September 14, 2018 Banville to Honfleur

To day was only 82.5 kms and with only 588 m of climb it was an easy day.  We set out from our Airbnb house in Banville and headed up the coast.  We all started out together with the idea that if we could get Earnie started on the right foot with his Garmin then maybe he would be able to get the hang of it and be able to find the handle on using his Garmin. 

It was a little chilly being only about 10 C when we started at 8:00 Am, however it didn’t take long to warm up only proving the old bike saying that if you aren’t cold for the first 10 minutes you are overdressed.  The first part of the ride took us back passed the Canadian War cemetery so we saluted to our boys as I rode past.

The route took us through a number of small towns and down a bike path along the water before we reached our first stop of the day which was the Merville Battery.  This WW2 battery was a major gun emplacement which had to be taken out prior to the D-Day landing.  To do this 600 paratroopers and 6 gliders were sent in early to take the battery out.   Unfortunately only 150 of the paratroopers and none of the gliders were in a position to attack the battery.  The commander of the strike force Terence Otway decided to proceed anyway as he knew the importance of his mission.  The highly trained paratroopers managed to overcome the defenders and put the battery out of commission. This battery would have been able to shell the British Sword beach head.  At the Merville battery they also have on display a C-47 which was one of the aircraft used in D-Day and in Operation Market Garden.  A long story on the plane but then I will leave it to you to reaseach that. While we were ate the Merville Battery Agnes and the van caught up with us so all seven of us toured together.

After our visit to the battery and museum we headed to the nearest boulangerie for lunch.  After a quick sandwich the riders were off down the road.  We still had 50 kms to go and almost 100% of the days climb yet to do.  The route for the most part was totally spectacular.  We cruised down the ocean front promenade and swung through the main square to view the architecture in Cabourg.  After Cabourg there was a good long climb of almost 150 meters over a couple of kms.  This was followed by a very fun ride down a tiny little road with hedge rows on either side.  A twisting decent back to sea level and another.  Ken and Juerg had gotten ahead so I rode in with Earnie.   

Just out of Honfluer I called Agnes and found out we could not get into our hotel until 5:00 Pm. Earnie rode on to meet up with the van which was at a McDonalds.  Juerg, Ken and I sat in the main square in Honfleur and had ice cream.  The ice cream and atmosphere were great. 

We rolled down and checked into the world’s smallest hotel rooms.  Ok maybe not the worlds smallest but certainly tiny. 

Supper at a French restaurant was a wonderful finish to another adventure (the language issue added to the adventure).

Terry