| Montdidier to Apremont |
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| Not too many hills to worry about here... |
| Jean & Mamina's fine house at Apremont |
| Jean and Mamina Oisel |
| Not quite a 'mint-with-a-hole' and probably more exciting... |
| Another amazing find, this time via the Chambres d'Hotes/Gites de France (click) website. There's no direct link to the B&B (no.103) so note the phone number 00 33 3 44 25 07 54. The B&B run by Jean and Mamina Le Moigne is found at the edge of Apremont village as you enter from the west via St Maximin. They are attentive hosts. Jean is an excellent photographer and insists on taking a picture of every guest which he then mounts in his Livres d'Or (about 5 or 6 volumes!) |
| They immediately made me feel like one of the family. The rooms are comfortable and the house full of personal items, including a grand picture of a tall-masted ship in full sail which Jean sailed on and took himself (his photo has featured in a sailing magazine, a copy of which he will proudly show you). Never short of interesting conversation they are both gentle and mild-mannered people who are excellent company. Mamina is also an accomplished cook and served up two superb meals while I stayed (Sunday evening and Wednesday evening). The Sunday I arrived - in the early afternoon - also afforded me the opportunity to witness Apremont's claim to fame as being the premier centre for polo in France and also the host of international matches attracting players from every part of the globe. Jean also had a job to fulfil today in his role as unofficial photographer for the club |
| It wasn't just the matches that Jean was there to photograph either, as the tournament being held was accompanied by another event especially for the ladies, but more of that later, on the following page. Jean showed me around the polo grounds later as they prepared for the world championships to be held in September. The site is enormous in more senses than one. |
| There are six playing fields and a number of practise fields. The site is owned and controlled by the Chantilly estate, and currently there are over 500 ponies being stabled there. This number will rise as the championship approaches and Apremont Polo Club adds temporary stabling to accommodate the influx of teams and ponies to the site in preparation for the matches that will be held. |
| Although the journey was long from Montdidier to Apremont, it was pleasant enough, with no major hills to cause concern, and luckily, a splendidly sunny day for cycling. Plenty of time to take in the countryside and to enjoy a couple of stops, lunch being taken alongside a river enjoying a french stick with cheese and some locally grown fruit purchased from a mid-morning market. Only one minor delay trying to cross into Creil which was as much down to my map-reading as anything. |