13.06.2026 Day 4 - Dunkerque-Audresselles. Beautiful landscapes and getting hilly.

First early start 08:35, I like it. Today's first 20km were quite nice, lot's of forest reducing the wind. Rural areas with agriculture, corn, potatoes, vegetables.

Corn getting mature. This is a sign of autumn in Central Norway, where the corn is later and the autumn earlier.

Right outside Dumkerque there was an unofficial refugee camp with tents. I met quite a few people walking towards Dunkerque, maybe for some badly paid job? Sad situation.

After a while I reached Gravelines. Saw a lot of power lines. It appears Gravelines is the site of France's largest nuclear plant, production corresponding to about 1/5 of Norway's total electricity consumption.

Nice eh? Transporting power from France's largest power plant.

Gravelines also has a nice watertower, I like those. Quite different from those I saw in Lithuania last year.

Watertower of Gravelines

A coffee in Grand-Fort Philippe on the coast. From there it became tough. The wind was not quite as strong as yesterday, but I'm biking through very open rural areas, so it never stops. But lots of flowers along the road!

Akkerwinde in Dutch, Åkerwindel in Norwegian

Memory from the Second World War

Passing through the centre of Calais, looked nice, but I didn't stop. 

The beach in Calais. I can understand that people want these, but the beach is not very nice anymore.

A new challenge: where to stop for lunch so my food doesn't blow away? Even in Norway and Iceland this was never a problem, because in mountainous areas you always find a quiet spot. Finally found a place in Sangatte.

Church lunch

After this, the landscape totally changed, suddenly it became quite hilly. 450m up and down on the last two28km! I was already rather tired and was a bit anxious. But funny, the hills actually were better. The ascents may be hard, but at least you get some rest in the descents. Some really steep climbs, wondered if I could do it - I hate walking the bike, and have only done it once, in Iceland. But I managed.

Beautiful views with the Atlantic Ocean in the background. Much better in reality!

Stopping in Audresselles, finding a camping this time. Plan was Boulogne-sur-mer, but 88km was enough with the wind.

I include the altitude today, more interesting than before.

Today's trip was 88 km and took me 8 hours (6:20 active cycling). Total distance 331km