Audresselles to Boulogne sur Mer – A Coastal Stroll (second post today)

Today was to be a decent half day stroll to a hotel, 10 miles away, in Boulogne. We’ve been there many times, most notably with our friends Rick and Lisa 35 years ago when we ate lunch at La Matelote restaurant. It is Michelin starred and we had a fabulous seafood meal, swilled down by champagne. What a treat. But even in those days it cost £200! Christ knows what it would cost now.

Looking up the coast the day was beautiful and the wind had dropped. How lucky am I.

Heading down the coast I followed the road for a while to Ambleteuse then cut down through the dunes to the shoreline and the sea. Many loved before us, I know that we are not new. Thanks forever and beyond Leonard for gifting us your songs and soul.

The track passed to the left of this dike.

And the views of Ambleteuse looking back were just lovely.

But most amazing was this 300 and odd years old fort – Fort Mahon. Standing proud and defiant to the waves. I love this stuff.

The pebble shore was tough to walk across, and quite draining. But the views of the sea and the dunes made it more than worth it.

I saw this poor bugger on the beach. Drowned in air and dried. If it had still been wet I could have eaten it. Inconsiderate cephalopod!

I got to the end of the shingle beach and looking back to Fort Mahon the view was great.

Next stop was Wimereux, a delightful town which was the British Army HQ in 1919 and the centre for the German Naval Command, before they lost the Second World War, in a crushing defeat.

It was a sunny day in this seaside town.

Heading back from town to the coast the view back along the front was lovely.

I carried on, heading along the coastline rather than the more sensible coastal path on the cliff tops. It was exciting, I could go up the cliffs when I wanted and the tide was going out. What could go wrong? Well firstly the coastline was made up of boulders for 4 miles. Starting just beyond this breakwater.

I stuck at it and was able to look back after an hour and see progress. But it was clear that I wouldn’t be able to get up the cliffs. It was either carry on and hope it came out somewhere or turn back. Nobody else was trying it so what answer did that indicate? Onward!

There were fascinating features in these boulders. This is a rock of solid iron, spewed out from the earth’s core millions of years ago.

And this is an impression of a mollusc that left an impression many millions of years ago. What a cracker!

Keeping my eyes on the ground to make sure I didn’t slip, otherwise Eyed Beef Act, I got closer towards Boulogne, but there was still nobody else here.

And looking back again I’d come a long way from rock to rock.

It suddenly flattened and I could see a staircase up to a German gun emplacement. Thanks lads. Right considerate of you.

As I got closer I got more confident that I could get up to the top.

Looking back from the top it was a great vista, all the way back to Wimereux and beyond.

Now I had to put my foot down to get to my hotel before the Sheffield U kick off. Along the prom…..

Past the old sailing ship……

And into town. Checked into the hotel and logged on to the Wi-Fi, and couldn’t get a feed from SUTV! Bloody bugger!

We lost anyway. So I went up to the old town and had some dinner. A great walk, great dinner and good day.

Night night.