France
Arrondissement de Saint-Quentin

Discover travel destinations of travelers writing a travel journal on FindPenguins.
Travelers at this place
    • Day 5–6

      Lille to Villenauxe la Grande

      September 25, 2023 in France ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C

      We said our goodbyes and set off south to Villenauxe. As we were only half an hour from Belgium we took a detour across the border. Kev wanted waffles 🧇 but couldn't find a purveyor of waffles within 'the border region'!
      Setting the sat navigation to 'no tolls' is great. Not only do we save wine tokens, we skirted the Somme region and stopped at memorials to those lost in the first and second world wars.
      Spotted a chateau from miles away and did a short detour which didn't disappoint. Still warm here so stopped for an orangina, Laurent, the bar owner was chatty and when we complimented his lovely little bar he enquired if we wanted to buy it... bit far to travel to Horwich for my office days and although AXA offices are everywhere, I didn't spot one up by the chateau!
      Long 4 hour drive on unfamiliar roads (without the stops) but really worth it!
      Just the one night in Villenauxe, we will focus on this gorgeous village tomorrow.
      Now for food.... night all 🍾
      Read more

    • Day 21

      Day 18 - Trefcon to Saint Quentin

      May 8, 2023 in France ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C

      The forecast for today was fog, and it lasted my entire walk (I'm in a place where the sun doesn't burn off the fog!). This suited me perfectly as my mind was not in a place to appreciate the world around me. Today was a day of reflection and self-recrimination, which was a step up from the spiral of the previous night. The cause; a) I realised that the only meals I would be getting, if I stayed in Trefcon for the second night, for a rest day, would be breakfast - thus realising my fear of starving in France, b) the end points of my guide book and the VF app differed on 3 of the next 5 days, and, last, but not least, I'd run out of cigarettes! The outcome of the reflection: two core elements of myself; inherent laziness, bolstered by naive optimism (everything will work out), may prevent me from completing this adventure. I realise now that I must be better organised and informed of what is coming up for me and plan for it. I can do the walking itself; not counting my walk today, and according to my garmin, I have walked 163.1 km since my last rest day. What I can't do without is food and a place to stay every night that provides adequate support services. So I've checked out each of the places I am staying over the next week to ensure that I get those things - apparently, that is possible (at this stage).Read more

    • Day 5

      St Quentin

      April 26, 2023 in France ⋅ ☁️ 7 °C

      Vandaag de 27e,... blfijft een bijzondere dag, nee niet vanwege de koning maar van mijn Koningin, 11 maanden alweer. En met 12 maanden wil ik dus in Santiago zijn..dus op naar St Quentin.. omdat ik nog een stukje Garmin wil uitzoeken heb ik via de telefoonapp van St Jacobus gereden en dat beviel ook goed. Onderweg door dorpjes en velden. Dorpjes met naast mooie idyllische huisjes ook de nodige bouwvallig... natuurlijk in ieder dorpje ook een kerkje met prachtige uitbeelding, soms nog met biechtstoel en een spreekgestoelte waar je U tegen zegt maar sommige zijn ook gesloten, denk ook niet dat een kerk per dorp houdbaar is... enfin in een van die kerkjes toch even wat elektronica opgeladen en rond de klok van 12, ik zat op de trap mijn boterham op te eten, kwamen de moeders hun kroost ophalen van school. Ik denk de rest van de dag vrij, de bofferds...... langs menig kanaal zag ik vissers alleen ogen in gezelschap naar hun dobbers turen en sommigen dacht ik, moet jij niet gaan werken, maar ja voor het zelfde geld zit hij in de onregelmatige dienst...... 😀 😀. Ook zag ik de gele lijnzaad- of koolzaad velden afgewisseld met windmolens....... de omgeving wordt er in ieder geval niet mooier op.
      In een van de dorpjes zag ik een oud schoolgebouw met boven de uiterst linker toegangsdeur 'garcons' en boven de uiterst rechter deur 'filles'. Of dit nog beleid is of gewoon een oud gebouw.....dat heb ik niet kunnen zien. Zag inmiddels ook aardig wat fazanten en echt grote hazen in het veld, prachtig.
      In de namiddag zag ik dat de jongeren zich nogal eens verzamelden rond de kerk, er was ook niets anders te doen, triest, maar er werden wel hele gesprekken gevoerd. En zo werd het avond en ik zat nog op m'n fiets. De dorpjes sterven uit, zo ook de openbare verlichting en zo kwam er het moment dat naast de velden ook de dorpjes zwart werden en als ik zwart zeg dan is het zwart, hoewel ik mijn hoofdlamp wat liet bijschijnen ging ik bij nagenoege stilstand omver en stootte ik toch mijn rechterknie en daar lig je dan... het moment kwam dichterbij dat ik besloot om het dorpje niet meer uit te rijden... maar ja aan een taxi kwam ik niet en ik bereidde me voor om de nacht dan maar onder de Franse sterren, op een bankje door te brengen toen er een auto voorbij kwam die me in licht zette...... tja collega's van de Gendarmerie Nationale' op patrouille. Zonder cautie vertelde ik in welke situatie ik me bevond en ze boden aan om mij met mijn bagage naar een hotel in St Quentin te brengen dus fiets met 2 sloten vast gezet en instijgen. Na middernacht kwam ik aan, snel ingecheckt en na snel een berichtje voor het thuisfront te hebben gemaakt was mijn lichtje ook op.
      Vanochtend dus na het ontbijt een taxi gepakt die me met mijn spullen weer bij mijn fiets bracht. 50 euro lichter, dat fietst niet sneller, stapte ik weer op nu met de fiets naar St Quentin waar ik rond de middag aankwam. Bij een restaurant zag ik een platte du jour, zeg maar de dagschotel, en in de boeken stond dat je dat zeker eens moet proberen en inderdaad een goede lekkere maaltijd. Vervolgens weer een stempel voor mijn credential gescoord en kwam bij mij het gevoel dat het genoeg was voor een dag. Ik heb net 4 uurtjes geslapen en voel me een stuk beter dus tijd om even het een van me af te schrjjven, het is nu 18.14......waar moet ja dan als gepensioneerde Kmar aandenken...... juist ja het jaar waarin de Kmar werd opgericht, al zeg ik het zelf, een hele goede keuze.
      Enfin morgen dus vanuit St Quentin naar Compiegne met een uitgeruste fietser. Tot morgen!
      Read more

