Monday 16th September 2024
Day 3.
Our 172 mile journey today took us through an area that is sadly populated with First World War Cemeteries. We came across one at Souchez which we felt we couldn’t drive past without stopping and paying our respect.
As you walk along the headstones it becomes apparent how many soldiers buried there were unidentified, often their regiment is known but not their name. There were many Canadian soldiers buried here.
We stopped for lunch at the outskirts of Cambrai where there was a marina next to the river, we spoke to an English couple on their boat that had been exploring the rivers and canals of France for over 25 years.
Getting through Charleville Meziers to tonight’s stop was a bit of a nightmare so it was comforting to find out later that Alison and Peter had been forced by poor road signs into making the same mistake as us when almost at the aire we are stopping on.
After our evening meal we jointly agreed to walk along the river and into town, it was a good decision as it turned out to be a very pleasant place.
The bridge led us to a street that took us to the heart of the town, it was late evening and the street lights made everything look magic.
The situation of the aire and the beauty of the town made the long drive worth it.
taraabit 