Homeward bound

Our trip ended the same as previous years....We did a wash at a laundromat across the bridge and then drove to Bluey's storage in Rousseloy. We spent the day packing and cleaning and then spent our last night in Bluey before being picked up by Andre the next morning to take us to Charles de Gaulle airport. Our flight went well and we arrived home safe and sound.

Noyon

Travelled:58km

Visited: Noyon

Stay: Pont St.Maxence- free parking with dump point on River Oise 49.30233 2.60147

After a morning stroll along the canal and watching a few barrages go past, we set off to have a look at Noyon. The town was founded in the Roman times and was fortified during the 3rd Century. In the 12th century a huge cathedral was built and along with other buildings became a district. We noticed lots of shrapnel marks on the building left during WWI where 80% of the town was destroyed. 

The obligatory statue of Jean d'Arc.

A few saint relics 

A lovely cloister

Timber building attached to cathedral.

A fountain to commemorate the marriage between Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette

The town hall.

After a bit of shopping we made our way to Pont St.Maxence and decided to go out for lunch. I had the traditional 3 course menu and Mark had a schnitzel. Out with a blast! And then relaxed for the afternoon...the calm before the storm ... as tomorrow is pack up day!

Our lunch spot.

Rivers and Canals

Travelled:109km

Stay: Molincourt France along l'Oise Canal 49.5696 3.05459

Visited:Haybes and Fumay,France. Burly de Pesch and Scourmont Abbaye,Chimay, Belgium

Yesterday we travelled 22km to Haybes and thought it was too nice to move on. So we had a bit of a chill out day and walking through the town in between showers. (Motorhome dedicated parking area on the river 50.01089 4.70697).

The town hall

Feeling a little under the weather this morning, we still managed an early start after buying the obligatory baguette. We stopped in Fumay, the next village along the river and went for a stroll. The area is well known for its slate. 

A murial about slate mining.

We then went back into Belgium to Bruly de Pesch to have a look at Hitlers headquarters in 1940, where he directed his assault on France. There were some interpretative signs around the village as well as a small museum that wasn't opening until later. 

The bunker.

So we continued on towards Chimay, where at the Scourmont Abbaye, one of Mark's favourite beers is brewed. It is still owned by the monks and is one of 11 Trappist Beers to be made in the world. This means that the income supports the monastery as well as any charities they contribute to.

We then travelled along some more country roads back into France stopping to do a bit of shopping and eventually making it to the canal about 4pm. Mark made good use of the canal water to give Bluey a good clean and I started an inventory list of things we are leaving behind.

Germany, Belgium, France

Travelled:229km

Visited:Belgium-Eupen. Limbourg, Verviers, Theux, Durbuy

Stay: France -Givet free parking along the Meuse River 50.13485 4.82714

Today we had breakfast in Germany, lunch in Belgium and Dinner in France!

This morning we had to choose which roads we would travel as we make our way back to Rousseloy.  Always a tricky decision...do we visit big cities or country towns? We are on the wind down as we approach the end of our trip and lack the required enthusiasm to tackle the cities. So we left Germany behind us and ventured on some country roads in Belgium. You can never be too sure what awaits you, a bit like opening the door of the church, it could be amazingly beautiful or quite dull. We experienced a bit of everything. Our first stop was Eupen, which had pleasant streets and lovely new copper roofs on the church's towers. 

Next was Limbourg, whose small old quarter sits on a rocky spur above a hairpin bend in the River Vesdre.

 We had a short stroll around before continuing onto Verviers, which happened to be quite a large city that appeared a bit run down. We did manage to have a quick look in the church.

So on we went to see Theux which was a nice town and we got tempted by some cakes in the Patisserie! 

Delicious!

With our sugar fix sorted we were intrigued to have a look at Durbuy, which has classified itself as the world's smallest city!  Unfortunately being a Sunday afternoon the place was packed. Somehow we managed to find a parking and strolled around the narrow cobbled streets lined with stone houses. 

We thought we had better have a waffle in Belgium before we left. 

Our last stop for the day was Givet on the Meuse River. Although it is in France it's practically surrounded by Belgium. On a hill above the town is Charlemont Fort built in the 1500's, like most places visited to day, it has a long history of occupation (Spain, Prussians, Russians, Germans). We enjoyed a walk around before settling in for the night.

The Marie (town hall).