England to Rouen

Normandy, here we come…

In which our heroes set out from England, go under the sea & spot the Atlantic Wall on their way south to end with a well-earned beer or three!

p bright & early – the restaurant was supposed to be open from 7, but sat outside waiting for Glyn at 6:50am, I was nearly run over in the rush by the “wrinklies” who were on a package holiday… quite amusing how many of them appeared to be carrying hangovers!

So, one pretty amazing breakfast later (proper fired bread & everything! ‘though no butter, I had
to make do with sunflower spread… & for those of you that don’t believe me, here’s the evidence…)we set off for the Chunnel Terminal…

…at the same time as what appeared to be hundreds of screaming kids! It’s alright for teachers – 2 week’s holiday at the end of May & then a week or so in France on a school trip!!

Did a bit of typing in the terminal building whilst waiting & had a scalding brown drink… they called it “tea”!

Then off, under the Channel to France on our Normandy Tour of 2013!

“Atlantik Wall” Tourists

So, choices – head straight down to Rouen or do some sight-seeing first? Tourism won out & so we headed out to Sangatte & very quickly came across evidence of Hitler’s famed “Atlantic Wall” still standing & looking very impregnable.

Whilst most of these are on private property, they can be seen from the beach & look very imposing, though the effects of tides & erosion are beginning to have a serious. Even so, today, 69 years on from D Day, to have assaulted the Pas de Calais area would have clearly been madness!

As you drive south, following the coast road, more and more of these emplacements come into view; some hidden behind the bluffs at the cliff edge waiting for targets to walk in front of them.

Each year that I see these, whether up near the Pas de Calais, or down in Normandy, itself, I become more & more in awe of the guys that not only took on the assault of the coast & then the fighting afterwards, but also for the planners who got so much right.

So, we started with a bit of a coastal tour until we arrived at the Batterie Todt – a museum to those who built the Wall – many under duress & as slave-labourers; unfortunately, time didn’t permit us time to go into the museum, but I did manage a few snaps over the fence.

Then, following a lunch at the restaurant next door to the museum, it was off again: target Rouen

Brasserie du Chant du Loup

One day, when visiting the Brasserie du Chant du Loup, we’ll find a clear map to follow & the right road once we’re on that map! However, having been before we knew some of the landmarks to look out for & soon arrived at our destination.

Patrick was there to meet us & was soon bringing some of his re-receipied beer for us to try… excellent! Then, as the local restaurant (where we ate last year) was closed, we’d asked Patrick if we could eat there & his wife prepared a wonderful feast: salad to start, followed by meat, then cheese… and then (sort of soft merangue floating in a creme anglais) … very nice, though I couldn’t eat all of mine (explosion danger from too much food!), so Patrick gave the final piece to the dog who has a craving for it!

So, another couple of beers & then off to bed… all in all, a great day.