A weekend break in north east France, all within 40 miles of Calais….
- Thread starter Wapping
- Start date
Great little write-up and just shows what can be found without going 000's of miles 
Good write up.
There’s supposedly a good burger joint in Wimereux.
A mate, who I’m currently on a ferry with GB350S to go stay with whilst on standby at work went to Wimereux for about 5 days. He went by cage but took his Go-Cycle which is like a plusher eleccy Brompton.
Said Wimereux was a very agreeable place to stay and the burgers at Burger Fermier Des Enfants Rouges were rather good.
No mention of ketchup but I’d imagine it will be available for Les plebs avec PanzersDuWank.
There’s supposedly a good burger joint in Wimereux.
A mate, who I’m currently on a ferry with GB350S to go stay with whilst on standby at work went to Wimereux for about 5 days. He went by cage but took his Go-Cycle which is like a plusher eleccy Brompton.
Said Wimereux was a very agreeable place to stay and the burgers at Burger Fermier Des Enfants Rouges were rather good.
No mention of ketchup but I’d imagine it will be available for Les plebs avec PanzersDuWank.
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Superb and I love little roads like that, that you found
Stunning wee, ride report and sometimes why solo is good
Stunning wee, ride report and sometimes why solo is good
Great write-up, thanks Richard
Now get on with the rest of it
Now get on with the rest of it
Great write up……..must make a return visit soon
I love riding these sort of minor roads in France
Bimble along looking at the view in the sunshine
Excellent.
Bimble along looking at the view in the sunshine
Excellent.
Blooming marvellous Richard .
I see that the kebab van has a veggie option
well done Frogs!
I shall be passing passing through the Wimereux on my way to Britanny in a few weeks time. Might be a bit early though to stop for lunch at 09:30-10:00am.
I see that the kebab van has a veggie option
well done Frogs!I shall be passing passing through the Wimereux on my way to Britanny in a few weeks time. Might be a bit early though to stop for lunch at 09:30-10:00am.
Thank you all.
The coffee stop at Watten, marks the eastern edge of the hillier and wooded region and the start of the flatlands and canals again:
The broad canal to the left is the Canal de la Haute Colme. Close by, is where a small girl (part of an attempted illegal crossing) was drowned. Irrespective of the rights and wrongs, it is a tragedy; a long way inland from the English Channel.
en.wikipedia.org
The coffee stop at Watten, marks the eastern edge of the hillier and wooded region and the start of the flatlands and canals again:
The broad canal to the left is the Canal de la Haute Colme. Close by, is where a small girl (part of an attempted illegal crossing) was drowned. Irrespective of the rights and wrongs, it is a tragedy; a long way inland from the English Channel.
Haute Colme Canal - Wikipedia
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Sunday, from Bergues to the coast at Cap Gris Nez, the closest point in France to England, via la Coupole.
Part 1 to la Coupole
The nearly 30 miles is on D roads but is mostly pretty straightforward. The one standout is perhaps the climb up to Cassel, using a reasonably steep road which is still fully pavé:
Part 1 to la Coupole
The nearly 30 miles is on D roads but is mostly pretty straightforward. The one standout is perhaps the climb up to Cassel, using a reasonably steep road which is still fully pavé:
The museum at la Coupole is worth a visit for a couple of hours or so.
It seems I am not the only bod with this idea:
It seems I am not the only bod with this idea:
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The museum has a limited number of small lockers (free) to put some kit in:
I used it but left my helmet, cabled to my bike:
I used it but left my helmet, cabled to my bike:
The la Coupole was never used in action by the Germans, indeed it was never finished. As with its sister site, the giant ‘Blockhouse’ at Eperleques, allied bombing and not least the ground invasion put paid to the scheme.
The entry tunnel, which would originally have a train track running along its length. The original train line (la Couple, was built on a spur) is still in operation today:
It’s worthwhile using the interactive headsets, as you walk around.
Leaving aside the V-weapons’ intent, what struck me was a simple explanation of the financial cost of the damned things, let alone the human cost of building them and, not least, putting them out of action forever:
On thing that did amuse me, is that the Germans made the visitors’ lift, which carries you up inside the domed roof:
The entry tunnel, which would originally have a train track running along its length. The original train line (la Couple, was built on a spur) is still in operation today:
It’s worthwhile using the interactive headsets, as you walk around.
Leaving aside the V-weapons’ intent, what struck me was a simple explanation of the financial cost of the damned things, let alone the human cost of building them and, not least, putting them out of action forever:
On thing that did amuse me, is that the Germans made the visitors’ lift, which carries you up inside the domed roof:
V-weapons behind us, it’s time for day’s last leg of 40 miles from la Coupole to my overnight stay at Cap Gris Nez.
Again, this was entirely on D roads but, this time, all (near enough) of a reasonable size. The weather was all but perfect, making for a great ride across the French countryside. Anyone who thinks that “All the roads are shite, mate” maybe needs to give it a fresh bit of thought.
This was my cafe / B&B for the night:
I have known the owner (and indeed her mother before her) for over 30 years. It’s basic but I like it. I’m sure it wouldn’t be everyone’s cup of tea, not least as they don’t speak too much English. There again, why should they? It’s vey much a ‘Local cafe, for local people’. There are plenty of alternatives along the coast road, or go inland a bit to St Omer. I’ll be back there next week, on my way to Spa for the WEC 6-hour race,
Again, this was entirely on D roads but, this time, all (near enough) of a reasonable size. The weather was all but perfect, making for a great ride across the French countryside. Anyone who thinks that “All the roads are shite, mate” maybe needs to give it a fresh bit of thought.
This was my cafe / B&B for the night:
I have known the owner (and indeed her mother before her) for over 30 years. It’s basic but I like it. I’m sure it wouldn’t be everyone’s cup of tea, not least as they don’t speak too much English. There again, why should they? It’s vey much a ‘Local cafe, for local people’. There are plenty of alternatives along the coast road, or go inland a bit to St Omer. I’ll be back there next week, on my way to Spa for the WEC 6-hour race,
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Monday morning, was a simple run along the D roads to the Chunnel, again in perfect weather, to catch the 10:15 train back to England. The Chunnel was deserted, just as I hoped it would be.
That’s it. Two full days and two part days in north east France. As easy as that.
The highlights of the jaunt? Leaving aside the ease of it all, the weather and the little bike, it was the mixture of country roads ridden, the changing scenery and the friendly people I met along the way. Highly recommended.
That’s it. Two full days and two part days in north east France. As easy as that.
The highlights of the jaunt? Leaving aside the ease of it all, the weather and the little bike, it was the mixture of country roads ridden, the changing scenery and the friendly people I met along the way. Highly recommended.
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Gotta love a friterie van! Best avoided in the UK, but always good in France and Belgium.
The French and Belgians do them pretty well. As do their bakeries, who often do a pretty good ‘sandwich’.
The notice on the chip van, said that the owner also has a permanent outlet, here:
I may well give it a go one day.
I bet they do pizza with an egg on top, the sure sign of being ‘foreign’.
Nice one Richard you were going home as we were setting off. Nice little RR
Thank you, Lee. I’ve been following your progress elsewhere.
