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Sat Sept 27. Auchy-au-bois. 15.8 km.

 Today’s walk started off with more huge fields.  It is sugar beet harvest time, and the landscape is dotted with these long piles of sugar beets waiting to be trucked off. They really are an unattractive vegetable.



When I came to a chalk quarry I wondered if this would be the day’s highlight.


But then, one of the delights of this type of “slow tourism”.  Who knew that the village of Liettres (population 240) was the birthplace of cricket??  In 1478 there was an official record of a dispute during a cricket match here, which Liettres claims is the first mention of the sport.

Anyway, an “international cricket tournament” was taking place. When I arrived, a team from Brussels was playing a team from this region.  All the players seemed to be communicating in English.  Talking to one of them, he explained that nearly everyone on both teams was from India or Pakistan - hence the English!

To further entertain the (not very numerous) spectators, there were flame throwers, Viking warriors, and medieval musicians from Boulogne. Quite the mix.


A jester and his staff.



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