All day we have been driving north west through towns that played a significant part in the struggles of WW1 that ended 107 years ago. Towns with memorials to French, British and Commonwealth, fallen. Trying to find the grave sites has been fraught. Signs pointing in a specific direction but then no further directions at diverging intersections.
We did find a memorial to ‘Australien’ 2nd Division participation, who acquitted themselves with great honour and commitment. This is the Somme area which saw some of the bloodiest battles and colossal loss of life. Signs to Manchester Graves also, but no indication of where or how far.
An Abbey destroyed, and a partially standing, silent sentinel to the carnage..
Towns such as Baupame, Amiens, Arras, Abbeville, Bethune. Not all passed through by us, but large in the lives of conflict participants. With these names in mind, I can’t let go, the fact that Trump is thinking of attacking Iran. If he does, what a moron!!! The world also stands mute to the genocide going on in Palestine.
Again, it’s been difficult to find a camp site. With only 100k’s to Calais, and still four days till we ship back to Blighty, we decided to camp well short, as with great weather, holiday makers are streaming south from Germany and Holland. It’s only going to get busier once schools break up for the summer holidays.
After stopping in the tiny town of Oisy-Le-Verger to check out their camp, to be told ‘it’s full’ though little sign of campers. The manager gave us the address of our current camp. It’s far from a proper camp and seems to be occupied by permanent holiday makers, with a tiny space of grass for us to park Poki and erect the caranex. The weather remains glorious.
Friday 20th. Happy birthday, Charley.
My gorgeous Granddaughter who is 14 today. The family are traveling overland, down through South America and currently in Ecuador.
It’s our intention to park somewhere south of Calais as Tim, Jen’s eldest son, is arriving and with friends, participating in a cycle race and we would like to catch part of the race and cheer him on.
After leaving the camp at around 11am, there is no rush, as we are only 77k’s from Calais. Trouble is, when we got there, every camp site is full. We drove south to Escalles, where we stayed on our first night in France. Full. Drove another 15k’s south to Wissant. Same story. It seems the weather has bought campers, or people in motor-homes, out in force.
Nothing else for it, but Jen has found us a hotel at a reasonable price, close to Calais. in fact we can see the ferries coming in and leaving, from our window. A walk along the manicured promenade with hundreds of others after dinner in Poki. Families and couples. There are wonderful facilities for the use and entertainment of children.
‘Good luck’ to friend John, who will be commencing a bike ride from Land’s End to John o’Groats at the northern tip of Scotland, this weekend.
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