Day 2. 48 miles. Average speed 13.6. Top speed 40.1. British Day.
A short ride in the morning to Arromanche – to our base for the morning – a hill above the beaches. Arromanche is the town where the British built the Mulberry Harbour – a most incredible engineering feat – a harbour built in sections in Southern England then towed across the channel to ensure that all the supplies needed by an army could be unloaded. An excellent service overlooking the harbour – the peddling padre being on fine form – a 15 minute amusing talk without notes followed by wreath laying ceremony. The best thing about being at the top of the hill is when one starts cycling again it is downhill all the way. The route took us along the coast and at certain key points the Guild of Battlefield Tour Guides who are travelling with us told us about individual battles as well as telling the overall D-Day story. Night at a small hotel on the outskirts of Caen – very upmarket in comparison to the second day - the rooms had an extra square feet of space, and there was a bar and restaurant on site. On the food stakes it is all perfectly adequate. Lunch is provided by an excellent company called Extreme Catering and they do an excellent job – the pasta meatballs for lunch were memorable. Food in the hotels is basic but nourishing – and washed down with copious quantities of cheap French red wine is perfectly acceptable.
Wednesday 8 June 2011
Tuesday 7 June 2011
Day 1 -- American Forces Day
50.2 miles, average speed 14.8, top speed 38.1.
The start of the ride itself was at St Mere Eglis which was the town where the first allied troops landed – paratroopers from 82nd and 101st Airborne (US). To be in the town on the day the anniversary of the event was quite special and the place was buzzing with some old soldiers and quite a few “new soldiers” – individuals who dress up in old uniforms and drive around in old military jeeps. A strange hobby – but it appears popular. The first of our ceremonies took place in the town square with one of the wreaths being paid by a serving member of the 101st – a young man from San Antonio, Texas with a prosthetic leg - an Afghanistan casualty. The ceremonies are good – we have our own “peddling padre” – a current vicar from the midlands who used to be a Greenjacket, a bugler from the Royal Artillery and a piper from the Highland regiment. Controlling us all is the old Regimental Corporal Major (Equivalent to RSM) of the Blues and Royals – to ensure that everything runs smoothly – and we are in the right place at the right time!
We have been joined on this trip by a team of 10 US wounded from Operation Comfort – to add to our own Headley Court team, so there are 8 hand powered (sit down) bikes as well as servicemen with missing limbs. So no complaining about sore legs from the rest of us! The highlight of the day was the afternoon ceremony at the American ceremony above Omaha Beach – if you have not been there it is highly recommended – acre upon acre of gravestones – all immaculately laid out and really quite a beautiful and serene part of the world.
Overnight in the Premiere Classe hotel – a misnomer if ever there was one. 3 to a room and one had to stand up in turn – it worked though and even the non-snorer in the room claimed to have slept well (poor fellow).
The start of the ride itself was at St Mere Eglis which was the town where the first allied troops landed – paratroopers from 82nd and 101st Airborne (US). To be in the town on the day the anniversary of the event was quite special and the place was buzzing with some old soldiers and quite a few “new soldiers” – individuals who dress up in old uniforms and drive around in old military jeeps. A strange hobby – but it appears popular. The first of our ceremonies took place in the town square with one of the wreaths being paid by a serving member of the 101st – a young man from San Antonio, Texas with a prosthetic leg - an Afghanistan casualty. The ceremonies are good – we have our own “peddling padre” – a current vicar from the midlands who used to be a Greenjacket, a bugler from the Royal Artillery and a piper from the Highland regiment. Controlling us all is the old Regimental Corporal Major (Equivalent to RSM) of the Blues and Royals – to ensure that everything runs smoothly – and we are in the right place at the right time!
We have been joined on this trip by a team of 10 US wounded from Operation Comfort – to add to our own Headley Court team, so there are 8 hand powered (sit down) bikes as well as servicemen with missing limbs. So no complaining about sore legs from the rest of us! The highlight of the day was the afternoon ceremony at the American ceremony above Omaha Beach – if you have not been there it is highly recommended – acre upon acre of gravestones – all immaculately laid out and really quite a beautiful and serene part of the world.
Overnight in the Premiere Classe hotel – a misnomer if ever there was one. 3 to a room and one had to stand up in turn – it worked though and even the non-snorer in the room claimed to have slept well (poor fellow).
Saturday 4 June 2011
The Off
How quickly time flies! Today is the day and we all assemble to head to France. I am with a small group who have volunteered to be an advance party - heading over to France this afternoon on the fast ferry to overnight near the start tomorrow - with the rest of the team coming over on the overnight ferry (original large ferry not working so quite a few having to sleep in chairs - not fun). Delighted to see that the BBC news this morning has an article about our efforts. (And I cannot work out how to create a link - sorry! Please have a look at the BBC news web site!)
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