Day 2: July 2 2025 - Beauvais to Tergnier - 80 miles

My F1 Hotel in Beauvais was okay, very simple, but satisfied my needs for the night. The language being spoken almost exclusively was Arabic, which leads me to think that many of the “guests” were semi-permanent there and probably emigrants / refugees etc. Probably heading to the UK. What a mess all that business is. I have great compassion for people fleeing awful lives back in their homelands. The real solution is to make where they are from is peaceful, calm, and with opportunity. But, I guess that is a lot to ask, given the amount of warfare and conflict there is in so many places. In the meantime, I’m not sure what to think. Or to do.

I was on the right side of Beauvais to get straight on to the Route Verte, mostly on cycle ways or very quiet roads heading toward Clermont, and then linking in with the EuroVelo Route 3 on to Compiegne, which is where, I think, the Germans surrendered in 1918, and where the French surrendered to the Germans in 1939. The railway carriage used for both signings was blown up on Hitler’s order following the latter. The route from Compiegne mostly followed the River Oise or its canal, and was pleasant riding, with a bit of a tailwind in the latter afternoon. I was heading for Tergnier further up the Oise, to a municipal campground, which has proven to be very nice, with all facilities, and with an acceptable brasserie on site where I was able to eat. The weather has been fine, less hot and humid than the last few days, but later this afternoon I thought that we might be heading for a thunderstorm, but it hasn’t materialised so far. I hope not tonight when I am in my tent.

Lunch was at a little town somewhere along the way where, as I turned a corner, there was a gathering of stalls around the square, including a very nice charcuterie / traiteur, from whom I brought a nice piece of chicken pie and some potato salad. Very tasty.

I’m tired tonight after my 80 mile ride, which is a little more than I like to do at my age, but it looks as though I am still able for it. Tomorrow, I will make sure, is a bit shorter. Hopefully to camp if the weather holds. If not, or I can’t find somewhere suitable, it will be a local hostelry.

I see the Pound Sterling is falling, following Rachel Reeves tears in the House of Commons. I’m surprised, because she usually looks and sounds emotionally sterile. Maybe a chewing out by Mr Speaker has helped her discover her inner self. While I do side with the rebel MPs fighting the corner of welfare recipients, the question still stands as to how are we to pay for the burgeoning welfare budget. The figures are mind boggling. Whatever reforms are made, some people will lose out.