Arromanches-les-Bains

Yesterday we visited Arromanches-les-Bains to look at the British "Gold" landing beach and the other sights the pretty little town has to offer. We took the town train up the hill to look down on the town from the cliff tops before descending on foot via a WW2 Sherman Tank and then onto the promenade to view the beach close up including the second of the Mulberry Harbours. This one is very much still in view with about 25% of the harbour wall still in place. The Museum was about to close so we decided to visit it next time. We stayed at the town Municipal site and left for Calais in the morning.

Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial

Today we visited the amazing US war memorial and cemetery at Colleville sur Mer. We were truly impressed by the scale and immaculate lawns and beautiful pines all overlooking Omaha Beach. Later we drove on to Arromanches sur Mer near Gold Beach and the amazing floating harbour much of which is still in the sea and beach!
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Omaha Beach Camping

Just arrived at great site directly on top of the cliff on the west end of Omaha Beach. Stunning views across the sands where so many gave their lives to ensure our freedom. Looking at the beach and its defences its easy to see how so many lost their lives and difficult to fathom how the beach was eventually taken. Thanks a million to all those American friends that died that fateful day.
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Revised Route to date:

Here is the update and revised map of our route. Very different from the route planned but we have avoided the bad weather and had 97% full sun and warm weather. Total is 4200km so shorter than usual but we have been chasing the sun. We use www.accuweather.com and it is almost 100% accurate even with long term forecasts. Next stop will be Omaha Beach (sun forecast!) then home via Calais to rainy Ricky.

Tours - Camping La Mignardiere - Loire Valley

We have just arrived at the above named site near Tours in the Loire Valley. Excellent site with lake adjacent and three warm swimming pools as well as full facilities on pitch making it a "Home from Home" campsite.
I will take a few pictures and update a little later but meanwhile I have had several requests for a picture of Sue in a bikini but I can go one better so her goes: (note the new short and bleached hair style)

Tours Pictures:

St Denis Marina. - Ile d'Oleron

Just arrived at the marina again on our last day on the Island. We have spent the morning cycling along the coast and wading through the numerous crab pools while the tide is out. Heading for Tours tomorrow.
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I'le D'Oleron

we have now been on the Island for two nights and have just moved to new site with nice pool complex etc. Yesterday was James' birthday and we lunched at a Cafe in the Marina at St Denis at the north of the Island. Great but cooler weather with lots of sun. Fort Boyard is just offshore.
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Dordogne 12k Canoe Trip

Today we took a 12 kilometre Canoe trip from our camp site to a village 12k downriver and where then picked up by a coach which brought us home. Great trip with spectacular views and very refreshing swims in the river!  Many amazing sights en-route including an amazing ancient city built into a huge cliff face about 200ft high up. (click picture to open and/or save)

The Dordogne

Pictures taken from our new pitch at Camping Beau Rivage at Vitrac nr Sarlat-La-Caneda in the heart of the Dordogne. Weather 90+ full sun and very hot. (98 today!)
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At the pool

Sue instructing the boys on their swimming in a fetching pink mini number! Weather is still sunny and hot with a nice breeze.

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Sete - Camping La Castellas

We have left Aix le Provence after having a great stroll around the old town and visiting the cathedral and several fountains and pretty squares. Aix is well worth a short break as it is a typical old Provence town and very nice indeed.
We are now on our second day at a very nice beach camp-site about 2 miles from the port of Sete on the Languedoc Roussillon Mediterranean coast. Unfortunately James has fallen off his bike (again) with a nasty graze and George was running in the dark last night and hit a speed bump resulting in 5 grazes all of which drew blood and are nasty enough to have to avoid swimming! However the Beach and Pools are amazing and weather fantastic at 82d and full sun. There was a fire next to the camp-site today which caused a bit of a stir but it was soon put out by the local brigade. We drove through Sete and it looks well worth a visit so we will get the bus in tomorrow.  We are here for 4 nights and will add photo's soon.

Aix-en-Provence

After an interesting few day in Carro including getting attacked and scratched by a family dog when putting rubbish in a bin and getting to close to a rather protective guard type dog by another camper van and having get a Tetanus check etc at local clinic (No Rabies in France now!) we have are now staying outside our friends Paul & Sophie Reilly's house just north of Aix-en-Provence. Paul had his 54th Birthday party last night and a good time was had by all. Weather looks very promising so we will probably head for the Royan area via Toulouse and Bordeaux before heading up to the Landing beaches befre returning home.

James learns to ride!

Today James had the stabilisers removed from his bike and is riding around the Aire with great confidence!
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