Wacquinghen to Amiens

Friday April 24th

• starting miles           49950
• temperature              13
• weather                     sunny
• time                           9.15

This feels like the start proper of our European adventure. The plan is to loosely follow the course of Brian's 2010 bike ride stopping off to visit properly some interesting places. We began as we mean to continue - slowly. We passed Boulogne and headed for le Touquet

also known as Paris - plage. We were reminded of Elie (Edinburgh on sea) There were some fabulous houses but most were empty.

We meandered our way to Amiens arriving at the 4star Parc des Cygnes at about 3pm. The decision to join ASCI and get a card which doubles as ID is proving to be a wise one. Check in is so easy. They were very relaxed about payment - said to pay as we were leaving and did we want to order bread or croissants for the morning. We were offered our choice of pitches since it is still early season. We were straight onto our bikes for the 5km ride along a canal towpath into Amiens - centre. 

Amiens Cathedral is strikingly impressive. It is by far the biggest Cathedral we have ever seen ( and we have been in many cathedrals) It is twice the size of Notre Dame in Paris.

It was well worth the cycle to see it. The centre of Amiens is cycle friendly. Much of it is pedestrians and bikes only which enabled us to explore central Amiens at our convenience. 

Unfortunately Brian's sense of direction isn't quite as good as he thinks it is. there are two canals in central Amiens and we followed the wrong one for a bit. Pauline was not a happy camper and insisted on retracing our steps back to the beginning. However after nibbles, wine and spaghetti bolognese all was well with the world.

A stroll around the camp site revealed mostly motor homes ( camping cars here) parked on individually screened pitches with lots of shrubs and hedges and greenery. The last part should have been a clue. It rained overnight and when Brian went to pay in the morning and fetch the bread the receptionist said that it was to rain for two days.

Instant decision - Let's head south.

Site cost :                              €16

Miles travelled:                        153