Day 10 through 15 8-May-2017
ICE FLOE is all but ready for the beginning of her journey. Everything we brought to France and many items we purchased here are all stowed and we are ready to show her off.
This photo on the left is the salon. It will be converted to a third bedroom when Allison, Mike, Riley and Tristan and Marilla and Mitch join us in June. The doorway opens to the stateroom (George’s and my bedroom).
Below is a part of the galley and the doorway into the aft cabin (guest room – on the left).
George’s (the Captain’s) Nav station, above and the stateroom (our cabin) below.
We are a bit behind schedule, having planned to stay in Cherbourg for only 2 weeks. Modifications to ICE FLOE and weather caused the delay, but we are taking advantage of the extra few days to sail and see some of the local sights.
When you visit another country there are so many things you need to learn to do. We get right into it. Below, George has figured out where to get air for a very low tire, and subsequently to get it fixed. Don’t return your rental without fixing it (~18 Euros) or the rental company will charge 850 Euros.
The beaches of Normandy are close by and we visited them on one of our “free” days. Imagine being dropped off in waters beyond this long expanse of beach full of mines on D-day with absolutely no cover. Then imagine that the planned pre-bombing campaign was unsuccessful and you were being attacked from machine gun nests firing rounds at you at 1200 bullets per minute. That is what faced the American, British and Canadian soldiers who landed on Omaha Beach.
On Point du Hoc, just west of Omaha Beach, less than 300 American rangers scaled sand cliffs to disable German defenses prior to the landing of soldiers on the beach. Nearly two thirds of these patriotic, young men lost their lives. How can we ever repay such a debt?
While American forces fought on the beaches of Omaha and Utah, British and Canadian troops were advancing on Gold, Juno and Sword.
The cemeteries and memorials in Normandy that honor those who fought and those who died in this battle, elicit a multitude of emotions. The people who live there hold the allies who freed France in the highest esteem. French children visit this site on field trips to learn about World War II and this famous battle. Barbed wire fences built to defend this German-occupied land and craters from bombs dropped in the effort to take this coast are preserved.
Go With The Floe 