Peddling at last!: Beautiful Normandy

August 24, 2014

Today we finally set off on our bikes, rather that trains and trams. It felt so good! First thing we did, was ride down into the village of Bayeux. What a beautiful place it is. It has a famous tapestry telling the story of the Norman invasion of England. It was the first town liberated after D-Day, and is one of the few in Calvados to have survived WWII, practically unscathed. There is also a beautiful Gothic cathedral. We love these little towns with their cobblestone, narrow streets, and beautiful old stone buildings. After another expresso to fuel us, we set off to see the D-Day beaches.

Quiet, narrow, beautiful country roads is what we love about touring a country by bike, and today was no exception. It is hard to describe coming around the corner on a bike, and there in the middle of no where, is a beautiful chateau.

Today we saw Omaha Beach, and the US monuments and cemetery. It is a beautiful place, but very emotional. There are marble crosses, row on row, as far as you can see. I think there over 9,000. Unbelievable, and so, so sad. We owe so much to these brave soldiers.

Tonight we have a MUCH better hotel, close to Omaha beach, and we dined on muscles and frites, and of course, some very good French wine. Life is good....

Tomorrow we are going to the Canadian war memorials and cemetery at Juno Beach, and heading towards Honfleur.