

We were making great time through Donnement, and into Braux... All small, silent villages! 

In Braux we found some benches at the side of the football pitch and stopped for an early lunch in the midday sun shine

even managing to fill our water bottles from the toilets that were left open! 
Another few kms later we arrived in Rosnaya l'hopital, where finally we found a bar open! We were quickly inside ordering a drink of tea and coffee and a big plate of chips with tomato ketchup! 
It was the first commercial premises we found open since Monday!
 
We then pushed on through the village seeing some quite expensive looking houses behind rather large gates:

and again along quiet roads seeing various churches as we passed along although all were closed 

The weather had been great all day in fact as the afternoon wore on it was hotter and hotter and we were flagging a bit, as we started to near our goal Brienne Le Chateaux!! 

Suddenly we were there quickly into the outskirts of town and then at our hotel which had been arranged for us the day before Hotel des Voyageurs - travellers hotel!! 
I can see the Château on the hill in the centre of the town I'm not sure whether I'll get any closer to it

I've got a nice big double room; I'm not sure how much it will cost me, however I've been able to wash all my dirty clothes and hopefully they will dry before tomorrow... 

A good day's walk: 23 kms! 

I may be going even further tomorrow however time and weather will tell!