Bruay le Bussiere to Arras – 34 km

June 4-5, 2022

We walked through sunshine and pouring rain. On the way out of Bruay le B. a car stopped to ask if we were lost. “We are on the Via Franchigena to Rome”, I said. “Eh bien, continuez tout droit et prenez la troisieme a droit au round-point.” So we got lost, It took us another hour to get out of town, but on the way into Arras an elderly lady came to us and asked if we were Pilgrims, “Nous marchons jusqu’a Rome” I replied. “Bon voyage, je prierai pour vous. ” So we have that going for us.

Luigi, our unlikely Italian traveling contemporary, called us mid day to warn that the path mid way to Arras was an impassible, muddy mess. We were able to detour around it. Luigi, a 73 year old traveling alone with a back pack, is on his 6th Pilgrimage. “Why do you do this”, I asked, “Because I want to walk” he replied without a tinge of sarcasm.

Arras is a pleasant surprise. The city, which was completely destroyed in the Battle of Arras (1917), was rebuilt from the ground up in its original Flemish/Dutch style. Great public squares, a spectacular City Hall and Cathedral, lively scene. We are 2 days in Arras.