September 26, 2016
Ypres: In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Armentieres is certainly a dead city on a Sunday afternoon and evening there seems as if nothing at all is open and we began to wonder if we would be able to get anything to eat for dinner. We were to eat with John and his wife had assured him nothing at all would be open. A bit of a wander around the streets and we found a Pizza place. It was doing a roaring trade with take out Pizzas but it had a few tables so we settled for that and very nice Pizzas they were. John's company was great. He had been an executive with Leyland but since his retirement has become increasingly obsessed with the history of WW1 and has a seemingly encyclopaedic knowledge of it - we did enjoy his company. He comes here regularly to wander around on his Raleig 20 which I would say is getting on to being 50years old.
It was after 49 days in France that we left it today. The ride to Ypres was very short and very easy - I felt glad about that as my knee has been getting very sore and it seemed as if it was in need of a bit of a rest. We just wandered along stopping frequently at points of interest. Messines Ridge was a very important place in NZ war history. The plaques say it was a huge success but it seems horrifying that 700 Kiwis should die and 3000 be wounded to be considered a success and gain a little ground. It was here that Uncle Frank was so badly wounded so we thought of him and what a great man he was.
From there to Ypres is all down hill and we passed a myriad of Commonwealth Cemeteries. The arrival in Ypres is always spectacular. We were looking for a hotel with a lift, good wifi, English language TV (so we could watch the Trump/Clinton debate )and immediate check in. The Novotel should fit the bill at a price so we headed straight there and I managed to do a reasonable deal. Ken has been out exploring and finding maps and I have been resting my knee which is feeling considerably better.
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Today's ride: 24 km (15 miles)
Total: 2,769 km (1,720 miles)
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