nbjtours

Normandy Beaches

11 May 2018

Caen

90 miles 2507 ft

With no big trip planned this year a short hop across the channel to enjoy the so much nicer French roads was made.

Therefore Nick, Chris and I find ourselves in Caen.

Yesterday we enjoyed a super ride taking in the majority of the D Day beaches passing tanks and military equipment that demonstrated how much was left and brought across.

Leaving our three bed air bnb flat owned by a very chatty Madagascan lady we then headed out of the city and along a fabulous bike path by the River Orne until we came to the infamous Pegasus Bridge. Here we stopped to wander around where Major John Howard landed in his glider and with the 6 th Airborne under his command taken the bridge. Continuing to cycle up the river cycle path and passed the Caen- Portsmouth ferry terminal at Ouistreham surrounded by quite a number of African immigrants we then turned west to head along the coast and the beaches of D Day .

Sword Beach was first , where they had this striking monument . Continuing on past Lion sur Mer where we came across these tractors on the beach. The next Town at Coursuelles saw us have to dismount our bikes and walk through this market for about 500 metres. This was the site of the Canadian Juno Beach where we had a quick look at the German defensive line within the Canadian museum there. Moving on we got to the Mulberry harbour at Arromanches (Gold Beach) after a magnificent blast along a flat road pushed by a brisk wind at over 20 mph for almost 10 miles.

A stop for coffee by the beach with the sun still shining was one of Nick’s highlights of the day.

Moving on the mainly flat riding started to get bumpy as we approached the big US beach of Omaha Once again a stop and explore around the grand American memorial brought home the enormity of the D Day action. Here as with most of the sites there were numbers of people but never too many.

So far we had covered about 50 miles and had yet to make a stop and above made the mistake of passing the last cafe for some time as we turned left at the end of Omaha Beach above to start to head back to Caen.

Now heading back east along typically quiet French country lanes and totally deserted villages with no shops or bars we started to feel the need for a food stop but it simply did not come.

Unusually therefore my puncture at St Sulpice came as a great relief ( it’s not often you welcome a puncture) especially as we used Nick’s CO2 canister saving our weary bodies from pumping up the tyre.

Finally after 70 miles and at around 4.15 at Crepon this inauspicious bar hove into site and finding it open we were very glad to clear them out of ham and cheese paninis.

Fully recharged we were then able to charge the final 20 miles back to the apartment along some more beautifully quiet roads until we got to Caen where some interesting excursions round roundabouts and down embankments to avoid crossing roads followed before finally reaching home at around 6 fully 9 hours after leaving.

I leave with this photo of the US cemetery at Omaha Beach which I can only say is a very humbling experience seeing the huge number of young men who lost their lives neatly buried just yards from the beach where they perished

The Corridor of Death

13 May 2018

Caen

106 miles

4507 feet climbed

It is true, we are officially lightweights, as yesterday it dawned wet and the forecast was the same all day. We therefore decided on culture rather than cycling and visited the Bayeux Tapestry and D Day museum whilst it bucketed down outside.

Today thankfully the weather was better than expected and whilst cool it was dry with plenty of sun

Our main objective today was to reach the Falaise Gap museum and memorial whilst cycling the “corridor of death” where the Germans were finally surrounded and routed by a vengeful Polish armoured division.

Our first concern were wet roads but Nick in his inimitable style assured us that as it had not rained overnight the roads would be dry, especially with the wind and sun. Chris and I remain so thankful that Nick is able to share his superior intellect so freely with us on these scientific type of matters!

A great start to today’s route was almost 25 miles along this super former railway which was super smoothly tarmaced and boasted some great views as we crossed the Orne

Pleasingly it was being well used with quite a few walkers, runners and cyclists en route. They were just adding an extra few kilometres so we had to leave the path for a bit but saw the paver ready to complete he whole route. A really super facility.

Leaving the comfort and relatively flat railway route the next obstacle was a wicked 1.5 mile climb with sections up to 16 %. Chris and I left Nick to the King of the Mountains but just about made the top.

Our next destination was Falaise, the home of William the Conquerer and his castle. Safely making this and stopping to cycle inside the ramparts we then, after 40 miles hard graft, stopped for coffee and a pastry.

As it was already midday the restaurant was already serving lunch so being very accommodating and told us to pop over the road to the Boulangerie to buy the cakes. How very grown up.

The next part of he route was a further 7 km on an old railway but this was rather less frequented and gravelled instead of tarmac but fun nonetheless.

We then had a run across the plain until we got to our second significant climb of the day to get to the Falaise Gap Memorial at Mont Ormel at 63 miles, only 42 to go.

The views from the top were awesome and just added to the beauty of the countryside that we had travelled through all day, with the flowers and trees in the roadside and hedgerows in full bloom. The highlight in addition to the May trees was a section full of orchids for several miles

In theory running across a plain was easy but there were plenty of rises and falls as we crossed small river valleys.

Chris and I also heard several cuckoos but in full recall of his hatred for these birds Nick continued to deny their existence even though they were certainly about. The other bird much in evidence was the Buzzard and on one occasion Chris and I were fearful that one was about to swoop down on Nick and carry him away it was that close.

With weary legs we managed another stop to munch on Karen’s last flapjacks ( thanks Karen) before the final few miles into Caen not helped by the bike satnav not being able to keep up with our leisurely 15 mph!

Nick insisted that this photo was Sassy but Chris and I cannot agree !

We even had a couple of Chris Froome moments as Mr Goulder was approached by barking dog but he found power from where there had been none!Paragraph

The final jiggle on bike paths into Caen was successfully made and at 6.30 we made it back to the apartment – cycling over.

The next big adventure will be in June 2019 with the return of Nigel and Monica and their faithful campervan when we look to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Tonbridge- Le Puy twinning by cycling between the two and then pushing on to the Med. until then bye for now.