Today was a stupidly early start, anout 6:30, so after a fine breakfast from Basil & Sybil we got the coach back into the harbour and collected our bike (mine was now fixed) and waited fo the off to leave Cherbourg.
After waiting for 20 minutes at the first set of lights we finally got on our way. The ride had begun! I was felling great, looked the business in my new kit and had my bike back running like a dream. Then it happened....the first hill, it was a monster! 200 meters up and it felt like riding up a wall. Once we got over this the day just got better. We arrived in St Mere-Eglise which claims to be the 1st town liberated on D Day where 3 Paratroopers came down with the masses but ended up getting caught on the church steeple. 1 died, 1 cut himself away and the 3rd was up there for 2 hours before being caught by the Germans and becoming a POW before the Americans claimed the town. Here we were treated to guided tours, visits to the Para museum and a show from the Red Devils.
After the air display there was a wreath laying ceremony with a father whose son died in conflict a year to the day. A speech was also given by an American officer who'd come over for the trip.
Following on from this we were led out of the town by a group of Harley Davidsons and headed up to Colleville-sur-Mere where we visited the American Cemetery and Memorial where we held a wreath laying and had talks from two service men from the D Day landings. This was a very emotional event that really brought home the hardship and sacerfice that those men went through.
Following on from thsi we headed the last 16 miles into Bayeux where we took our hotels and rested out weary legs. The hotel was much nicer this time and we got fed. Now I'm off for a well deserved beer.
For further info please mail me on yimmin@btinternet.com
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