After the Cemetery and Memorial

There is almost 30 miles of coastline that covers the area used for the invasion that fateful day in June, 1944. Once we left the Omaha Beach site we traveled 8 miles to the next monument at Pointe du Hoc. This is a monument to the Rangers that scaled a 100 foot cliff to disable German guns threatening both the Omaha and Utah Beach landing sites. While the guns had obviously been removed, the concrete bunkers and the craters from the bombing activities that had occurred in an effort to knock these gun sites out still remained.

226 Rangers attempted to take this position and only 95 remained after 2 days of fighting. President Ronald Reagan went to this site and made a dedication to this fine group of young men.
Leaving there we traveled yet another 10 miles to the Utah Beach site.

We drove through several small villages and in each one there was a war museum with equip, tanks, guns, aircraft that had been restored and photos, stories and videos of the events that took place over the next 90 days as the Allied forces drove the Germans from France and effectively ended the war.
Fri Oct 12 we boarded the ferry in Ouistreham, Fr. and headed for Portsmouth, UK. We have a nice enough room at the IBIS Heathrow Hotel across the street from where we will catch our plane home Wed Oct 17. Ironically our room number is 534, the same as our home address back in Ca. From this room we are entertained by watching the aircraft take off and land at the airport, almost as if we were in the tower. Fortunately the hotel is very well sound proofed and it has not impacted our sleeping at night.
We have one more journey of significance, delivering the motorcycle to Chester on Mon. A drive of about 200 miles. We will then take the train back to London and public transportation back to the hotel. This will be the last entry to the blog until after we have returned to the USA.
Hope you have enjoyed seeing some of Europe through our eyes and experiences!

Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial

I was not yet born when WWII was fought. Sure I have seen movies and read stories about the war and the D-Day invasion. None of it really hit home until Thur Oct 11 when I visited the site named in the title.
One of 14 permanent WWII American military cemeteries on foreign soil, this land was provided by France for use in perpetuity as a permanent burial ground without charge or taxation.
This site overlooks Omaha Beach, one of 5 invasion points and by far the most costly in American lives that day June 6, 1944. Until I came and visited I never fully understood the enormity or scope of this invasion.
This memorial site covers 172.5 acres and holds more than 9000 departed souls, 3 of which were Medal of Honor recipients.

The weather was grey and overcast as we approached the visitors center. While free of charge to enter, we had to go through a screening process similar to going through an airport. Once inside I was struck by the reverence of the France staff. When we finally exited the visitor center and started to stroll the grounds we were met with a rainbow falling into the channel as the waves gently rolled up on the beach.

 

 I have heard some negative things about how the French perceive Americans but I can tell you that the French in this area show more appreciation of Americans than our current crop of politicians. I saw several French homes flying American flags. The monuments and Chapel at the Cemetery were meticulously maintained.

The Road to Caen

We discovered the trike would not be available any time soon so we departed our friends' home in Finestart about 12:30 pm Fri afternoon. We have ample time to wind our way to Caen, France where we will spend a couple extra days and sight see along the Normandy Beaches, the site of the D-Day invasion of WW11.
Leaving Finestrat we followed familiar roads to Alcoi at which point we jumped on the A-7 and headed for Sagunt where we then switched to the A-23 and made for Zaragoza. Just north of that we stopped for the night at the Norte Hotel, a very nice modern hotel with a full bar and restaurant. The staff spoke very little English but the dinner menu was printed in English as well as Spanish so we were able to make reasonable decisions. I ordered a Cod Fillets dinner which was melt in your mouth WONDERFUL with a fabulous sauce.
Sat we got a reasonable start, about 9:30 and made our way to Huesca, Spain where we made the first selection of a backroad, A132. The first 20km were pretty straight running through farm land and then the fun began. The map did not do justice to the twists and bends and the canyons we would run through for the next few hours. At the N240 we jogged left and continued north on A137 to Isaba and then left and over the border to France crossing the Pico d'Orhi in the Pryenees Mountain range. We then backtracked a bit hoping to get near the coast and a view of the Atlantic Ocean. We continued on nice scenic roads working toward Bayonne, however the weatherman had other ideas and started forcing us more inland and we finished the day in Peyrehoarde, France.
Sun. was the start of the ugly weather and since then we have worked our way north through light rains, then heavier rains, a couple breaks and then constant rain through Limoges and Chartres, until we landed in Caen Tue afternoon about 3pm. The next 2 hours was spent trying to figure out our way to the hotel, as none of the roads are marked with the route numbers visible on the map. We made so many turn arounds you would think would would have the city figured out, but alas that is far from true. Thank goodness we have 2 days to discover how to find the ferry to the UK Fri.
Below are some of the sights from Fri. and Sat.'s riding including fall colors, canyon and incredible rock formations as well as the picnic spot where we stopped and had a nice break, just before crossing the tops of the Pyrenees into France.

Week 2 in Finestrat

Our wonderful hosts have kept us for a second week in their home here in Finestrat. The trike repairs have taken longer than hoped and in fact as I write this on Fri 10/5 we will make a call today to determine if we can get the trike back today or not. We are hoping for one more ride with our friends before we depart and head for the beaches of Normandy.
Last Sat we had the fun of going to the Amusement park here, Terra Mitica, with Rowland and Betty's son Carl. The park boosts of having 3 of the top 10 thrill rides in Spain and I was not disappointed.

Sun Deb and I took off and went to the coastal fishing village of Calpi. This is the area that Rowland and Betty first lived in when they came to Spain years ago and is home to an impressive rock rising out of the Sea, Penon de Ifach. The first rock they climbed here and they scaled it many times as they ran there courses there. Leaving the village we continued along the coast to Fanadix then on to Benissa, Senija, Liber, Xalo, Murla, Benigembla, Castell, Gorga, Alcoleja, Relleu, Oxerta and back to Finestrat. The mountain riding is fantastic with excellent roads surfaces that wind through the hills.

Mon was a shopping day as we had wiped out their refrigerator. We also begin to start packing things for travel as we are planning a Wed departure. A nice dinner in our friends' favorite Chinese restaurant and another day is done.
Tue without the trike we decide on a car trip. We decide to go back to Calpi and take the glass bottom boat tour (it was closed on Sunday). Very nice trip around the penon showing us views of the amazing reefs just off the coast.

Wed, the day we planned to depart gets interrupted with an email about dealing with the UK customs folks so I can legally sell the motorcycle. The day is spend going in circles with gov't offices and as most know, not accomplishing much. Departure delayed as we need to sort these issues out while we still have phone access.
Thur is more of the same until mid morning when we have finally got things handled. Since it is possible the trike will be available tomorrow we decide to spend the day and we go into the hills and watch as Rowland and son Mark spend some time climbing the rocks. They do make it look easy. They have created several routes here and it has become a favorite climbing site. Betty takes Deb on a walk up to the top for an overview of the surrounding valleys. A very nice day.
Today is Fri and we will soon make a call to determine if the trike can be picked up today or not. If not, Deb and I will be off and headed for the Normandy Beaches. If it is available we will get the trike and depart tomorrow is that direction with Rowland and Betty riding along for our final journey together on this adventure.