August 16: Normandy - Rich in History and Beauty

Normandy’s beaches are rich in both history and beauty. Today’s adventure took me to Omaha Beach and Pointe du Hoc to reflect on the heroism of our country’s soldiers as well as to the beachside resort of Le Treport to take in the magnificent blue waters and chalky white cliffs.

Leaving Mont Saint Michel this morning I headed north on A84 and E3, full of thoughts of gratitude for the sunny weather and mild temperatures, enjoying the views of the cattle grazing contentedly in their fields, the crops of corn waving gently in the wind, and the neatly rolled bales of hay dotting the countryside around me.

Arriving at Omaha Beach, I stopped to look at the stainless-steel sculpture Les Braves commemorating the sacrifice our 29th and 1st infantry soldiers made there during the D Day invasion to help liberate France. Having been away from home for almost 8 weeks now, it was especially emotional for me to see our country’s flag flying proudly behind this monument.

From there I road several miles down the road to Pointe Du Hoc to see the 90-foot cliffs that our US Army Rangers so bravely scaled when they attacked and captured this area, freeing the French people there from German control. It was gratifying to see how many tourists were visiting the area and reading the information about this important part of our history.

After spending some time at both beaches, I headed northeast to Le Treport on main roads A29 and N27 and then on smaller country roads D925 and D940. As I descended into the town, I was able to see a magnificent view of the bright blue waters of the English Channel punctuated by the town’s white chalky sheer cliffs rising above them. Unfortunately, there were no pull-outs and too much traffic to stop for a photo there.

However, after arriving in town I was able to park along the estuary of the coastal river Bresle where it meets up with the ocean, providing a stunning view of the light blue waters merging under the bright blue sky. A seagull obligingly photo bombed me as I took a picture at the water’s edge. The town had  a festive feel with many restaurants and entertainment options.

Continuing east on a variety of scenic back roads, I got a few more glimpses of the coastline and meandered through quite a few small, picturesque villages before settling in for the night in Calais.