Mileage 75 from Honfleur to Utah Beach
Today's target had been the free Aire at Cabourg but when we arrived a circus was in town and there was absolutely no chance of parking, either on the Aire or anywhere else near by! But no matter really because we'd been there earlier this year on our way home from Spain, and as usual John had a plan 'B' tucked up his sleeve! And that was to continue on to one of the D-Day Landing beaches at Utah, and once there and settled in the town's Park Night Aire we decided to stay for 3 nights so that we wouldn't be on the move for John's birthday.
So with plenty of time for our explorations we settled for just a lovely walk on the very near by Utah beach this afternoon, and although it stretched for as far as the eye could see we only managed a couple of miles before we turned tail and headed back to the van for a cooling drink and a bit of shade!
Tuesday 9th July 2019 🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞
38 🚴🚴 miles today
After our lazyish day yesterday we decided to head out into the French countryside for a spot of exercise, and although our circular ride didn't really take in anything special it was lovely to see lots of pretty villages that were nearly all bedecked with bright flowers. Our route took us either over deserted country lanes or cycle tracks, so additionally, we could relax and just take in the tranquillity that was almost completely undisturbed other than by the tweeting of birds or the neighing of the many horses that seemed to be in almost every field we passed.
However, we were in a part of France that had seen more than it's fare share of the war so as we went we weren't surprised to see lots of reminders and memorials about the battles and events that had taken place here.
When we go out on jaunts like today John always plans a route that often includes pleasant places where we can stop for a break and today was no exception - he'd picked out the Canal de Carentan for our lunch spot so while we nibbled our sarnies we could watch people bobbing about on the water.
38 🚴🚴 miles today
After our lazyish day yesterday we decided to head out into the French countryside for a spot of exercise, and although our circular ride didn't really take in anything special it was lovely to see lots of pretty villages that were nearly all bedecked with bright flowers. Our route took us either over deserted country lanes or cycle tracks, so additionally, we could relax and just take in the tranquillity that was almost completely undisturbed other than by the tweeting of birds or the neighing of the many horses that seemed to be in almost every field we passed.
However, we were in a part of France that had seen more than it's fare share of the war so as we went we weren't surprised to see lots of reminders and memorials about the battles and events that had taken place here.When we go out on jaunts like today John always plans a route that often includes pleasant places where we can stop for a break and today was no exception - he'd picked out the Canal de Carentan for our lunch spot so while we nibbled our sarnies we could watch people bobbing about on the water.
After lunch we peddled quite a bit further before returning to the village for our afternoon coffee, and while we sat on the side of the marina we were able to watch the odd Viking Ship pass by!
Wednesday 10th July 2019 🌞🌞🌞🌞🔥🔥
20 🚴🚴 miles today
Happy Birthday John - we had a quiet but lovely day xxx
We hadn't really got anything special planned for John's birthday but he quite fancied riding out along the coast road that runs in front of part of the beaches that were used in the D-Day landings.
However, it was a much more peaceful picture that presented itself today!
Wednesday 10th July 2019 🌞🌞🌞🌞🔥🔥
20 🚴🚴 miles today
Happy Birthday John - we had a quiet but lovely day xxx
We hadn't really got anything special planned for John's birthday but he quite fancied riding out along the coast road that runs in front of part of the beaches that were used in the D-Day landings.
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| The D-Day landings took place on 6th June 1944 to start the liberation of France from Nazi control |
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| Trotting is very popular around here! |
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| And this is one of the huge mussel farms that supplies the goods for the ever popular Moules and Frites (which we haven't yet tried) |
But after only 10 miles of cycling we decided (or at least our bottoms did (possibly something to do with the 38 miles we did yesterday)) that we'd had enough so we headed back to the van for lunch, and because it was John's birthday we indulged in quite a few of his favourites! And while we were eating he told me he didn't want to be 65 - he'd rather consider himself to be 6 and a half - decades that is😂😂
And because that hadn't been consumed until about 3pm we called it our starter, and then later indulged in a lovely steak dinner (👩🍳moi) accompanied by classical music and of course a clinking glass or 3 of🍷🍷 😂 cheers!
