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In case you don't know, there's a nice French comedy set in Pas de Calais:
Bienvenue chez les Ch'tis/Welcome to the Sticks:
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1064932/If I remember right, it was the highest grossing French film ever at one point.
dinosaur-
Yes, I do know this film and I'd recommend it to anyone - it's brilliant. I don't think there can be anyone in northern France who hasn't seen it.
I find the Ch'ti patois pretty much unintelligible, although it's mostly older people who speak it.
There's new Dany Boon film which I haven't seen yet. Here's a link to the trailer:
clubman
Calais to Torcy (62310)
I have a share (with my partner) in a house in Torcy, a little village about 5 miles south of Fruges.
It's more of a shed than a house, but we like it.
Last Friday was the first time I had the opportunity to ride from Calais something I'd been wanting to do since we first saw the place nearly three years ago. I always had in mind that it should be possible to get to the house without using a car and yes, it's fairly easy .
It took me a little under four hours for the 45 miles,but obviously it could be done much faster, especially if the stops for map reading were not necessary. My route was through Guines, Desvres, Hucqueliers and Lebiez. I did use some short stretches of busy road, but the great majority was idyllically quiet ( and well surfaced). Anyone leaving Calais will see an area that's pancake flat, and if you travel by train or motorway it's easy not to notice that you don't have to go far to find some quite challenging hills. I had a 25 tooth bottom sprocket, and I was glad of it.
It seems to me that this area (Pas de Calais) is not very well known to the British even though it's next door; most of us whizz off to the south, to Brittany, or Belgium for the racing. However I feel it's both attractive and conveniently close to home. The photos below may give some idea of the roads.
There is cheap accommodation in the village - if anyone here feels the urge to come and have a look, send me a pm and I'll be pleased to help with the arrangements.