Extremely comfortable duvet and pillows last night but did wake up from time to time. The room was very dark and the LED on the TV made no impact. I heard a dog barking and decided to pop out onto the deck. I figured it must be a very dark night.
Nothing could be further from the truth. Although a shaft of light came through the hotel reception window the gardens were well lit by the amazing star filled skies above. It was five fifteen. I took a pic which ain’t bad but doesn’t do justice to the actual sky. One of the best starry skies I’ve seen. The chilly night air sent me back into the room.
Shortly afterwards the birds started up. Way too early for me to think about getting out of bed. Showered at eight and breakfast at eight thirty. As with last night it was easy to find my table as it was the only one laid with one place setting. The others in the breakfast room, as you might imagine, were the same diners as last night.
I have a conference call at nine thirty and checkout is at eleven. I endorse the Domaine Utah Beach – Le Grand Hard hotel. Worth a visit. It’s slap bang in the middle of all the Easy Company action which is what I am going to do this morning. Manoir de Brecourt and the battery storming, Easy Company CP, Dick Winters Memorial, 101 Airborne Museum, Carentan, Saint Mere Eglise. But you know this 🙂
…
Tired. Checked in for the ferry about seven thirty. Bear in mind it doesn’t leave until eleven. Left the hotel at ten thirty and spent the whole day sightseeing. The first bit was fine – following in the footsteps of Easy Company although you could only look from afar at the gun emplacements at Manoir de Brecourt as it was off the road on private property.
It was very easy to imagine the fierce fighting going on from hedge to hedge. They fit exactly the description in the books.
The guy at reception at the hotel had recommended a Wine Seller in Carentan. Turned out it was actually called that although it did also have a French name which now escapes me as I didn’t think to write it down.
Had a nice chat with the owner and ended up buying a box full of his finest. A twenty year old calvados, two different bots of pommeau, a couple of bottles of plonk and a champagne. As a result I didn’t feel the need to stop at a supermarket en route to the port.
After Carentan I stopped by the American Cemetery. Arrived just as they were lowering the flag accompanied by the last post. The sheer number of graves is mind blowing. Really brings home what happened during the D Day invasion.
The rest of the tour was pretty nondescript really except perhaps the ruins of the Mulberry Harbour at Arromanches. The seafront at Sword and Juno Beaches was pedestrianised so you had to park up and walk which did involve the assumption that there would be something there to see when you got there.
These beaches seem to be built up with houses and apartments. Lovely beaches and their use for pleasure today is a far cry from the days of World War Two.
It must be said that Waze has not distinguished itself on this trip. Today instead of Gold Beach it took me down a farm track that ended up in a field of maize and sunflowers. It’s only because I have a LAnd Rover Defender I was able to turn around by driving through a muddy patch and doing a three point turn on the edge of the field itself. Then en route to Sword Beach it took me into a caravan park. I quite enjoyed the offroad bit but the caravan park became tedious. Waze was also unaware of road closures and seem to consider narrow back alleys as suitable means around them when i took a diversion. Huh…
Some cars are being asked to go through security check. They don’t appear to be asking me. Or maybe they’ve got priority boarding. Didn’t think it was worth the extra hundred and twenty quid. Was only around fifteen coming from Dublin. They are mostly expensive jags so that must be it as they haven’t moved since being let through the barrier.
Bit of a NOB just pulled up to the right of me. At least that’s what his number plate says. XXX NOB.
I must say I am looking forward to getting home for a number of reasons. One is a cuddle off THG obvs. Another is getting back to a normal routine of eating and not drinking and finally I have attempted to avoid the use of the English language wherever possible on this trip. Sometimes the local waiter has been irritating by giving me an English language menu and addressing me in English but most of the time I’ve been able to stick to French. This has been really hard work as I’ve had to actually use my brain 🙂Thought I’d given up on that yonks ago. My vocab needs expanding.
Looks as if the lorries are all being given thorough security searches. The lads said they had the same in their MoHo last night. Apaz some people were found hidden in the garage compartments of some of the MoHos in front of them.
I quite like being at a sea port late at night and early morning. There is a certain smell to it. The sea air. Thissun’s a bit noisy as a lot of the lorries seem to want to keep their engines running. Norrubs.
MoHo searches have started. Dogs are out.