Another sunny day today, I think we must be blessed. It’s been nearly three weeks on the road and we’ve only seen rain twice. Not bad for late spring!
Anyway, after a leisurely breakfast in the sun it was difficult prise ourselves off our chairs and get motivated for a day on the beaches of Normandy. Our first stop was on Utah beach with the tide high it was a spectacular site. The sheer size of beach is something to behold and wonder at. We stopped in the museum for a while and checked out the memorials to the fallen Americans that lost their lives 75 years ago in June. A very poignant moment to reflect on what they were tasked to do.
We carried on down the coast road to a place called Pointe du Hoc which was a German gun emplacement that is set on a prominent headland overlooking both Utah and Omaha beach’s. This position was attacked by US Rangers on 6th June 44 and many men perished in the process. The whole site is a memorial to those men and is a spectacular place to visit. The shell craters on the site are about 5 metres deep and 15 metres across. It took a pounding from the Naval ships and the result is remarkable and frightening!!
Leaving Pointe du Hoc we visited Omaha beach and on to Gold beach that was where the British troops came ashore on Dday. The town is called Avranches or Port Winston Churchill. What our troops did to build a port there in three days is mind blowing and a lot of the breakwater is still there to be seen. Unfortunately the town itself is like being in Minehead, kiss me quick tacky shops and fish and chips shops abound. Spoilt by tourism. We made our way home to our mini chateaux to contemplate the days proceedings over a glass of local cidre!! Bliss