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After 30km yesterday today should be somewhat easier. Jane drives the four pelerin to Riencourt Les Bapaume where three of us collapsed yesterday and we start across the endless cereal fields. It is sad that the fields are a monoculture the poppies fertilized by the blood of past generations are only remnants in the verges instead of a covering across the fields. Herbicides cause memory loss!
We pass several cemeteries of various nationalities and spot several hares racing across the fields.
After a few hours and the obligatory muddy puddle which Tim in sandals paddles through others find a way around in a field. We find the Canal du Nord a wide active commercial canal, and happily sit above it feet dangling while eating our lunch. Started before the Great War construction paused until it was opened in 1960…. Still much used it may be splanted by the Canal of North Europe under current construction. There is some eco hope about.
There were several interesting churches along the way some were rebuilt as near original as possible after the WW1 and on some cases again after WW2 and in one case after it fell down when the mortar used had too little cement it being in short supply after the wars.
We arrive in good shape back at camp in Peronne for a good look around a much fought over town. There a koala, a part of a flowery tribute to Australian forces has fallen, over not in battle and we put it upright again in the flowerbed with the kangaroo and a n other unidentified marsupial. Then we have a wander around the castle next door that in medieval times was the border of English territory. And talking of Territory today we left Pas Dr Calais and entered Picardy.