    • Day 21

      Day 19 - Saint Quentin to Seraucourt le

      May 8, 2023 in France ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C

      A walk in the rain today with the Saint Quentin Canal on my right and glimpses of La Somme River on my left. I saw my very first canal lock, and I encountered my very first pilgrim on the actual path: a Dutch cyclist. He had the best gear, bike included - he didn't even look wet. I, on the other hand, looked like a drowned rat, LOL. I dropped my pole inside that water pump thing (bad photos I know, but the rain did not stop for a second). Thank God it floated and did not get sucked down as I was able to climb over the fence and retrieve it. I would be severely hampered with only one pole. That helped me to think about all the things I can be grateful for and all the fabulous wisdom people have shared with me, and I am benefitting from. Thank you all. 😊. P.S. the Cathedral at Saint Quentin was amazing - not much to look at from the outside, but seriously impressive once you got in the door.Read more

    • Day 23

      Day 20 - Seraucourt la Grand to Tergnier

      May 10, 2023 in France ⋅ 🌧 10 °C

      The rain held off for the first 5 km or so, and then, all the gear, my rain gear, and my backpack that I had managed to dry overnight got soaked all over again! The walk started across farmland on what was an old stone road and then became a lengthy walk next to the Canal du Saint Quentin with only one quagmire to contend with. It was lovely. I saw some herons and another six locks (no photos as they all look pretty much alike). I got to Tergnier and tried at three places to get accommodation (not one responded to my previous emails and I can't ring as my UK SIM will not let me make calls) and the only 'Hotel' open (apparently this is a 'recovering' area) doesn't offer accommodation anymore! Luckily, there is a train station here so I'm cheating and catching the train to Laon! To be perfectly honest, it's probably for the best as the walk between Tergnier and Laon is at least 39 km, and the forecast is for thunderstorms tomorrow! I'm not up for that. I saw a lot of pilgrim spray on signs today, and I've added some in my pics.Read more

    • Day 4

      Etappe 4 - redhot is echt hot

      July 26, 2022 in France ⋅ ☁️ 25 °C

      Vandaag een dag met kleine tegenslagen. Camelbag vergeten, Ritchie nog erge last en een kleine mankement aan de fiets van Jelle. Maarrr, ducktape en redhot doet wonderen. De tocht was pittig. Veelal onverhard en veel kasseien. Maar deze wegen hebben ons naar magische plekken gebracht. Nu in onze boomhut in the middle of nowhere genieten van weer een dag met inmiddels mooie herinneringen.Read more

    • Day 14

      Trefcon 11 miles

      July 26, 2023 in France ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C

      A new problem today. Nice short day, less than 4 hours walking, the trouble was I couldn’t check in to the next accommodation until after 5pm. It was in a tiny village so nothing to do there if I arrived too early. Therefore no point in leaving Peronne before 1pm. Luckily Peronne had the largest WWI museum in Europe. Not something I knew much about but thanks to 3 hours spent there this morning I am now a bit of an expert. With my memory I probably won’t remember anything by the time I get home but it was really well done.

