DAY 8 - AMIENS to CORBIE (Monday 24 April)

It was cold and wet as we left Amiens this morning. We left the town on the footpath by the river, which took us past the area known as the hortillonnages. It is a place where market gardens have been developed among the marshy terrain, joined by canals and accessible by private bridges.

Leaving Amiens by the River Somme

Leaving Amiens - a landscape surrounded by water

The properties all had private entry bridges. None of them were particularly welcoming. 

Old-fashioned vegetable delivery, Amiens

Past the hortillonnages, we continued alongside the river for several kilometres. The weather cleared in patches, and there were the usual wonderful reflections in the river and birds to entertain us. So it was quite an enjoyable morning's walk. 

Onwards upstream along the Somme - the usual wonderful reflections

After the traditional morning refreshment stop we continued along mostly quiet roads towards Villers-Bretonneux. 

A stop for refreshments, then on towards Villers-Bretonneux 

In Blangy-Tronville, with a darkening sky

Newly ploughed fields on the way to Villers-Bretonneux.  The Australian War Memorial is in the background. 

A quiet road taking us to Villers-Bretonneux

The last few kilometres into Villers-Bretonneux were on a busier road. 

After a couple of quick stops to photograph the village entry sign and visit the Adelaide Cemetery, we had our lunch on a park bench. We then continued on into the village to the Franco-Australian Museum, admiring a lot of Australian decorations along the way. 

Our way in to Villers-Bretonneux

Some Australian icons in Villers-Bretonneux

A small aside here - we were on mission at the Franco-Australian Museum. Eric, a friend from our home village, had a father who had fought in the First World War and been awarded the Légion d'Honneur. After his father died, Eric presented the medal to the Franco-Australian Museum here. He asked us to present the Museum with the poppy his father used to wear to the Anzac Day marches, to be displayed with the Légion d'Honneur. When we arrived at the museum, we explained our mission. The staff were thrilled to receive the poppy, and immediately placed it in the display case with Eric's dad's medal. Mélanie, the lady who put the poppy in place, had been present when Eric came over to present the medal to the museum, and remembered the occasion well. 

With Mélanie at the Franco-Australian Museum 

Fred Hocking's poppy about to be reunited with his medal

Putting the poppy in place

Yes, that looks pretty good. 

Mission accomplished 

Fred Hocking's poppy and Légion d'Honneur,  Franco-Australian Museum, Villers-Bretonneux

We went on to have a good look around the museum. It has a wonderful collection of personal memorabilia from the First World War, particularly relating to the battle at Villers-Bretonneux on 24-25 April 1918.

Some of the displays at the impressive  Franco-Australian Museum, Villers-Bretonneux

Some evocative photos,  Franco-Australian Museum, Villers-Bretonneux

After eventually leaving the museum we ducked into a café for a refreshing hot beverage, then headed on past the Australian War Memorial to the neighbouring village of Corbie, where we are staying the night. 

A refreshing coffee, Villers-Bretonneux

Admiring the self-service grocery boxes,Villers-Bretonneux

The road from Villers-Bretonneux was closed in preparation for tomorrow's dawn service. We figured the closure didn't apply to us because we were on foot. 

Approaching the Australian War Memorial on the way to Corbie

The road to Corbie

Book box,  Corbie

View from our hotel room,  Corbie

Day 8 - Healthy Fruit 

Day 8 - Birds

Day 8 - Elevation Profile

Day 8 - Route

Day:  8

Distance: 25.95 km

Walking time:  5 hrs 30 mins

Elevation gain: 335 metres

Cumulative distance:  173.74 km