Honfleur to Villers Bretonneux

Honfleur to Villers Bretonneux

On the road again - just can't wait to get back on the road again....

Hmmm... those bloody tolls got me again!!!!

I knew my route took me almost entirely along a toll way today and I was happy to pay the price (which ended up being around 20 Euros)

But......

My first toll I came to, I did it in a breeze. My mottos though at the moment are "Take nothing  for granted" "Assume nothing" "Concentrate!!!"

So, I wasn't getting ahead of myself..

Then came the next toll - this one was tricky... I've learnt to look for the green arrow on its own, but this one had 4 toll booths and each one had a green arrow and a big "t" on top. Hmmmm... what to do. I had learnt (or so I thought that the "t'" meant you had the equivalent of the e-tag from Melbourne.) But the only place I could see the money sign, was on the exit from the freeway. I didn't want to go that way, but was not sure what to do....

Anyway - go with what you know, so I went through the one that took cash - 1 Euro 10. It was a machine, so I eventually got through it.... but then I seemed to be on the side road, and then Gaby Garmin took me around to another toll gate where I had to pay 1 Euro 10 again....

This was not looking good....

Anyway, I faithfully followed Gaby Garmin - what choice did I have....

As I was driving along, I had the big  thought that I was going in the wrong direction, and even the signposts indicated places I had already been...

Anyway, long story short - my GPS took me almost back into Honfleur and I ended up at the same toll gate again where I was confused the first time.... eeeeekkkkkkk

So, problem solving strategies kick in...

I pulled over a little and watched everyone go through and they seemed to be very quick...

So I thought to myself... maybe there is a cash machine and I put money in..???
I knew I needed to stay on that freeway but couldn't work out how.

So I waited until there were not many cars and went up to the toll booth and eeeekkkkk again - there was no cash machine. Was just getting ready to reverse out again, when my guardian angel pointed out to me there was a ticket I was supposed to take.
Doh.... "t" was for ticket.....  Unbelievable!! 

Then it all clicked - I had to take a ticket and that showed where I actually came on to the freeway... and pay at the other end..

You live and learn!

So I happily went off and enjoyed the 200 KMs or so until it was time to leave for Villers Brettoneux and there was one more challenge. This time you had to pull over, get out of your car,  then take your ticket to a machine and get another ticket which would allow you to pass through...
Truly amazing....!!!!!

Would I ever drive again in France ????? Now that I have learnt the tricks, maybe yes, maybe no. But I was very naïve going into this little escapade, and I have certainly learnt much. It has been a steep learning curve though...

Ok... so I ended up in Villers Bretonneux - the place I wanted to be at. I had heard so much about this place and really wanted to see the WW1 sites around here where Australians are cherished.

I'm not going to explain its whole war history but if you're interested, try  this link
http://www.museeaustralien.com/en/

Anyway, you wouldn't believe it, it's Sunday and the museum and school are closed.... You travel half way around the world to see a place and it's closed...

Then I had a moment that I can already hear you saying "Oh Moira..."

I was there outside the school and thinking what a pain it was that it was closed and this guy with an Aussie accent started saying the same thing - he had  caught the train from Paris this morning and got there, and everything was closed...

He had his French guide book in a little placcy bag (because it was starting to spit raining by this stage) and he was talking about walking 7 kms out to the various cemeteries outside town. Anyway, I took pity on him and said that I was going out there, would he like a ride - and of course, he would...  (oh Moira...!!!)  He was Brendan from Northcote and he knew a heap of stuff about the war. He was a retired Scientist...  and real war buff...

Anyway, he was harmless enough and we both went out to the Australian Memorial outside town and he actually added a fair bit of information about the war and how it happened as we went along...

We started at the Australian National Memorial

 

 

It was a very poignant place when you realised how many people died and were buried in that locality.

It was opened in 1938 - just in time for it to be shot at during the second World War... there are still bullet holes in the memorial.

The next cemetery we went to was the Adelaide Cemetery which was much smaller, but just as sobering...

 

 

When you look out over these rolling hills it's hard to imagine the mud and the chaos of trench warfare.

Anyway, I dropped Brendan from Northcote back in town - I think he was angling for me to take him to one more cemetery, but I was on my way to Albert - my destination for the night.

Might be time for another post.... stayed tuned for Albert