It is forecast to be a hot day 32°C. So we were cautious about planning our route for the day. We would make it to Arras at 32km and review the situation. If we pushed on, we would stay at Bapaume at 62km.

So we had breakfast outside at our lovely holiday parc. Some confusion as to whether we had paid for breakfast/supper or not as a lot of guests have all inclusive prices.

Then we set off in relatively cool morning conditions and made it up to a ridge with amazing views over the mining basin. The slag heaps (viewed from above today), are like giant black pyramids and weirdly impressive (and yes, some of them are World Heritage sites as well as numerous buildings in the mining towns). It took the cycle route several attempts to reach the ridge so there was a bit of slog up, freewheel down, slog up before we

reached a radio mast and the views.

Then downhill and it became apparent that we were cycling through the villages destroyed in the battles of the Somme, 1st World War. We passed a major French war cemetery and museum.

During the rest of the day we passed German, various Commonwealth (South African, Canadian, New Zealand, Australian and our own) cemeteries.

We reached Arras for late coffee (32km) in the Grand Place (with a further World Heritage Belfry) and were advised by the interpretation board that the entire centre was completely destroyed during the war and everything we see was reconstructed in the 1920/30s.

We were feeling good so decided to push on to Bapaume for another 32km and booked a room.

At noon, the belfry carillon played a cheerful ditty. We bought some sandwiches for lunch as there is a big gap between settlements.

So you are now expecting us to keep up the record of World Heritage sites, huh? (Ed: we really can’t keep this up any longer!)

Well, we did two again before lunch! 💪🏻(Slag heap from above and the Belfry) And we nearly viewed a third - the Citadel Fort in Arras, but we didn’t fancy lingering in the blistering heat.

Did we mention the heat 🥵☀️🕶. It was blistering heat reflecting off the road.

After Arras, we stopped at the Sunken Road British cemetery 🪦and cooled off under the shade of the trees 🌳 and had a little sleep. Reflecting on the tragedy of that war.

We pushed on, but by the next village we were already too hot 🥵 🥵 so we stopped in the shade of the church for an hour.

We pushed on again avoiding where possible, farm/gravel tracks as these are slow going and not enough speed for a cooling breeze as we pedal.

Whooof it was hot 🥵.

We finally made it to Bapaume to find an air conditioned hotel. Phew 😮‍💨. Shower, washed clothes and BEER 🍻.

Lovely dinner outside and early to bed.