How many bank holidays are really necessary in May?

Day 17 Thursday 13th May
Laruns to Bruges 22 Miles

Up very efficiently at 5.40am and at the bus stop in good time for the
bus down the valley to make today a manageable distance. It leaves at
6.25 every day - except Sundays and Bank Holidays! So, not today. By
the time I realised, the Gite d'etape was back in darkness so there
was nothing for it but to start walking, and to keep walking. It got
light quite quickly, it started raining even more quickly.
Retracing my steps down the valley didn't fill me with enthusiasm but
2 hours later I'd walked over 7 miles and was just beyond the point
I'd left 48 hours earlier. Walking a further 7 miles and getting a bus
or taxi about the same distance would get me to a suitable stopping
place. Well, the alternatives to walking didn't materialise. Once out
of the valley the scenery and the walking became moe interesting again
bit the rain didn't relent and I was getting really tired and rather
dispirited by the cold and damp. It all felt rather soul-less, until I
realised that I didn't have the usual need to look after the power on
my phone and could instead use it for
music - Mozart to the rescue. The clouds lifted, as did my spirits and
i'm sure my pace increased. True food for the soul.
Eventually I reached Bruges and after a few circuits of the village i
tracked down a very comfortable studio which I'm tempted to stay in
for a week - except that I'm looking forward to friends joining me on
Saturday about 25miles or so further west.