September 13, 2018 Normandy American Beach Tour

Today we were up early and were off to go on an organised tour of the American Landing Beaches at Normandy.   We drove in to Bayeux were we met the tour. 

The first stop was where the US paratroopers landed in Sainte-Mère-Église. It was pretty interesting seeing the famous church tower from the movie “Longest Day”  They even had Red Buttons hanging from the church tower.  We spent about 90 minutes looking at the airborne museum there.  It is very well done however with only 90 minutes all we could do was walk through.  From there we were off to Utah Beach.  Right now it is a plain looking chunk of beach which could be anywhere.  So it is hard to imagine the scene on D-day. 

From there we were off to the German war cemetery.  There are 22,200 buried there in just 17 hectares. It is quite plain with flat grave markers, and two bodies per plot.  It is in very sharp contrast to the American cemetery where there are 9300 buried on 172 hectares.  The American cemetery has a huge monument and grass that is so perfect you would swear it was artificial.   I was quite amazed at the number of people touring the cemeteries.  There was quite a crowd but was informed by the guide that during the summer months it is a waiting line to get into the parking lot which is huge. 

We traveled up to Point Hoc where the rangers climbed the cliffs to blow up the guns which turned out to not be installed.  This place has been left as it was after the war.  It is nothing but huge bomb craters one beside the other. 

Finally in to Omaha Beach.  Again it  hardly looks exceptional and were it not for the events of June 1944 would not be anything but another cold and blowy Atlantic coast. 

Tomorrow we are off to Honfleur. It is a relatively short ride at only 79 kms.

Terry hot biker