Day three.

Able seaman Geoffrey Bull, WWII D-Day Omaha Beach veteran and our dining partner for the evening. Hero, legend, comedian and friend!

Manoir Du Sens - our Playboy mansion for the night.

The almighty Sherman Tank.

The Cross of Sacrifice at Bayeux War Cemetery.

Day three:

Today was a day of distinct highs and lows for the magnificents. We set off from La Poterie and the lovely Monique at about 9.30 this morning, having been stuffed full of breakfast crepes and green tea, and arrived at our current haunt at about 5pm.

The cycle in between was basically characterised by wind, rain and big, stupid hills. 55 miles of them. Along the way we stopped at the British Cemetery in Bayeux which, like any military Cemetery, was a really sobering sight. Comparatively small in size it nevertheless houses around 3000 graves, the vast majority of which belong to men no older than 25.

After more wind, rain and hills we made it to Caen, excited at the prospect of immersing ourselves in the history of the city which represented the focal point of the entire Allied advance in the days after D-Day. Unfortunately, however, everything was closed. Except the baguette shop. Which, despite selling exceedingly good baguettes, was of no historical significance whatsoever.

By the time we reached our hotel we were thoroughly fed up, the day having been tougher and less fruitful than we expected. Fear not, however, dearest reader, for our day would soon take a turn for the better.

Sitting in our village having a beer just before dinner we happened to get chatting to an old decorated WW2 veteran and his younger, less decorated friend.

The vet introduced himself as Geoff and told us that he had served at Omaha Beach on D-Day on one of the warships which provided artillery support to the invading ground troops, and for the next 2 hours we sat and listened intently to his tales of hijinks in the Navy. Legend.

So, thanks to Able Seaman Geoffrey Bull today was not a complete write-off. More tomorrow, ta ta.


Peace.