June 14th Wallon-Cappel to Lillers

June 14^th Wallon-Cappel to Lillers

distance: 27kms

Coffees: 1 (WEAK AND DEAR)

Beers: 1 Pelforth )(bar had run out of beer)

Blisters: 2 none new one on top of an old blister

Today it was time to move on to make the walking and ferrying to and fro easier. We decided to make for a canal side Aire at St Venant where the Mairie very kindly provided free parking, electricity and water as well as waste disposal facilities. It had been decided that it would all work best if we got up early and moved the half an hour or so to St Venant by 8.30 in readiness for Bert and Susan at 8.45. 

By 07.05 we were at the gates of Camping Beausejour having shaved and showered (Brian) and showered and hair dried (Pauline) there was one teensy little fly in the ointment – the gates were padlocked. Not just the barrier with the remote control to lift it but a proper heavy duty padlocked keep them out gate. Reception wasn't due to open until 08.00 Oh Merde! If in doubt put the kettle on and have breakfast. We were in the middle of breakfast when the municipal worker opened the padlocked gate and we were free to stick to our timetable.

We fairly easily retraced our steps of the day before to Wallon-Cappel and then south to St Venant. A lucky guess had us parked up by the canal and off to the boulangerie by 08.15. Bert and Susan picked us up on time and we set off from Wallon-Cappel (just as it sounds) to Lillers (leelerse)

Bert had chosen a route which consisted of lots of little roads which joined up into an interesting route south but required constant attention to stay on track. It is testimony to his navigation and planning that we walked only an extra 200 metres and that allowed us to take photos of the ancient abbey at Aire sur la Lys and me to fill my water bottle at the cemetery.

As we entered the village of Thiennes (tyen) we met a gentleman of similar vintage as ourselves. I asked him if there was a cafe in the village (otherwise we could have avoided the centre) this was a mistake on two counts. First of all he took it as his signal to tell us the history of the village during the First world War – it was a field hospital and the Second World War when the British Secret Service operated against the German SS who took no prisoners and administered quick justice in the shape of a bullet to the back of the head and etc and etc and etc Secondly the cafe was dark, smelled of cigarettes, had an owner who made Basil Fawlty seem friendly and served expensive weak coffee out of a an urn. Yukh

The gals were waiting for us with a welcome drink in the town centre of Lillers at around 3.45 when we completed the days walk of 27 kms. 6 days down 6 to go.