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.