Western and Central France has missed out of the Tour this time as regards any linkage to the two world wars. However the nearest the Tour was to the US Aisne -Marne (Belleau) Cemetery was Epernay,which is roughly 50 kms NE of Belleau. Paris is about 100 kms,roughly SE and the A4 Autoroute offers the fastest route from Paris.The last time I visited the area and Belleau,the A4 was being laid down.Apparently the Belleau Cemetery Chapel was slightly damaged by a German shell during the Second World War. About 10 kms SE of Belleau is the the large Chateau Thierry US memorial which dominates the Maine Valley and overlooks Chateau Thierry....a very impressive memorial to the US soldiers and marines who fought in the region during the summer of 1918. I would think that the nearest the Tour passed to a US First World War military cemetery in the area of the Marne would be the Oise-Aisne cemetery (with its forbidden access graves plot) which lies about 20 kms NE of Chateau Thierry and about 40kms from Reims and Epernay.
They did pass very close to the Hartmannswillerkopf. Maybe it was the huge cemetery near there you saw.
I agree now that they didn't ride by the Douaumont Ossuary but they did show it on TV. I had to back up my recording to get the spelling for my post. Killer final climb yesterday, eh? 22 percent and on gravel. Good grief.
Today's No 7 stage reaches Chalon sur Saone and may show a few frames of the Burgundy vineyards....within a short distance to the west is the Morvan and the scene of SAS and Maquis intensive activity against the German occupiers in the months following the D Day landings. For Saturday's Stage 8.It's a pity that the Stage starts at Macon for just south of Chalon sur Saone on the old RN to Macon, now the D 906, lies Sennecy le Grand.Here there are memorials to the SAS's engagement against superior German forces in early September 1944.
How do they keep the route so pristine? Farm country here in the states always has some old equipment and vehicles laying around, plus a lot of manure. I haven't even seen any trash barrels or dumpsters.
You need to go for a trip around France - they are [mostly] a very clean nation as regards junk & rubbish etc. It even goes to the point that if your neighbour doesnt cut their grass when it starts seeding you can you got the local Mayor who will contact the owner of the land and tell them to cut it - if they dont then the Mayor will call in contractors and charge the land owner. Sometimes though like our neighbours they 'hide' stuff behind hedges. They have decheteries which are open to all where you can go and drop off various types of rubbish - wood, hardcore, garden, metal, glass, cardboard etc etc and you will notice that many French cars have two balls and a high percentage of French have a trailer that they use to take their 'rubbish' to the decheterie in Déchèterie — Wikipédia - Que pouvez-vous apporter à la déchetterie ? Keep watching the TdF it gives you an overall view of the nation and how it looks after itself. Something else you probably wont see at least outside of major towns are bus stops - they dont exist, its why the small diesel car reigns supreme TD
When watching the Tdf keep an eye on the houses and see how clean & precise the gardens are especially hedges. You might also see their wood stacked for the winter, and generally its millimeter perfect length stacked like soldiers Its something that is passed down from father to son - each have their own precise format Examples Stock Photo - Stacks of Firewood, Beech Essence, Spring, Northern Vosges, France Photo libre de droit de Long Bois Pile En Français Alpes À Proximité De Chambery banque d'images et plus d'images libres de droit de {top keyword} - iStock Wall of firewood at Chateau de Beynac, France TD
Just for you France génétique Elevage - Diversity of cattle breeds These are quite a common breed and are known as a dual cattle brred - good for milk & beef, quite a few around here in Brittany Montbeliarde TD
Our most distinctive breed is the Texas Longhorn University of Texas mascot meets University of Georgia mascot.
Just learned about a local guy riding this year: Neighborhood cheers on Decatur cyclist in Tour de France
...and still going on...Are there really any normal people left in the world whose tits haven't been bored off by the whole bloody thing once again ?
Dicky You are a fountain of knowledge. Who knew that firewood stacking was an art form. Over here, we NEVER stack it against the house or any wooden structure. Termites in the wood will make short work of wooden floors, framing, fences, etc. You could always spot Scandinavian immigrants to Canada by their unique circular stacks.
Stephen Decatur - Wikipedia Died dueling. I live next door in Gwinnett County. Named for Button Gwinnett, who also died in a duel. Button Gwinnett - Wikipedia Here is our former Governor: