In which Sid and Doris and Hermann see La France Profonde at play, and Hermann is a star Véhicule Ancienne.
The Fête de la Moisson is a paean to rural life, when tractors were small and subsidies were large. France looks back to Les Trentes Glorieuses, the years of growth after the war, when farmers could have tractors and combines, practical French cars and still drink wine at lunchtime. France would have Concorde and an independent nuclear capability. De Gaulle could keep the Tommies out of the Common Market until 1973. Happy days.
As Hermann rolls up Montiers’ rue du Paradis (Sid not making this bit up) he is invited to exhibit himself in the exposition voitures et tracteurs anciens. He is next to a gaily painted Buick which is very tidy. Doris gets busy with the Quick Detailer.
The ploughing contest is artfully set on a ridge. Doris hunkers down to get the silhouette shot. The dog seemed to be an important part of the team. Certainly the dog thought so.
The tractors are the stars. Had you heard of Societe Francaise de Vierzon? So much to learn.
There are brocante stalls with a more than usually unwantable array of bric a brac. But there are opportunities to make your dreams come true.
You can sit with your 1923 Citroen Type C. Over a hundred years old, says the vieux dude, though Sid pegs him at about 75.
Sid and Doris extricate Hermann from the small throng around him (what is the smallest number required for a throng?) and set out for St Valery sur Somme.
This is a very pretty town on the Bay of the Somme. There is more to the town than we saw (including a narrow gauge steam railway), though we do have this atmospheric picture of the Somme with the sound of sandpipers.
The Relais du Guillaume de Normandy does an excellent D, B and B. Which is also taken to be Doris’ birthday dinner, though we do not let on and there is no singing of Appy Birsday Chère Catherine.
Next morning there is time to visit Le Tréport and its funicular, which is treat enough that Doris is ready to leave well before the usual 9.30.
Here is the scene in 1908. It goes through the cliff. And the hats were better, weren’t they?
A Grand Hotel Trianon was built at the top of the cliff to take advantage of the new access, where in the early 1940s there were many German guests (who then unsportingly knocked it down as too recognisable to air reconnaissance).
The funicular started up again in the 1950s with a mono cable ski cabin arrangement but a bit of wind meant stopping the service and in turn it shut in 1981.
What we can see is that colours were much nicer in the 1960s, as you probably remember. And here below Doris’s picture of the current four car system.
Before leaving Le Tréport Doris makes a wily raid on a local boulangerie, so no old boat buns for the duo.
Back in England, Newhaven is a very small port with not many passport lanes. The ferry is quite large. If you ever take this ferry with a car then buy priority loading and unloading. I don’t know the price. It will be good value.
And with that small warning, Sid recommends this itinerary. Even If you are not a cathedral dude, and we know some of you are, there will still be plenty of charm and history to soak up, and of course the high quality groceries.
A votre santé.