Pont Remy to Picquigny

23 kms, 3 locks

Much warmer this morning!  We still needed jackets when we set out at 9.00 but no caps, gloves or scarves.

Still battling the strongly running river. Here’s a signpost warning of “violent current”

And here’s the current: it got us rocking and rolling

Another – risk of being sucked into a weir

We didn't get sucked into the weir.

Chateaux (“castles” or stately homes, perhaps)

There are many “etangs” (ponds) alongside the river.  Many of these were formed by the local industry of peat digging.  Whole towns were built on the proceeds of the local peat, never mind what it did to the environment.  Fortunately, the ponds have now become wetlands where all sorts of water fowl, fish, small mammals, reptiles and insects breed.

The “eclusiers” (lock keepers) on the Somme take their lunch break from 12.30 to 13.30  and of course by the time we arrived at the Picquigny lock it was well into the lunch hour so we had to kick our heels for an hour till he arrived – actually we had lunch!   I asked him how many boats are on this river at the moment:  we are the one and only!  He added “All this is for you!”  It made us feel very special.

This is quite a busy little town, officially 1300 inhabitants, lots of traffic, lots of people walking around.  There are the remains of an 11^th century castle where the treaty ending the Hundred Years War between England and France was signed in 1475.  I had to go and have a look.  I found it via the back entrance!

Very worn steps after walking up quite a steep hill

The Collegiale St Martin in the grounds of the castle

A commemoration to the peace treaty in 1475

The remains of the castle

The castle walls

The main entrance, being renovated

Another section of the castle walls

The town climbs up the hill to the castle and there are some still some really old houses (walls).

A French version of a gnome?  Just loved her!