A bit of a grey one again today but still very mild. We didn’t rush off this morning and instead had a bit of an admin morning – showering, cleaning, topping up and emptying as you do before heading off to our first stop at Utah Beach. The 5th of the beaches used for the D-Day landings. Some 20,000, predominantly American and some British soldiers landed here on D-Day with relatively few casualties (around 200) recorded, the beach was taken in half an hour! The beach stretches for some 9 miles which we have covered today but only 3 miles of it was used for the landings.
The beach itself is backed by low marram covered dunes and at low tide seems to go on forever….
We took the opportunity for a nice long walk along the beach heading northwards, enjoyed watching the horses and carts galloping along the sands and the mussel or oyster farming activities further along before heading back to the van and continuing our journey….
Stopping briefly at the little sleepy hamlets and their beaches (all included in the overall beach code named Utah Beach) along the way. Plage de Grand Hameau and Plage les Gougins…..
Before arriving at our stopping point for the night – the northerly end of Utah Beach at Quineville. We are parked up in a small free Aire provided by the village for a maximum of 24 hour stay – no services. Time for a walk around the village, taking note of the location of the boulangerie for the morning and a walk along the beach before settling down for the evening.
Thoughts of the day:
- Having now walked on all 5 of the D-Day landing beaches it strikes me how little evidence there is remaining of that eventful day just my own imagination…
- How blessed to find free park ups like this where we shall sleep to the sound of the sea lapping the shore
- Not many Brits about – plenty of campers and Motorhomes but mostly French or German
Today’s stats:
- Miles driven – 30
- Miles walked – 5
- Beaches – 4
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