After a reasonable nights sleep, despite a recalcitrant air bed, a few sore bits & some heavy rain, I awoke to a 'fanfare' from Adam. We abluted & started getting the tents down when the heavens opened again. Fortunately we were able to get packed up under an adjacent gazebo.
By the time we were away, it was after 10am. Then it was straight to the nearest Boulangerie for breakfast.
The riding today proved to be a little less severe, although the 500m 15% climb out of Anvin wasn't popular!
Passing through Croix en Ternois (I raced there in 93 or 94 I think it was) & after coffee in Frevent, we were soon into Somme territory
The terrain was now gently rolling & the sun shone occasionally to complement the strong SW wind. We stopped at a McD's in Doullens. Just as well, because France appears to be otherwise shut?
About 4pm & nearing Albert, we branched left & I took Adam to the New Foundland war memorial site at Beaumont Hamel. We had a walk through the preserved trenches & studied the stretch of 'no man's land' that's also been left to nature. A poignant reminder of the horrors is that of the 800 men from NF who advanced on the first day of the Battle of the Somme in 1916, less than 70 returned un injured.
From there we called at the Thiepval Memorial to pay our respects & give a nod to our GG, who's on pier 10C.
Then we headed down into Albert for our two night slot at Camping le Velodrome. Rained whilst we erected 😜. Like home from home, it'll be a shower then a walk into town for a pizza...hopefully.
I can see his name still stands out from the others as well <3
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