Day 26 – Sat 05 Jul 14, Reims to Saint-Quentin (France)

July 05, 2014

Forecast: 16-22 deg C, showers, Listed distance: 44km+74km; Actual distance: 5km; Cumulative distance: 992km (train distance: 125km)

We had another earlier start than usual, with no breakfast, as we had to catch the train from Reims at 7:35am. Just as we left the hotel, it started to rain and didn't stop until we got to St Quentin. As we now knew about the allocation of platform numbers, we were in not so much of a rush today. The train departed spot on time at 7:35am. Because we have bikes we need to catch local trains, not the 300km/h TGVs. The local ones get along at a respectable enough speed 120km/h and are very modern and comfortable. We travelled via Laon, and Tergnier where we had to change trains and therefore platforms on both occasions. We arrived at St Quentin at 9:33am, again on time. The ticket cost us A$25 each.

After arriving at the Ibis Budget St Quentin Centre hotel and checking-in (a room was available for us even though we were very early), we made for the nearest Maccas which was the only one in town. Well, it wasn't quite in town, but 3km away but we needed the walk. We spent a bit of time in Maccas using the Wi-Fi to catch up on blogs, etc and planning the next day's ride. It was then went back to the hotel to unpack, etc. It was then a wander through the streets during which we came across the Town Square that had been set up as a beach complete with sea breeze, waves breaking and seagulls squawking. That was just after lunch and there was hardly anyone about and the light was not really good for photography so it was back to the hotel to have a nana nap. After that we went back to the Square as the light had improved somewhat. The beach had a lot more visitors this time until a rather large rain cloud deposited its contents on everyone! We took shelter in the Cathedral.

On our wanders we had seen the Brochettes & Cie - Restaurant and Grill, which was just around the corner from the hotel and that was where we had dinner. It was really good; Greg had a “thick-cut Atlantic salmon steak skewer” and said it was the best he has had in a long while. Wendy had a “duo of chicken and beef” skewer. Both meals came with the restaurant’s version of roast potatoes.

At St Quentin we commenced our WW1 Battlefields tour. Due to it being the Centenary of the start of that war there was lots happening. While both Greg's Grandfathers fought and were wounded fighting on the Western Front during this war, Wendy has no known family connections. But as she (and Greg) have British ancestors there's no doubt that a relative or two would have been involved. This war touched every family in the UK. St Quentin was founded by the Romans, those darn Romans again, in the period 19BC - 14AD during Augustus' reign and was named after St Quentin who was martyred there in the third century. Subsequently it has been fought over and conquered by all sorts of countries: French, (it was originally independent) Romans, Spanish and surprisingly the Russians, who obviously got lost? During WW1 it was occupied and looted by the Germans and 80% of the city was destroyed. The Australian 2nd Division saw major action near St Quentin in 1918 when it captured a German stronghold. A Sergeant in the 21st Battalion won a VC during that action. Rebuilding the city after WW1 was very slow (a bit of a backwater maybe) which adversely affected its progress for many years. Currently St Quentin still appears a little rundown in places but at least it's clean and neat and they are obviously trying to make it a nice place to live and visit. We enjoyed it.