a French Wedding...

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Hortilonieres boats returning after the market.

Women , in their national costumes

Men selling produce in their national costumes.

The light show at the Amien Cathedral

Coucy Castle

Barry at the Castle

A peaceful evening on the Aisne River

On Fri, 17th June we drove to St. Dizier in a rental car, to attend the wedding of French friends whom we met in 2003.  There was a marriage service at the Marie(town hall) at Betancourt La Feree ( the suburb where they live) at 5p.m.  

When Jean-Pierre arrived at the wedding ceremony he waved the black NZ flag which we gave him 2 years ago. He is an ardent rugby fan, They had arranged for people who speak English to talk to us.

The jovial Mayor officiated at the wedding service. When we went outside afterwards there was a fly pass of 5 jets from the French Air Forece, then 3 made a heart shaped vapour trail in the French colours---Blue , white & red.

The reception was held in the community hall nearby. Being in the Champagne area, that was what was offered to drink. The food, was various types of very nice nibbles, e.g. vegetables to dip, seafoods, pastries etc, & later in the evening an assortment of small cakes & sweet pastries.

We returned to the River Somme. The morning we took back the rental car was the 1st day the Hortilonieres  (whom I  have mentioned earlier) were selling their produce at a market which they do each Sunday at this time of the year. They load the produce onto the narrow boats & go down the River to the market place, dressed in their national costumes.

We stopped off for a night in Amien, to see the light show on the Cathedral which started mid June, each night at 10.45  when it is dark. This is when they show the colours of all the figures, as they have been in a previous era. It was interesting to see for a short time but was rather dissappointing, compared to other light shows which we have been to.

We were rather sad to leave the peaceful Somme River on 24th June & were back onto big waterways & locks again---on the Canal du Nord.But this was shortlived as we turned once again onto peaceful waterways. The canal joining the R. Oise to the R. Aisne is one of the prettiest & quietest French waterways which we have been on.

On Sat, 25th June, at Pont Mard we cycled to the nearby ruins of Coucy Castle. This Castle was originally built in 920, but was extended by several owners over the years, then  neglected.In 1917 the retreating German army destroyed the remaining 4 towers & the Keep.

The weather has suddenly changed from showery warm conditions  to hot sunny windfree days.

To The Rescue!

Dear all,

We thought we would update you on a few of our experiences etc.

The weather has been showery for some time now, but not enough rain for the farmers. Their crops are not growing very well & look a bit sad.

Today we picked up a rental car in Amiens & tomorrow will drive to St. Dizier to our friend's wedding


 A little more about St. Valery. ; William The Conqueror sailed from the port of St. Valery when he invaded England in 1066

We enjoyed our stay at St. Valery, but had to move on & are now at Piquigny, a quiet town.

 Cezanne to the rescue!

On our way here we were travelling behind another boat which gave trouble after the 2nd lock. Smoke started coming from the exhaust, then the engine, so a red light came on & a siren started, so they turned the motor off & the boat drifted. That was when Cezanne came to the rescue. We tied up along side & towed them 10 kms against the current intill we came to a mooring place. All was well on the straight parts of the river but it was difficult for Barry driving around the corners , with the current. Then we came to a srong cross current as a big diversion entered  the river. We gave Cezanne full revs but he was still moved about considerably. You may wonder why we towed the boat beside us. That was because it had no motor, therefore no steering, which would make towing it extremely difficult.The boat's problem was a worn out impellar, which Barry helped the owner replace.

Yesterday, the 15th June, we took the train to Arras to visit La Carriere Wellington. A memorial of the battle of Arras 9th april 1917.

In the entrance I took the 2nd photo which was in memory of the Passendaele battle. On 12th Oct. 1917 NZ'ders were involved in an attack which was an absolute disaster. NZ sufferred its greatest ever human catastrophe. In just 2 hours, more than 2800 NZ soldiers were killed, wounded, or listed missing. The most disastrous day in NZ's military history.

A memorial to the NZ'ders who died at Passendaele.

A very interesting website is ; Passchendaele- What it is all about-NZ ARMY website  

also this history site or the Wikipedia site on Passchendaele

The clay which was used to make the colums came from the mud at Passendaele & Coromandel.

We went underground with a guide for about an hour, visiting the numerous tunnels & learning about the life of those involved with this memorial at Arras. Miners from NZ played a big part in diigging the tunnels.They gave tunnels various NZ names. 24,000 men were underground here for 8 days before the battle began on 9th April, 1917.

The entrance to one of the tunnels dug by the NZ'ders.

there is a movie about it now called Passchendaele Preview here which I think is about the canadians involvement, they became known as storm troopers, to watch a battle scene from the movie...   link to youtube

Amiens to St. Valery sur Somme

Margaret beside her Grandfather's grave at the Pont D'Achelles Military cemetery just outside Nieppe, when we were in Armentieres.

 

Margaret in a field of ANZAC poppies

On our journey down the Somme we passed a very large factory where locally grown potatoes are processed, solely for  the extraction of starch, which is exported all over the world & used as an additive for the items as varied as paper, drinks & pharmaceutics.

Around the city of Armiens there is a large area of Hortilonnages----islands formed over the years by the extraction of peat, which are occupied by private owners & professional market gardeners----Hortilones, whom we bought produce from at a market in Amiens.

One of the many Lakes formed after the the digging of peat

The Amiens Cathedral, built 1220-1269, is the biggest Gothic building in France. Far bigger than Notre Dame in Paris.

Along the waterway there are so many man made lakes, lined with little fishermen's holiday homes. Fishing is a very popular sport here.

Tied up in the city centre of Amiens.

Amiens Cathedral-rear view.

Amiens Cathedral.

We are now at St. Valery sur Somme which is at the mouth of the Somme River.The Bay of the Somme covers an area of 72 km sq. The tide can go out 14km. We have spent 2 days cycling on some of the good cycling paths in the area where one is away from road traffic & have visited some of the neighbouring villages around the bay.