We arrived in Carentan at 9 A.M. and went straight to the post office to mail the camping gear home. Too bad there wasn’t a UPS or FedEx in town; it would have been cheaper. We took a local train to Paris. As we approached the interior, the architecture changed from stone buildings to fairytale-like… Continue reading August 28: Luxembourg
August 27: Carentan
We went to the Dead Man’s Corner Museum in Carentan, because Dennis found a photo of his dad’s helmet in a book which stated the helmet was in this museum. The museum had many artifacts about the 82nd and 101 Airborne, but not his helmet. We purchased a book depicting Pvt. Ernest R. Blanchard in… Continue reading August 27: Carentan
August 25: Sainte-Mère-Église
Except for the church bells tolling most of the day, there isn’t much going on in Sainte-Mère-Église on Sundays. Of course, there are the walking tour, restaurants, and trinket and bead shops, but no places of interest within walking distance that we had not already seen, and no buses to get to the sites that… Continue reading August 25: Sainte-Mère-Église
August 24: Sainte-Mère-Église
We went to the Sainte-Mère-Église town hall and were lucky enough to have an interview with the mayor, Marc LeFevre. Dennis thanked him for what his predecessor did to honor Ernest R. Blanchard’s 70 birthday–sending a letter thanking him for his heroic actions on June 5, 1944, a medallion of the city, and telephoning him… Continue reading August 24: Sainte-Mère-Église
August 23: Sainte-Mère-Église
Cherbourg is a seaside resort town, replete with eateries, cafes, shops, and high prices. I am learning French names for shops (bakery, pastry, meat store, etc) as well a menu items. Too bad we are not staying longer in France; I would to love sample all the deliciously presented food. Or perhaps its a good… Continue reading August 23: Sainte-Mère-Église
August 22: Cherbourg
We had the morning to explore Portsmouth before taking the ferry to Cherbourg, France. I love the varied colors of the row houses, the open space by the sea, and the relatively warmer and sunnier weather. For the first time in about six weeks, I am comfortable, at least when not in the wind. Portsmouth… Continue reading August 22: Cherbourg
August 21: Portsmouth
We took the train to London from Newcastle, and then another to Plymouth. Since we missed today’s ferry to Cherbourg, France, we had to find lodging for the evening. All the hotels near the ferry port were filled. We took a bus to Portsmouth South Sea, an old district of the city. On the bus,… Continue reading August 21: Portsmouth
August 20: Newcastle and Wallsend
Yesterday we waited at the B & B for FedEx to deliver our credit cards. They arrived around 3 PM and we almost ran a mile with our backpacks to the bus stop to catch a ride to Hexham. We got there with just a minute to spare. From Hexham, we took the train to… Continue reading August 20: Newcastle and Wallsend
August 18: Heddon-on-the-Wall
Sandra, the B & B proprietor expressed a local axiom, “Rain by seven, clear by eleven.” Since it poured this morning, I was hoping the adage was accurate. Though we had a cloud burst at 11:30, when we ducked into a tea shop, the rest of the day was sunny, though windy. Since the predominant… Continue reading August 18: Heddon-on-the-Wall
August 17: Greencarts
Dennis felt well enough today to walk, so we took the bus to Housesteads to resume walking where we had last stopped. Because this section of Hadrian’s Wall Path does not have sufficient and convenient hiker accommodations, trekkers tend to stay in one place several nights and leapfrog to various trailheads: walking forwards, and then… Continue reading August 17: Greencarts