We set sail on the good ship Barfleur on the 9th August, having travelled down to Poole the evening before. We kipped in the caravan at Poole Harbour that night ready for an early start the following day.
The crossing takes about 41/2 hrs so we had some scran, a stroll around the deck then got a couple of hours sleep in our cabin. Then drove down from Cherbourg to our site (about an hour)on the Cotentin peninsular a few km from St Mere Eglise. We soon had everything set-up and off we went exploring.
Although the weather hasn't been brilliant, we have been out and about, visiting Utah and Omaha beaches, Pointe du Hoc,the US Military cemetery and Arromanche so far. Lots more on our 'to do' list so I'll update the blog in a few days. Two of my sisters and my daughter Rachael are coming out for a few days next week so we are looking forward to that, we are also due to hook up with my cousin Kevin one day soon too.
A couple of km north of Utah beach is a monument to the 2nd French div that landed there under General Leclerc on 1st August...typical bloody French,landed 2 months after the rest of us, nice and safe by then of course, the Americans had cleared the way there.
Pointe du Hoc is where the American Rangers landed and scaled up the cliffs to take out a battery of German guns. An amazing feat of arms when you see the cliffs they had to scale under fire. Interestingly, when they got to the top they found that the guns were gone...the Germans had moved them in land. they eventually found them and destroyed them though.
The US cemetery is an awesome place. Whoever is responsible for it's upkeep to do an amazing job. I wish my mate Bob Burton had been with us that day, he would have appreciated it.
the good ship Barfleur
Pam on the good ship Barfleur
A lifeboat on the good ship Barfleur
A Sherman tank where the brave French landed on August 1st 1944
Plaque at Utah beach
several roads in the area are named after fallen Americans
monument to the US navy at Utah
Pointe du Hoc
Shell craters at Pointe du Hoc
Gun position at Pointe du Hoc
memorial at Pointe du Hoc (inscription above)
The cliffs at Pointe du Hoc
The cliffs
US Military Cemetery above Omaha beach
The view along Omaha beach
View from our pitch
Home
We bought some windbreaks...and some flags
The crossing takes about 41/2 hrs so we had some scran, a stroll around the deck then got a couple of hours sleep in our cabin. Then drove down from Cherbourg to our site (about an hour)on the Cotentin peninsular a few km from St Mere Eglise. We soon had everything set-up and off we went exploring.
Although the weather hasn't been brilliant, we have been out and about, visiting Utah and Omaha beaches, Pointe du Hoc,the US Military cemetery and Arromanche so far. Lots more on our 'to do' list so I'll update the blog in a few days. Two of my sisters and my daughter Rachael are coming out for a few days next week so we are looking forward to that, we are also due to hook up with my cousin Kevin one day soon too.
A couple of km north of Utah beach is a monument to the 2nd French div that landed there under General Leclerc on 1st August...typical bloody French,landed 2 months after the rest of us, nice and safe by then of course, the Americans had cleared the way there.
Pointe du Hoc is where the American Rangers landed and scaled up the cliffs to take out a battery of German guns. An amazing feat of arms when you see the cliffs they had to scale under fire. Interestingly, when they got to the top they found that the guns were gone...the Germans had moved them in land. they eventually found them and destroyed them though.
The US cemetery is an awesome place. Whoever is responsible for it's upkeep to do an amazing job. I wish my mate Bob Burton had been with us that day, he would have appreciated it.
We bought some windbreaks...and some flags
