D-Day

[coman37]

Off to Normandy this am via Eurotunnel on the GTR for the D-Day commemorations. Not been before, just felt that I wanted to. Staying in Granville overnight and returning late Friday

Coman

[Zebedee]

I enjoyed my trip, if that makes sense. Stay safe.


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Zeb

[frenchbiker]

I am already American, but today I feel British...Awesome to see these 90 year old veterans, very emotional time...God save the Queen ! 

[Rusty]

That will be fantastic .. have a great time.

[coman37]

Well I had a great ride from Colchester to Folkestone for the Eurotunnel, then Calais to Granville keeping off the peage, the N roads are often as quick, less congested, you just have to go round a few roundabouts ( the wrong way) and ride through beautiful clean villages and towns, admiring the chateaus and houses, once again it's more about the journey than the destination although this one is special.
Stayed overnight at Granville, up at Eight am intending to ride to all the beaches as I head back to Calais, as I approached Bayeaux was stopped by the Gendarmes, if you don't have a pre arranged accreditation you cannot get through, ( bugger). I tried to out flank them by heading S, E, E, E, N, got to Juno beach and stopped off to look at all the Jeeps, US trucks etc. Carried along Westerly, once again loads of period vehicles and static displays commemorating different battles. As I neared Caen there was another cordon that you just could not get through due to security for Obama, Putin, Queen etc, but at least I could see the cliffs even if I could not get to them. Saw a Spitfire doing its thing and there was a Helicopter event off in the distance.

A bit disappointed that I could not get closer but a massive media event so I understand. I will go again either not on D-Day or maybe D-Day 2015-2018 as these will be lower profile events. I did manage to get to Pegasus Bridge and the Merville Battery.

Great ride home in glorious sunshine, two day trip total mileage 920

Some photos (people always ask for photos but i worry that you will get bored by lots of pictures of military hardware, beach scenes etc)

[BDF]

I am jealous of you folks- you are a car ride away from such an event. I would have liked to be there.

Back in '06 I did get a great treat for an American though as I got to walk around a bit in some of the area that operation Market Garden took place in The Netherlands. And they have a fantastic WWII museum there (Netherlands but I do not remember exactly where) that I very much enjoyed visiting. We here in the US simply do not have much of that stuff, and especially very little non- American hardware here from that era.

Good to hear that some of you folks in the UK were spectators for this lastest anniversary in Normandy.

Brian

[Boomer]

Market Garden was in Arnhem. The museum in Hartestein is superb. Next time ya get over here go to Bastogne for the Battle of the Bulge museums and memorial. One of my favourites.

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