Whilst trying to sort our transmission problem we have time to visit around & about……
Lens
Adrian very much wanted to visit Lens where he lived for 2 to 3 years whilst working for Hygena about 25 years ago. We were quite impressed with Lens, particularly with the new tourist office. Newly opened in an art deco building which was a porcelain shop (La Ville de Limoges) previously, left to decline but then bought by the town and converted for use as tourist office. The young staff were extremely pleasant, helpful & make excellent coffee!
Terril du Marais de Fouquierres
We also visited a nature reserve that has been established on the old marshes and mining area near Lens. In fact it was the dumping area for both the mines and for the coal fire ash from peoples’ homes. In places you can still see smoke rising from the deep pits within the marshes. We spent a most pleasant afternoon wandering around the reserve with time to stop, listen and look at nature all around. The birdsong was superb but even Chris with his humungous camera could not capture them!
Loved the wild flowers, a moorhen on her nest with her baby, emerging caterpillars & a swan carrying out his ablutions!
And so here we sit watching the world go by but enjoying northern France, the Pas de Calais, and hoping we can get sorted and on our merry way again soon!
Piedaleau 