In wich we ride north

[MooN]

having spent yesterday unblocking the bath  I thought I deserved some R & R this afternoon so got kurviger to invent me a loop on small back roads about 150km northwards

 

ride out north of Auxerre and the Foret D'othe opens out befor you

 

cant remember which village this was

 

I found where Christmas trees are born!  

 

It's rare that I don't see one or more of these along the roadside during a ride, often in the middle of nowhere.

The inscriptions translates as

" to the resistats of the Foret D'Othe

In memory of those who sacrificed their lives against the barbarity of Nazism, in order that you who pass by might live free"

 

Oh I can't remember where this one was either but it's a church 

 

There is a decidedly religious theme to this ride, I would love to know the story behind the reason for painting this roadside shrine all red

 

Madame Moon rang me and despite having helmet comms I don't ride whilst on the phone. The helmet comms allow me to respond, pull over and talk without having to remove gloves, helmet and earplugs. I pulled over to talk.

 

Another resistants memorial less prominent as on a very minor back road and about half way between " nowhere" and " Elsewhere" Again I'd like to hear the story behind it and why specifically in this spot. 

 

riding out of the woods I came across this dead tree and knew instantly what it reminded me of! Any LOTR fans will instantly recognise it...

 

 

if you are wondering why the memorials refer to "Maquis" or "Maquisards" rather than "resistants" a short French history lesson is neccessary:

"Maquis" is a Corsican word designating the uncultivated bush or scrub land covering much of the islands highlands. when someone wanted to dissappear ( usually to hide from the authorities) they would " prend le Maquis" or take to the woods ( going "Bush" the aussies would say) The term "prendre le Maquis" or taking to the woods, rapidly became synonymous with joining the resistance during the war, especially later on when the resistants were able to form organised groups, so the different groups of resistants would take code names such as "le Maquis de MERRY -VAUX" as on the stele in the photo and their members were referred to as "Maquisards".

reading between the lines I think that they were largely ineffectuel and more of a morale boost to the local population than a real problem to the occupying Nazis but there is NO doubt that some of their operations did make a difference and many of them died trying.  For that reason alone we owe them our gratitude. The Massacre of Ouradour sur Glane was a direct reprisal by the Das Reich Panzer division for the destruction of the bridges over the Glane by the local "Maquis"  preventing them from joining their infantry batallion in the counter offensive. 

 

[XTreme]

Brilliant Chris!

And why is that French town so deserted.......are there still restrictions in place?

[MooN]

6 minutes ago, XTreme said:

Brilliant Chris!

And why is that French town so deserted.......are there still restrictions in place?

nope it's always like that here Pete, once you're off the beaten track. That's part of why I love it.  population density is waaay lower than the uk

 

 aparrently Burgundy is currently less densly populated than it was in 1851...

 

[XTreme]

Just now, MooN said:

nope it's always like that here Pete, once you're off the beaten track. That's part of why I love it.  population density is waaay lower than the uk

 

It's like it is here in many places.......except the architecture here is totally different.

[Tym]

Great pics! Havnt been to France since the 80's, nice to see it! Thanks for the pics!

[Tym]

On 13/06/2020 at 15:48, MooN said:

 

 

There is a decidedly religious theme to this ride, I would love to know the story behind the reason for painting this roadside shrine all red

 

 

 

Got to give Jesus credit, he had great abs 

[boboneleg]

Nice one Chris, lovely roads again