For best land-side views around northern France's exceptional estuary: foot or bike it
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| A laughing gull or mouette rieuse, sitting on the dock of the bay, Saint-Valéry-sur-Somme. |
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| Near Cayeux-sur-Mer. |
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| Shifting sands on the north side of the bay, Plage de la Maye. |
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| A family of swans or cygnes along the road outside of Le Crotoy. |
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| Majestic dunes near Le Hourdel. |
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| Peace and quiet around Saint-Valéry-sur-Somme. |
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| Cattails or quenouilles in the Marquenterre bird reserve. |
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| Tide's up! Mallards or colverts noodling for grub on the shoreline of Saint-Valèry-sur-Somme. |
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| View across bay looking from Le Hourdel. |
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Adorable lapwings or vanneaux huppés.
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| Expect to see storks or cigognes. |
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Do as the Saint-Valéry locals do.
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| Each sunset or coucher de soleil a marvel or merveille. |
Vocabulary
une balade, une promenade: a walk
une balade en vélo: a bike ride
Though it's easy to get around the bay by car, opt for more environmentally friendly bipedal locomotion, or even a guided field tour. See Maison de l'Oiseau as well as Parc Ornithologique du Marquenterre. For information about bike tours and rentals around the Baie de Somme see Baiecyclette. Or consider discovering the site on a fastidiously restored 19th-century steam-powered train, classified as a historic monument, which in addition to its regular schedule offers sunset dinner rides around the bay on certain dates of the year: Chemin de Fer de la Baie de Somme.
Click on photos to enlarge them.
©2011 P.B. Lecron
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