Real art is basic emotion. If a scene is handled with simplicity - and I don't mean simple - it'll be good, and the public will know it. John Wayne
I had to do an internet search for a good quote on simplicity and to be honest most of them were very wordy, complex and in themselves devoid of simplicity. Like a croissant this adventure has been simplicity itself. Of course, like our friend the croissant it wasn't a simple matter to construct a multi-day bike ride that would have simplicity running through it.
I now understand why some people like photographing food rather than say photographing people; with food you can eat your subject.
I am not actually staying in the town of Lobbes but in the nearby village of Labuissière, though actually I am not even staying there but on a farm close by. My simple plan focussed on the bigger towns on my route though I often stay in a small hamlet nearby where you tend to get more accommodation for less money and a secure garage for bike storage.
This morning over breakfast I reviewed the route and identified 3 sections of path which can be a blessing or a curse and you never know which you'll get so I moved the route around to avoid those. Climbing out of Fumay - a heavy 280m straight up - and I am thinking how very French the hamlets are when I remember that today's route takes me straight into Belgium. This is the southern region of Belgium called Wallonia where the Walloons live and I will finish the day 60km due south of Brussels so still close to the border with France.
Luckily I have tomatoes and bananas left over from my week; it's Monday and even in Wallonia everywhere is closed.
I have a strong suspicion that I have joined a railway embankment and soon come across confirmation in the form of the station building and some old rolling stock.
Another example of the solar system; we saw something similar on the Avenue Verte coming inland from Dieppe.
Today has been another varied day with hedgerows full of birdsong, the occasional cuckoo calling in the distance and a deer, head and body floating on a meadow golden with buttercups.
My directions dropped me outside my accommodation, there was someone to greet me and they opened up the small swimming pool so I could stretch out a bit. It was good to have some time and space to relax and I even got round to cutting my fingernails; you know it's a long bike ride when you have to take nail clippers.