Bergues.

Sunday 15th September 2024.

Day 2.

The day started easily with a short drive to Dover, the ferry departure had been brought forward from 12.05 to 11.30a.m. which was a bonus. We were first to drive onto the middle deck and parked right at the front, the ferry wasn’t crowded another bonus came when it departed at 11.15 a.m.

Before, during and after the ferry crossing.

We are staying tonight at a free aire at the town of Bergues, we have stayed here at least three times before, but it was the first time for Alison and Peter. Bergues is a commune in the Nord department of Northern France 9k south of Dunkirk and 15 K from the Belgian border. The town has an amazing belfry with a Carillon of 50 bells which ring every 15 minutes during the day. ( Interrupts conversation quite regularly). The town ramparts are 5.3 k long partly medieval and partly restored at a later date.

When we walked into the town we found they were celebrating the 80th year of being liberated by Canadian forces in 1944. There was a display of photographs of local people of the time, images of the damage caused by the fighting etc. In the square was a brass band which were playing some marvellous music.