Hello to All,
It’s now the middle of June and I don’t know where the time has gone, this blog takes in 4 Countries, France, England, Belgium and The Netherlands (Holland) I might break it up to lessen the load, maybe. We were going to do a blog just on canals “but” we are here there and everywhere, so here we go……….
AMIENS: France, a beautiful historic town, the Cathedral is an amazing site to see. It also flies the flags of Australia, Canada, New Foundland, New Zealand, U.S.A. & South Africa in the apse. They also tell us that in the Somme today, the older residents still recall the friendly, young men and their characteristic appearance of the famous hat with the turned back brim. “Lest We Forget”.
We mentioned before about the “French Passion” well we decided to try another one, this was on a farm at Sains Richaumont.
They ran lots of Beef cattle etc, and Wheat and Barley fields. Lying in bed at the farm I was woken by what I thought was a cookoo clock - my immediate sleepy thought was what time is it, and also why has it not stopped cookooing, till finally realising it was the said bird in the tree beside H.H. I think the clock makers got it’s call perfectly.
Another interesting sound was the chickens, they “cock”……. but they are missing the "doddle do", you sit there waiting for them to finish but it doesn’t happen, it’s like they have forgotten the rest of it …..nature never ceases to amaze me ….. Did you know that Fawns can swim…… Stuart in the mighty “Vagabond” helped shepherd one to shallower water on a canal, it was obviously a bit disoriented. What a good lad!!!!…..
When we have wi-fi and we can watch old shows on the internet, we opt for “Allo Allo” with the French sub titles it’s certainly helped with learning little extra bits of the language and lots of good laughs. Anyone that does park to close to us must wonder what is going on in THAT van (keep them guessing I say)…….
Moving along and we are now in the charming CHAMPAGNE region and Lac du Der & Giffaumont - Champaubert area. We stayed at these Aire's for a couple of days each and rode a 40 klm circumnavigation around the lake.
It was a stunningly warm day of 26 deg and ended up with sore backsides to say the least. Next day temps dropped dramatically back to 16 deg each day is so different. We are always in our bags searching for the right days clothes - one day hot - next cold. The european weather changes quickly (except Spain & Portugal) our clothes start out neatly packed, then It’s like a mad women has been thru them, Well!!!!!! I guess she has……and..we do love our puffa vests…...
It was another grey old day this day, the sun trying to fight through, this is a place full of activities, biking, yachting, kitesurfing, Jet skiing and of course walking and so off I go, Terry’s doing his research or having a well deserved nap so he missed this fabulous site and I didn’t take a camera with me, NO pictures!!!!!!!!! I walk around to the next bay and here are Men & Women wearing wet suits (otherwise you would freeze your what’s its off) anyway I digress…..people are all shapes and sizes and they have dogs of all shapes and sizes but mainly they are like a smaller version of a “new foundland” I wish I could speak French & ask questions, but I can only watch on, and there is a small crowd developing. Anyway…..these dogs have harnesses/jackets strapped on with biggish yellow rubber rings on either side the owners/trainers go into the water, swims out, then call the dogs, this is obviously training for sea/lake rescues, they then grab the rings and are brought back to shore, the dogs love it and its fabulous to watch. They even had a little Jack Russell doing his bit for the team, he was very entertaining up against the big dogs, he did his bit…..
There are lots of UNESCO world heritage sites in this area, and lots of history. The Kingdom of France began in Champagne with the Baptism of Clovis in the year 496 ( god that was along time ago….) with lots of Cathedrals built through the middle ages (they were obviously always busy building things & restoring things ) and now especially after all the Wars.
FRONCLES & CHAUMONT: lovely canal towns, we rode lots of K’s.
They even have early morning bread deliveries…. lovely.
You would think we should be ready for the Tour de France trials but alas I think we have to cut down on the baguettes, never mind… Carbs are supposed to be good for elite athletes like us ?????? aren’t they…..
LANGRES: This town was a fortress in the region of Champagne & Burgundy. It has tall ramparts, 12 towers, 7 gates, and 7 bell towers, it has 2,000yrs of art & history along with the famous philosopher, critic and writer “Denis Diderot”.
It’s a couple of Klms to walk around the perimeter of the city. It’s also very entertaining watching some women trying to navigate the cobble stoned streets in Europe wearing very high heeled shoes and boots and bone & teeth jarring when you are riding a bike. It’s worth a Kodak moment……..
Nearly made it to AUXERRE: We had 2 attempts at trying to get there by cycling along the canal. BUT…. Terry’s seat decided to part from the frame and SNAP OFF…….it was just like a can opener had got to it. It could of been very painful and dangerous - so back we go ...( picture this), him balancing on the peddles as he couldn’t sit down for fear of you know what !!! It was an interesting style to watch for a couple of klms , personally I was ready to chuck it in the canal, but we probably would of been fined for littering or fouling the waterways, anyway, problem solved (sort of)…he jammed (with great force) the seat post back down into the broken frame, he now rides with his knees up around his ears (another good look) so off we go again (sorry no photo’s) and complete the ride with a picnic lunch even though I forgot my fork for my salad, fingers work just as well. We returned UNSCATHED the seat still in a precarious position.
BRAY Sur SEINE: We were sitting outside H.H. watching the world drift by, down the canal comes a rather large barge 110 metres, it pulls up alongside, lines thrown onto bollards by the wife while the husband mavoeuvres it like a dinghy! The next minute we see the same couple, now dressed in their sunday best (rapid clothes change, hair brushed/combed) hop off and head into town for lunch. 1.45pm back on board, back into working clothes, lines pulled in and off they go to the next lock that re opens at 2pm. (the locks, like the rest of France are shut between 12.30pm and 2 o’clock!)) so lunch it was - way to go. These big monsters just do their thing…
I also did my good deed for the day…..I had to run after a van that was leaving and stop them from doing grevious bodily harm to themselves, they had left UP their aerial on the roof (TV) the next low bridge would of changed that configuration for them. Just as well we don’t use ours…….???
We were going to visit Paris on this leg but we never made it, but we did have drink on the Seine.
CHATEAU THIERRY: Driving along and we see the bright light in the distance for “INTERSPORT” the cursed shop, where we bought our bikes! This is our day!!!!!
We think it’s now or never…let’s do it……we turn H.H. around, armed with his guarantee and paperwork,Terry goes into the store to do business or plead insanity with the manager that this bike is a major health risk (me ! mentally). Terry has learnt that when one can’t speak the language charades DO work.. he tried to explain how the seat post could of ended up in a really nasty painful area. So we sit in that car park for 6 hrs while they take photo’s and send off to whomever? Also the 2 hr lunch break (shop closes down) finally after much discussion in French we end up with a new frame (yah hoo) so, with all the old bits put onto the new frame. Hopefully this will last another 16 months we leave (shame it wasn’t a whole NEW bike). We are now off to meet Stuart somewhere on the canal in Reims he’s coming in from the north and we from the south, we have both decided we have hardly seen any Champagne grape vines anywhere - him on the water us on the road it must be an urban myth of this region.
Champagne region ..without the grapes!
We finally catch up with Stuart at Reims….
But that’s another story…… I’ll have that for you soon.
Lots of love, Susie, Terry and HH
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