La Fontaine Saint-Come

Last night we sat out at the picnic bench behind Marge, until ten o' clock, when despite the heat of the day, the wind began to cool us. The sunset, not so dramatic as the night before, but still quite stunning, could be seen from the wall behind the campsite.

We left late this morning, as we walked into the town to view the tiny market, and on our return, chatted to our English neighbours for a while. After wishing each other a safe onward journey, we headed up to the coast. Time getting on, we stopped for a late lunch.

The view from our picnic table 'pure Normandy'. Among the apple trees, cows wandered, lazily grazing, oblivious of our presence.

Tonight we are staying at La Fontaine Saint-Come, close to the town of Arromanches-les-Bains. The beach in this area, is more famously known as Gold Beach, which would become famous as one of the D-Day landing beaches.

Late this afternoon, we walked along the coast to Arromanches, where we viewed and photographed the remains of the Mulberry harbour and other equipment used in Operation Overlord.

Above the town some sculptures mark the fading memories of the tommies.

The town was quiet for July, with very few English visitors around, which suprised us, at such an historic sight. Daily, we are commenting that, we have seen so few English people in all the time we've been in Italy and France. Perhaps the nervousness regarding Brexit, is already starting to filter through along with the very poor exchange rate as the pound tumbles.

Tomorrow we will head to Honfleur. But tonight, John unable to resist the aromas of the pizza van next to us (though the sound of his generator is quite annoying), is treating us with his last few euros!

We walked down the beach and took some close-ups of a section of broken up Mulberry harbour.

Mortain

Yesterday evening, we both walked to the nearby beach. A few late evening nudists, lay in various positions on the sand.

We will never think of a Cumberland ring, (sausage), in the same way again! Along with a German family of five sat in an exactly straight line in alphabetical order who we named, Hans, Neezs, Hanz, Boompz, Zadaizy, we waited to watch the sun set.

Then it was cameras to the ready, as we all watched the golden light of the lowering sun dip below the horizon.

This morning, our journey, took us around the bay of Mont St. Michel. On route we stopped outside a windmill shop to photograph the view back towards Cancale. The owner of the shop looked a little excited, when he saw an English campervan pull up outside. Don't worry people back at home, we didn't buy you all one!

Approaching Mont St. Michel, we were saddened to see, just how commercial the area had become, with acres of fields being turned over to parking. Only a few years ago, you parked at the end of the causeway, now you park so far out, you have to take a shuttle bus. We are glad, we had the opportunity to visit years ago.

This afternoon arriving at Mortain the temperature was 35c, so what do we do? Set off, uphill, on a walk to the waterfalls.

The Petite Cascade was relatively easy to get to, the Grande Cascade however was not.

)

The paths a reminder of driving through the Verdon Gorge, steep, uphill, a large drop to the side, and in this case, a very uneven path that you needed the agility of a mountain goat to negotiate! That aside, the waterfalls were very nice. Though need some rain to fill them up.

Tonight's aire at Mortain, is just outside the campsite. We have stayed on the campsite here, sometime in the last ten years. (Oh dear, neither of us can remember when exactly), when we cycled through this region. There are a few lucky cyclists with their tiny tents staying tonight.

To the left of us, are a very nice couple from England, they came over to France the day after us, and return the day after we do. Everybody from England we've met travelling for a long time says the same thing. "If you wait, you'll never do it". So true!

Tomorrow, we will head over towards Caen.

A dramatic sunset across the valley, and there are thunder clouds blowing in from behind, so there will be rain tonight I think.