Week ending Saturday 27th May 2023

Sunday 21st May 2023

Up late, dull morning, 13°C, cold and gloomy out. Stayed in and did a little housekeeping.

Lunch at 2pm and by 3pm the sky had cleared so we set off for Isigny Sainte-Mère where there was a Viking Fete taking place. Many dressed up as Vikings, others dressed as animals, with all sorts of strange foods and drinks, lots of burning fires for blacksmiths and woodwork. Win bought some earrings.

Spent an hour or so here then decided to make our way back, via Omaha beach.

The longest D-Day beach at 10km, it was quite stunning and we were able to drive along the length of the beach, not ON the beach of course, a road running the length of it.

Looking out over Omaha beach.

It was very blowy.

Monday 22nd May

Out to Super U for a top up of foodstuffs. Lovely sunny morning although just 14°C

Sat in sun and read until lunch then drove to the German Cemetery at La Cambe in the afternoon. 

Apart from three men on their lawnmowers, we were the only ones there. Saddened to see so many 17 year olds in their graves. They probably had little say in whether they went to war or not.

Sat for a while then made our way home.

Two German Soldiers in each grave.

German War Cemetery.

Tuesday 23rd May

The plan for today was to drive along the road skirting Omaha beach and continue on until we reached Pointe du Hoc, a German artillery post thought to be heavily armed prior to D-Day. I could not find the way onto the coast road but inadvertently came across the American War Cemetery which we had planned to visit later in the afternoon.

Having been a Prison visitor for a number of years I have been frisked many times but never on visiting a cemetery, until now. We joined a single file queue, heading for a Security Guard. Prior to being patted down, we were asked if we were carrying any weapons, no we said, any knives or sharp implements? we didn't have to think too hard about this, so no again. After opening our coats and turning around we were allowed through. Bags and rucksacks we could see being removed and searched.

I asked the receptionist at the information desk why the heavy security. Well, she said, in a strong American accent, this is a USA Government building and that's the procedure on anyone entering USA property. She shrugged her shoulders, almost apologetically.

In contrast to the German Cemetery we visited yesterday, the carpark here was full, there were coaches by the dozen, camper vans galore and many motorcycles. School children everywhere.

All the headstones were roped off so you were unable to read any details on a stone.

Wednesday 24th May 

A day at home here, catching up with the household chores like clothes washing and drying, vacuuming the caravan and generally tidying up the place.

 A beautiful day today. Clear blue sky all day and not too windy.

After the chores we sat in the sun and read then in the pm we went off to Leclerc in Bayeux for the usual top up.

Thursday 25th May

Up at 7am as we were off to Molay Littry and the outdoor market. 

Not the best French market we've been to and obviously a locals market. There were live chickens in metal baskets for sale, fish and lobsters, live too, and every kind of meat you can imagine. A lot of vegetables too with long queues for potted garden vegetable plants. There were also many clothes stalls and Win spotted a gorgeous blue jumper. That was our only purchase from the market.

The cold wind blew and the sky was overcast so after a good wander, we got back to the car and home for an early lunch.

To Super U in the afternoon then home and sat in the sun.

Friday 26th May

Another dull and cold start to the day but we set off for Molay Littry for a little shopping and to check out the whereabouts of a Mining Museum. We found the museum and discovered it opens at 2pm so we set off home for lunch.

The weather dramatically improved after lunch as we set off, once again, for Molay Littry where our first stop was at Tout Petit Prix, "At a Very Small Price". Second hand goods, somewhat similar to our charity shops. Inside we bought a beautiful vase, a pair of old dinner knives and half a dozen Bayeux post cards.

Off then to the Mining Museum. As I said earlier, coal mining made Molay Littry very wealthy.

The mine museum opened in 1907 and was the first mining museum in France. A vein of coal was uncovered in 1741 which went on to be mined from 1741 to 1880 then 1941 to 1949. Mining helped the local economy flourish and saw the foundation of the town in the late 18th century.

I was a most interesting museum with many working models of mining machinery along with flashing lights as we bent over, passing along reconstructed underground passages. A few sudden loud bangs too which frightened some visitors.

We were there for just over an hour then back to Le Picard.

About to enter the Museum

Outside the Mine Museum

Saturday 27th May

Up at 7.30 as we're off to the Bayeux Saturday market. There by 9.30am and quickly found a place to park. Bright and sunny start to the day but just 12°C.

The usual French market, many varieties of meat, including live fowl, rabbits and large tanks of water with fish, lobsters and crabs waiting to be selected by a hungry French citizen. 

Our only purchase was a cucumber €1.20. We wandered around the market but it began to feel cold as the wind increased so we set off to walk the main high street, Rue Saint-Malo. We found the Cathedral but decided to return on Tuesday when we will be in Bayeux visiting the British War Graves and Memorial.

Bayeux Saturday Market

River Aure in the historic centre of Bayeux

And that's the end of our 2nd week. One more to go.