Bayeux to Courseulles-sur-mer

Slept really well last night after a day of biking. Classy breakfast at Hotel Luxembourg but they had a sign saying no food to be removed. Sooo I took only an apple

Lots of pastries, cheeses, crepes, cereal, yougurt, fruit, and more. France has the best breads!  

 Off biking and like yesterday we had trouble finding our way out of town. Norm’s scouting talent came through and we found our way. Will send message to company that they need to really improve their directions. 

Wonderful non busy roads. Our first stop was to see the German gun batteries. Really something and were surprised to see tour buses and quite a few people there. 

From a distance 

You can see the bullet holes in the batteries.

Norm on top looking to the sea. We then went closer to the cliffs and found an observation post. Can you see Norman?

He is in the lower look out spot. Not a very comfortable place to observe.

One of the things we see everywhere are balls of greenery in trees. It is mistletoe that is a parasitic plant that lives off nutrients and water from the host tree. It doesn’t kill it but does make it weaker. Interesting!

Our biking took us along the coast through really small villages. Some so small you wouldn’t know that it was a village except they tell you the name coming and going. We stopped to look at the comcrete blocks (few remain) that were sunk for D Day to create calm waters for the supply ships to come. It worked well until a huge storm came later in June a destroyed much of it. 

Norman looking out at the artificial harbours.





Pictures showing what happened then.

As we bikes along the coast I was surprised just what a tourist vacation spot the sea side towns are. Streets full of restaurants and people! 

This is Arromanches. This is where they brought in the artificial harbours. 

This is a Bailey Bridge they could stick together and make a bridge. Great engineering.

Next stop Juno Beach.

This is where the Canadians landed. We toured the Juno Beach Centre, the Canadian Museum on the D-Day Beaches. It was a very informative and moving exhibit! Well worth seeing. 

On the beach was a tribute to Canadians. Things left by visitors

The sculpture out front of the museum depicts five soldiers each looking outward in the distance. It honours the sacrifices and the unity of Canadians. 

Finally we sat down for dinner. Missing lunch we were really looking forward to dinner. Norm had mussels and fries and I had a seafood casserole. Little did I know that I would have to shell the items to eat. Very messy and absolutely delicious.

Tomorrow Caen.