Big day of doing, visiting and moving back into France today.

First on the list is a visit in the town centre, that is after breakfast prepared by a very friendly English speaking lady called Pebbles (BamBam nowhere in sight) . Lots of Aussies doing what we are doing also at breakie. In Flanders Field museum already at 10.00 am queued right up, are there any children at school?

The In Flanders Field museum is housed in the main building in town and is even more imposing than the next door ABC! It is called Cloth Hall, first built in 1304, how do they know this stuff and how do I know as well. Naturally the bejesus was bombed out of it during the war so re-built, even has a bell tower that we climbed all 500 steps, it is a good way to work off Pebbles' breakfast. Lots of these exhibitions are not worth the coin but I think our 11 euro we well spent here.

I am in the drivers seat today so watch out, our next port of call is at Fromelles just inside French territory, passing on the way small towns all with some past relationship to the terrors of war, always the war grave sites there as a constant reminder. We arrive and find the Pheasant Wood war grave memorial, assume most will remember that this was the site where a farmer found bones and then a mass grave was exhumed finding 250 bodies, practically all Australians . As such this brand new war grave site has just been set up. the accompanying building of recognition with their full details is due to open in July so just missed out. You always run into others doing similar rounds as us, this time it is a New Zealand lady following up her country folk. Also in the town is Cobber Corner and VC Australian Memorial war graves, this site has no head stones as none of the bodies (all Aussies) could be identified so is just a lawned area with all the missing names engraved into a Remembrance Wall at the rear. Stark reminder of the slaughter and the diggers courage.

We then have a few hours drive via the scenic route and in the pouring rain to the small village of Poziers, one of the more recognisable places that Australia had an effect on. As it was belting down only had a view through the eyes of the local pub which also doubles as the museum, has all things Aussie in it. There are a number of B & B 's here but all full. The main town close by is Albert so we set up camp there for the next few days, naturally right opposite ABC.

The towns pub when we arrive has 136 school children from England in it all about to eat, talk about a lot of noise, we more on quickly! Tonight is earthy night, mix with the locals. We have highs and lows and with this crew we seem to be down very low but that also makes it one of our highs as we can always see the funny side of things, we stand out rather well and are a topic of constant conversation for the locals. Move onto the local takeaway pizza place for a feed, only ones there and have interesting conversations with them via sign language, pointing and nodding. Back to base as John needs to do a little bit more sleeping, talk about one sleeping your life away, he went to bed at 9.00 pm and now 9.00 am the next day and he is still there!