Thursday 11th July 2019 🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🔥🔥
Mileage 24 from Utah to Phare de Gatteville near Barfleur
Parking Co-ordinates 49.69515, -1.26748
This morning we finally left Utah behind and headed first to Carentan to do a bit of shopping and then we followed 1944 D-Day Route until it ran out near Saint Vasst La Hougue. There we negotiated the narrow streets and wound our way out towards Fort de la Hougue which sits on the tip of a peninsula (where the bottom star on the map is).
However, it seemed that the fort itself wasn't open for visitors today so a walk out towards the fortress had to suffice! And we could have gone further but that would have meant walking over about a 100 yards of old rough narrow sea wall that had no barriers but did have a 10 foot drop on either side 😱, so rather risk life or limb we used the excuse of heat - the mercury was touching 28 degrees so we thought it was far more sensible to return to the sauna that is T4rdis2 😂😂!!
So as you would imagine by now we were quite desperate to find somewhere a bit cooler, and John had just the place identified for our overnight stop! It's at the top star on the map above! It's wild rocky, wind blown, beautiful and free so what more could we ask? It's the site of the Phare de Gatteville, or in English, 2 lighthouses near to the town of Barfleur.
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| Very smelly Cambert (the whiff of which had been escaping from the fridge for the last 2 days), olives, avocado and of course a beer to wash it down with! |
And because that hadn't been consumed until about 3pm we called it our starter, and then later indulged in a lovely steak dinner (👩🍳moi) accompanied by classical music and of course a clinking glass or 3 of🍷🍷 😂 cheers!
Thursday 11th July 2019 🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🔥🔥
Mileage 24 from Utah to Phare de Gatteville near Barfleur
Parking Co-ordinates 49.69515, -1.26748
This morning we finally left Utah behind and headed first to Carentan to do a bit of shopping and then we followed 1944 D-Day Route until it ran out near Saint Vasst La Hougue. There we negotiated the narrow streets and wound our way out towards Fort de la Hougue which sits on the tip of a peninsula (where the bottom star on the map is).
However, it seemed that the fort itself wasn't open for visitors today so a walk out towards the fortress had to suffice! And we could have gone further but that would have meant walking over about a 100 yards of old rough narrow sea wall that had no barriers but did have a 10 foot drop on either side 😱, so rather risk life or limb we used the excuse of heat - the mercury was touching 28 degrees so we thought it was far more sensible to return to the sauna that is T4rdis2 😂😂!!
So as you would imagine by now we were quite desperate to find somewhere a bit cooler, and John had just the place identified for our overnight stop! It's at the top star on the map above! It's wild rocky, wind blown, beautiful and free so what more could we ask? It's the site of the Phare de Gatteville, or in English, 2 lighthouses near to the town of Barfleur.
Phare de Gatteville is an active lighthouse, and at a height of 247 feet it's the third tallest traditional lighthouse in the world. The little lighthouse in the background was built in 1774 and was topped with a coal fire that was first lit on November 1st 1775. However, even with several upgrades the lighthouse proved inadequate so plans were drawn up for a new one which is the tall one in the foreground. That was built between 1829 and 1835 and at that time it was the tallest lighthouse in the world, but bearing in mind when it was built it makes you wonder how they ever managed it without modern day equipment! It's signal can be seen from 29 nautical miles but at the mo we're probably only about 120 yards away so we should have no problem in seeing it's light later.
The views all around us are also spectacular - we're still overlooking the English Channel but the water is crystal clear and the wind is raising little white capped wavelets that are sweeping up over the mostly smooth rocks. Additionally, if we're lucky this evening (just after 10pm) we might see the sun sink into the sea as it sets for another day.
But that's all for now because I just want to get on with enjoying this lovely place!
Cheerio for now😗😗
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