      And I bought a sandwich before I left town. Organised or what? Truth is tonight I am in an old farmhouse with no possibility of any food if I didn’t bring it with me. Sanny and water for tea. Plus some half melted Lindt chocolate that was wonderful.

      Initial misunderstanding when I arrived meant that I thought I was going to be in this fairly dire dormitory with no hot water, dampish mattress etc but it turned out I have an old but quite adequate room, sheets on bed, proper mattress etc. that I am delighted with. Amazing how if you think you are getting nothing you are quite happy with a little something.

      It is time I talked about feet. I have talked about eating quite a lot as well as sleeping but I don’t think I have mentioned my beloved tootsies. A pilgrim’s life revolves round that blessed triumvirate, food, bed and feet, after all. Anyway there is good news and bad news. Firstly the good - my left foot is grand, thank you. 2 weeks in and no blisters so far. Somewhat tender certainly but a combination of 9 months of twice-weekly training walks with full pack and a comparatively low mileage over the first 2 weeks have done the job. On the other foot as it were, its partner is not quite so happy. Don’t ask me why. Pretty sure they both have taken the same number of steps. Only a couple of blisters but together just a bit of a nuisance. Not burst yet, though.

      The real trouble is things are about to get more serious. I have averaged a comfortable 13 miles a day up to now but the next 4 days are over 20 miles a day. And just to start things off well, tomorrow’s forecast is heavy rain. I am of course camping tomorrow night. Luckily tomorrow is all on road. Hard on the feet and not fun dodging traffic but at least I won’t have mud to contend with.
      Read more

    • Day 24

      Stage 15c

      May 4, 2023 in France

      Anic Urier is a member of the Via Francigena FB group. It turns out she lives right across the street from my gîte. When she found out I was there she invited me over for a chat, laundry, dinner and (tomorrow) breakfast.

      I also finally got a photo of a bottle of colza oil. Colza is all those yellow fields.
      Read more

    • Day 25

      Stage 16: Trefcon to Saint-Quentin

      May 5, 2023 in France ⋅ ☁️ 54 °F

      I had breakfast with Anic Urier, who had also invited me to dinner last night. I explained to her what a Camino Angel is, so she was pleased. I had arrived in Trefcon not knowing there was no food. My gîte was weird, too. The shower only had scalding water and the toilet didn’t flush. If I had known that I would have spent the night at Anic’s house, which was literally a 20 second walk from the gîte.

      Today’s walk went well……until my phone almost died after only three hours and the charger didn’t work ( I thought I charged it all night but maybe it wasn’t plugged in all the way?). I was pretty unnerved since I needed the GPS to find Saint-Quentin as well as the name and address of my hotel. At 3% I found my first bar and plugged it in. Very nice…..except for the drunk lady who kept stroking my raincoat and hat. 🤨 It was only 12:30! Sheesh!

      The walk included a few small woods but mostly it ran along farmland. Wheat, colza and newly planted beets.

      Lots of cemeteries. This region was devastated by WWI and WWII. The towns were pretty much razed by the fighting and rebuilt afterwards, so most everything is less than 100 years old. Red brick everywhere.

      The French war dead are grouped together in big cemeteries. The English, Germans, Canadians, Australians, etc., are in their own cemeteries where the battle took place. Each country takes care of its own cemetery, usually through local associations. I was told there is a lot of WWI tourism, as people want to see where Great-Grandpa fought and was buried. A lot of that, which explains all the tour pamphlets I see everywhere.

      The countryside is beautiful. Some of the villages are nice but the towns make tge countryside look even better.

      No sighseeing because I need to rest my legs for tomorrow and because it’s RAINING.
      Read more

    • Day 26

      Stage 17: Saint-Quentin to La Fère

      May 6, 2023 in France ⋅ ☁️ 50 °F

      A lot went wrong today, but a lot went right.

      What went right: by using an alternate route I was able to shorten the distance thereby helping my bum knee. Also the countryside, friendly cows and villages were quite nice.

      What went wrong: no place to sit down without getting wet meant 7 1/2 hours straight of walking. Towards the end the GPS went crazy and had me scrambling under barbed wire fences, traipsing through thigh-high plants, slogging through ankle-deep marsh, and slipping/sliding/climbing/falling in stinging nettles. My legs are still stinging but at least the blood is gone. And I found dead bugs in my soggy shoes.
      Read more

    You might also know this place by the following names:

    Arrondissement de Saint-Quentin

    Join us:

    FindPenguins for iOSFindPenguins for Android