Hard Cheese!

Well, to tell the truth, mainly soft, runny and delicious cheeses being served at the restaurant La Paix in Forges-les-Eaux, right in the heart of Normandy cheese country. The recipients when the photograph was taken were a group of wiry English cyclists, touring from Paris to Leicester, having arrived in Paris by Eurostar (the English are not eccentric). La Paix is both a starred restaurant and a hotel, at which we stayed, thus solving the drinking question.

We were en route from Calais to Orléans, where I have to be at a meeting on Friday. Our first quick stop, just to see what was there, was at the Aire des Falaises de Widehem-Ouest on the A16. This is an Aire de Repos, spectacular on the southbound carriageway, very high up, and with fine views in all directions, including this one over the Baie de la Canche, looking in the direction of the Somme estuary.

This very windy place has a large wind turbine farm looking quite magnificent, and making a curious sound that I do not find unpleasant.

On a smaller scale, and in the context of the poppies that I showed in yesterday's Blipfoto entry, the parking place was blessed with a colourful variety of wild flowers.

Never before did I wax lyrical about a lay-by, but this Aire is truly a dramatic spot!