Day 4, Wissant to Guines, Wednesday Feb. 23

No more bacon and eggs. Breakfast this morning was a very large cup of cafe au lait and an entire loaf of very fresh and crusty French bread, butter, cheese and jam. Quite enjoyable, if not particularly healthy.

Then outside where there were the first few drops of light rain. Knowing that the forecast was for more rain later in the morning, we put all our rain gear on. Good move. The rain gradually got steadier and steadier.

We said goodbye to the sea (although its gray was indistinguishable from the gray of the sky) and proceeded inland. We won't see the sea again until Rome – well, not really even then.

Today's route was all secondary road through rolling farmland. Easy going. The rain got heavier and the wind stronger. But by 1 pm we were at our destination and enjoying a hot shower in a warm room. With WiFi.

Dinner was superb: Carbonnade Flamande. You can feel the influence of Flanders. Well, of course this was Flanders in the Middle Ages. You can see it in a lot of the place names, as well as the cuisine -- and the beer.

15 km, 3 ½ hours.