D-Day...

Our WS hosts fill jars with redcurrant jam, and then Gilles makes a Far Cake, a creamy conception, a speciality of Brittany. Helene has 2 more years to work as a social worker, but Gilles has already retired, and as a former motor bike mechanic he now fills his time restoring old classic British bikes. Gilles's father was 18 at the time of the D-Day landings, living only 4 kms from Omaha beach. His family home was destroyed, apart from the basement, in which they then had to continue living. My own father (25 yrs old), I believe, made it ashore near Bayeaux that day. The town of Lisieux was mainly destroyed in the ensuing battle.
They are a lovely couple so it is difficult to drag ourselves away from their company after breakfast on Tuesday. Mike had planned another brilliant route through quite farm lanes and beautiful Normandy farms. We stop to take a photo of one, and a pony and trap pass by. The horse is startled by passing traffic, but the driver gets it under control and we let it get out of sight before we continue.
The delicate linseed oil crop has been flattened by the recent rain, but the cereals are upright, golden in the sun and almost ready to harvest. A Canadian Second World War cemetery, as beautifully maintained as always, is on the outskirts of the village of Brettville sur Laize.





The avenue leading to it is not named after some bigwig general, but Gerard, a Canadian boy who volunteered at the age of 15 and died here 70 years ago, aged 16.





Miles to date:- 2702

Location:Lisieux to St Lauren de Condel