Mon 13 Feb 1° fine

Lovely day, blue sky, sun shining, saw ladies with fur bonnet hoods like I used to have as a child growing up in London winters with thick snow, brought back memories.

Very flat ploughed fields and green new sown fields making a patchwork of the countryside. Followed by acres and acres of brown newly ploughed fields.

Tony decided to take the road less travelled along the D18 Chemin des Dames, path of the ladies. King Louis XV daughters would walk this route to their ex lady in waiting who was now the King's mistress.

Modern church and  graveyard at Cerney en Laonnois, quite a contrast to cathedral's and abbeys seen so far.

On to St Quentin via Gauchy, which proved a good move, as we avoided big city and were able to get supplies to Aldi plus top up gazol (diesel) €1,24 ltr and gpl (lpg)€.67 ltr took 16 ltrs after 10 days, therefore average €1.20 a day for cooking and heating.

Drove on to proposed aire using coordinates and fingers crossed as she has taken a few back turns with those before.
Passed wind turbines through pretty countryside heavily planted and ploughed very sunny day lovely relaxing drive, drove past 4th division Australian and commonwealth graves.

Finally reached destination  of Marcoing after 1/2 mile detour across muddy field, Bessie's first test at off road driving. Bloody coordinates  off skew again , she wanted us to turn up at railway track before we found the turning, perseverance paid off again, excellent driving from the ex farm hand. Nice sunny tarmac location but unfortunately the elec and water turned off for winter, rang the council phone number, but the man couldn't speak English and hung up on me. Still it's free and good for one night.

Gave the bearded one a trim outside before settling in for the evening.