Vraignes-en-Vermandois to Seracourt le Grand

St Quentin

A grey, drizzly start. Out early as we wanted to go off route and visit St. Quentin. Dried the tent as best we could and set off.

Further skirmishes with mosquitoes as we headed along the valley into St. Quentin. Alongside a field of courgettes the farmer had planted a border of wildflowers. We met our first fellow pilgrims, a father and daughter heading north. Foolishly we didn't get a picture to record the moment.

We have learned that if the route takes a detour it is probably to visit a closed church a cemetery or a wayside cross.

---

Today's date: 22.6.20

Weather: cloudy, didn't see the sun all day

Steps: 51,200

Distance: 37.62 km

Climbing: 899 m

---

We entered St. Quentin on a disused railway - as always. The town centre was busy and we got a stamp at the tourist office.

St Quentin looked like a town with things to see, but we were tired and had more walking ahead of us, so we resupplied, devoured lunch and headed back to the path.

---

We left town on a path by the St. Quentin canal. It was good to walk on a flat, easy surface and not have to navigate. The canal is very sluggish and we saw no boats of any kind.

The canal runs parallel to the river Somme. In places the Somme is so overgrown that the river seems to disappear and become solid ground.

---

Campsite at Seracourt le Grand

This is a great site, the best yet. The village has a shop and a bar and the campsite has a special area set aside for pilgrims.

The facilities are all new and there is a huge room with a kettle and power to charge things.

---