DerekJ Posted February 19, 2010 Share Posted February 19, 2010 When we take the drive down to the Lot from Calais we usually take the Rouen route. On the N154, just before joining the A10, around the Ymonville area, there is a lot of large scale agriculture. There are big silos and long lengths of conveyor belts running alongside the N154.Does anyone know what is actually being farmed there? We've always wondered and have tried to look into the conveyor belts as we drive through but we've never been able to identify anything. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bugsy Posted February 19, 2010 Share Posted February 19, 2010 I don't know about that area Derek but the only time I've seen those type of conveyer belts in use have been for quarries moving gravel.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DerekJ Posted February 19, 2010 Author Share Posted February 19, 2010 I know what you mean Bugsy. I'm pretty sure these ones are for agricultural purposes and I suspect that it may be for some kind of root vegetable... perhaps beet??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chancer Posted February 19, 2010 Share Posted February 19, 2010 Betteraves?That is what it would be if you saw a similar sight in my area.We even have our own Gare TGV de betteraves which adds significantly to the journey time from Lille to Paris but, no-one ever gets off there, cant say that I blame them [;-)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoddy Posted February 19, 2010 Share Posted February 19, 2010 The farming is almost entirely wheat. although I have seen potatoes and sunflowers there. The conveyor belts are used for a quarry which is I think excavating limestone or chalk, certainly a pale coloured rock.Hoddy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DerekJ Posted February 20, 2010 Author Share Posted February 20, 2010 Thanks for the replies.Chancer, Betteraves? I think something like that is a possibility.Hoddy, Quarrying? Not so sure about that. I really can't relate their positioning to any obvious quarry. The land is perfectly flat for miles and miles... no signs of any hills so there would need to be an almighty great hole on the ground somewhere. The conveyor belts run for long distances alongside the N154 and fields which are definitely intensively farmed with various silos all around. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Âme Posted February 20, 2010 Share Posted February 20, 2010 Take a look on google maps satellite viewlooks like there are a couple of quarries north of Ymonville Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DerekJ Posted February 20, 2010 Author Share Posted February 20, 2010 [quote user="Âme"]Take a look on google maps satellite viewlooks like there are a couple of quarries north of Ymonville[/quote]You're right. It does look like that from the aerial view... thanks.Hoddy, my apologies, looks like you could be right. I'm over again in about 2 weeks time but will be going through that area at night. I'll be coming back about a week after that in daylight though, so I'll try having another look. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoddy Posted February 20, 2010 Share Posted February 20, 2010 No need to apologize Derek. I know I'm right. I've been doing that route since before the quarry opened. I assumed that all the aggregate for the new roads they've built in the last few years came from it. Maybe you could help me. Many years ago, somewhere on that road, in a village that I can't now remember the name of, there was a heavenly smell emanating from one of the factories. Now, each time we travel I put the window down as we go through, but I've never managed to catch it again or identify the factory. Any ideas ?Hoddy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DerekJ Posted February 20, 2010 Author Share Posted February 20, 2010 [quote user="Hoddy"] Maybe you could help me. Many years ago, somewhere on that road, in a village that I can't now remember the name of, there was a heavenly smell emanating from one of the factories. Now, each time we travel I put the window down as we go through, but I've never managed to catch it again or identify the factory. Any ideas ?Hoddy[/quote]No ideas at the moment and I'm not particularly aware of smelling anything. I'll have a "sniff" when we go through next time and report back if I find anything.[:)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DerekJ Posted February 20, 2010 Author Share Posted February 20, 2010 [quote user="Hoddy"] Maybe you could help me. Many years ago, somewhere on that road, in a village that I can't now remember the name of, there was a heavenly smell emanating from one of the factories. Now, each time we travel I put the window down as we go through, but I've never managed to catch it again or identify the factory. Any ideas ?Hoddy[/quote]No ideas at the moment and I'm not particularly aware of smelling anything. I'll have a "sniff" when we go through next time and report back if I find anything.[:)]Sorry, double post... can a mod delete duplicate please. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chancer Posted February 20, 2010 Share Posted February 20, 2010 I assume that you let her indoors do the shopping for vegetables then Derek [;-)][6] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DerekJ Posted February 20, 2010 Author Share Posted February 20, 2010 [quote user="Chancer"]I assume that you let her indoors do the shopping for vegetables then Derek [;-)][6][/quote][:D][:D][:D] ...... LOL... you know me so well! [;-)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bubbles Posted February 20, 2010 Share Posted February 20, 2010 Yeah, betteraves another look next time you are in the area. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DerekJ Posted February 21, 2010 Author Share Posted February 21, 2010 [quote user="bubbles"]Yeah, betteraves another look next time you are in the area.[/quote][:-))][8-)][I][:)][:P] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DerekJ Posted March 13, 2010 Author Share Posted March 13, 2010 I said I'd do a follow up once I'd driven through there again in daylight. Got back to the UK last night and drove through the Ymonville area around lunchtime. All sorts of quarry type work going on linked to the conveyor belts (although no sign of any of the belts actually moving). I think I was getting a better view of the quarry working as I was higher up in van this time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keni Posted March 13, 2010 Share Posted March 13, 2010 Hi, we know that route well and yep, it is a quarry - they are doing a load of road rehashing in the area as well, but the conveyor belt is travelling the stone down to the crushing plant from the quarrying, so we understand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maude Posted March 13, 2010 Share Posted March 13, 2010 In the dieppe to Rouen area there is a lot of flax growing-could this be the nice smell? Maude Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoddy Posted March 14, 2010 Share Posted March 14, 2010 I don't recall seeing flax on that stretch of road and the smell was in one of the villages, but it is a possibility. I shall have to continue driving through with the windows down.Hoddy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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