Very interesting Richard thanks for sharing - I enjoyed that!
M’off…… Pas de Calais
- Thread starter Wapping
- Start date
Enjoyed that ta very much. 
Odds ‘n sods
The railway station / crossing at Cassel, which the British troops blocked with two locomotives, in an attempt to slow the German drive to encircle the town in 1940:
The former border check point and customs house between France and Belgium, rendered rightly obsolete with the EU’s Freedom of Movement, enjoyed by its multiple millions of citizens but denied to the UK:
Lots is spouted on this forum (often by bods who never seem to go anywhere) that Europe is becoming homogenised into some single federal state, nationalities being eroded. 10 seconds will show that the individual nations are still fiercely proud of their countries. A Belgian considers themselves no more French or Italian, than a proud Scot or Welshman, considers themselves to be English or Greek.
They have managed to preserve their national and regional identities, whilst still embracing the EU, for all its faults and foibles. They are richer for it, whilst we are poorer
I tripped over this seemingly very popular lunch spot.
Just a smidge north of Poperinge, so useful perhaps for anyone doing WW1 stuff.
www.indevrede.be
Here’s a right-on sister, living in St Omer:
And a very friendly cat, which lives next door, along with a garden full of very strange ornaments:
St Omer cathedral has scrubbed up very well:
The railway station / crossing at Cassel, which the British troops blocked with two locomotives, in an attempt to slow the German drive to encircle the town in 1940:
The former border check point and customs house between France and Belgium, rendered rightly obsolete with the EU’s Freedom of Movement, enjoyed by its multiple millions of citizens but denied to the UK:
Lots is spouted on this forum (often by bods who never seem to go anywhere) that Europe is becoming homogenised into some single federal state, nationalities being eroded. 10 seconds will show that the individual nations are still fiercely proud of their countries. A Belgian considers themselves no more French or Italian, than a proud Scot or Welshman, considers themselves to be English or Greek.
They have managed to preserve their national and regional identities, whilst still embracing the EU, for all its faults and foibles. They are richer for it, whilst we are poorer
I tripped over this seemingly very popular lunch spot.
Just a smidge north of Poperinge, so useful perhaps for anyone doing WW1 stuff.
In de Vrede - Welcome
www.indevrede.be
Here’s a right-on sister, living in St Omer:
And a very friendly cat, which lives next door, along with a garden full of very strange ornaments:
St Omer cathedral has scrubbed up very well:
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Enjoyed that ta very much.
Thank you both.
It’s surprising how much you can see and do in two days, without a huge amount of effort, beyond a bit of Googling. That it can be done on a motorcycle that is cheap and decidedly unpowerful (compared to many) is just a bonus. That said, it’d be good in a car, too or (I guess) on a bicycle.
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We're poorer because of socialism (we've had over 30 years of it)... not from leaving the EU. The UK never 'fitted-in" with mainland Europe for multiple reasons... one being that the British always obeyed the rules, whereas the likes of France, Spain, Italy etc. simply worked out ways to circumvent them... just sayin'
Noooooooo....
our loss...
Now to think about my next short hop across the water, but it won’t be for a week or two.
IIRC, wasn't something similar used in the Franco-Prussian war and the Great War to shell Paris?
Good,nice write up Richard, people never look in there backyard for things too do so too speak if your close too the chunnel..
And have a weekend free...
This cemetery never gets a mention..
Mike..
And have a weekend free...
This cemetery never gets a mention..
Mike..
Nowt wrong with up North of France Very nice indeed thanks for sharing Richard.
Going to Arras again in November. Lovely town.
Cambrai is worth a visit too. WW1 tank on display with a fascinating history.
It's funny that due to the Great War and WWII most of us have a lot in common with Northern France, quite a few of our Fathers and Grandfathers ended up there at some time in the 20th century fighting for a common cause.
That's just a trope I'm afraid. Quite often our mainland Europe neighbours were complying with the rules (particularly environmental, animal welfare and food regulations in my field of experience) when UK companies and agencies were doing their best to avoid or circumvent them.
Thoroughly enjoyed this trip - and enlightenment 
Thank you.
Thank you.
That’s the Westvleteren brewery, their beer is only available from there, it’s a fine brew. Not far from there is the St Bernadus brewery with an awesome rooftop café amongst the hop fields. Also well worth a visit.
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