Cycle Touring in France: An easy day

We left Caen this morning and cycled back up the riverbank to Pegasus bridge to have a coffee in the famous Gondree cafe and then look at the museum on the other side. The site contains the original bridge, a reconstructed glider of the same design used in the raids and numerous other exhibits in the main building and outside in the grounds. There was also a film and a tour guide showed us around the site. We were there for well over an hour and really enjoyed the visit which was quite moving in parts. Many of the old soldiers have visited over the years, especially on 5/6 June, and have become like family to the local French residents. We will now have to watch 'The Longest Day' as we have been to so many of the places this week. The sequence about the bridge was shot on the original one and the veterans advised the filmmakers about the action. The only error in the film is that there were no explosives attached to the bridge. the Germans removed them each night so that the resistance would not blow up the bridge when they were asleep. The invasion was expected to be further north and they were taken by surprise.

The voie vert continued on the east bank of the canal and so we reached the coast without having to cycle on the roads or even near them, which made for a quiet, peaceful trip. It passed by a bird sanctuary at the head of the estuary so we ate our lunch there and watched the wildlife, including some large fish that surfaced nearby. Surprisingly the cycle path carried on through the dunes and then by the roadside so we had an easy day and arrived in the early afternoon at Dives-sur-mer. Whilst checking into our hotel we noticed several tents had been erected by the riverside and a medieval fair was in progress. The site looked like an ancient encampment as all the stallholders were in traditional costumes. Some wore chain mail and carried weapons. We purchased some flat scones cooked over an open fire and walked on towards the beach. The town is quite upmarket compared to others we have visited on this coast and we payed a few euros more for our beer and double for our tea and cakes! They were good though, and the outlook and atmosphere made it worthwhile. Our restaurant for the night was decorated in the art nouveau style and must have been very impressive before the war as there were old photos on the wall showing stylish ladies and gentlemen in the establishment. Tomorrow we head along the coast to Honfleur and plan to stay a few days if we can find some accommodation. It is nearing the end of the French holidays so we may be lucky.

Cafe Gondree

Jeeps were carried in some of the gliders (not in this operation). They got them out quickly on landing by blowing the back off the fuselage? It took 45 minutes to get them in before take off as they had to come through the cockpit, but this would take too long in a battle situation.