Monday, September 7
Arras to Saint Quentin (87.9 km)
Today was a short day, but very challenging. We had a head wind all day, leaving me exhausted at the end.
This was military cemetery day. We came across British, German, and French WWI cemeteries, all beautifully kept. There were 11,400 soldiers in the German cemetery. The French one was much bigger and buried two to a stone. It's size left me contemplating how many soldiers had died. No wonder the French didn't want to fight again twenty years later. The mothers and wives probably said, "No way."
This was military cemetery day. We came across British, German, and French WWI cemeteries, all beautifully kept. There were 11,400 soldiers in the German cemetery. The French one was much bigger and buried two to a stone. It's size left me contemplating how many soldiers had died. No wonder the French didn't want to fight again twenty years later. The mothers and wives probably said, "No way."
British Cemetary, with one soldier to a grave, and some very nice inscriptions - most from 1916. Really a tragic, but beautiful thing to see. They were extremely well tended.
Over 11,000 soldiers in a German cemetary. Note how well it is cared for.
A plaque at a German cemetery.
Another very neatly tended French cemetery, with two soldiers to a cross.
We had our first experience being on an N (national) road for about 3 km. There's nothing like an 18 wheeler coming by you at 100-110 k, three feet away and no shoulder on the road. First the wind tries to push you off the road and then the vortex tries to pull you to the center of the road. You have to be attentive and steady. No roads in France have a shoulder except by accident. The road are good and drivers courteous, but just not a lot of room. It's best to be on the small D (departmental) roads even with the LOST problems.
Today we saw a lot of large fields with potatoes and what we think is probably chard. It was very pretty countryside and low rollers. As usual, we were lost quite a bit. I am not sure we are getting lost less or just getting more used to being confused and “sort of lost.”
When we got into Saint Quentin they were having a giant street “flee” market. People from everywhere, were hawking junk of every kind - and a few good things. Gypsies, Arabs, blacks, Italians, and many others, all with stalls made of tents.
Today we saw a lot of large fields with potatoes and what we think is probably chard. It was very pretty countryside and low rollers. As usual, we were lost quite a bit. I am not sure we are getting lost less or just getting more used to being confused and “sort of lost.”
When we got into Saint Quentin they were having a giant street “flee” market. People from everywhere, were hawking junk of every kind - and a few good things. Gypsies, Arabs, blacks, Italians, and many others, all with stalls made of tents.
We had to get to the hotel, which was in the center of it all. It was next to a cathedral being renovated and didn’t look too good. The Hotel de Ville was very nice.
Jimdoc, Sandy and Jim in front of the Hotel de Ville Saint Quentin
(Rider, Tour director, Rider)
The food is expensive, but good at every level. Every meal we have had at night has been two hours long, and well worth both the time and the money!
The hotels ration everything and charge for any extra they can. A typical room is very small and has one large bath towel, internet difficult to get on and expensive, and poor lighting. However, the people, in general, are very nice.
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