Journey to Normandy

Part of the Royal Navy which is docked in Portsmouth

 June 3, 2011 - We traveled by taxi, train, subway, and train again to Portsmouth Harbour, and then took the ferry to Cherbourg, France. It was a 3 1/2 hour crossing.  Alan had carried my luggage all the way, as well as his.


The first five pictures were taken from the rear of the ferry as we left Portsmouth Harbour.

An old ship called the Warrior

New building- old fort, side by side

another fort

amphibian

Fort coming into Cherbourg

Joe Chesnut met us in Cherbourg with Johnny and Annette Johnson, and his high school friend, Brenda Palmer. Joe is quite an expert on World War II, having read widely on the subject, and having interviewed every veteran he can find.  His wife, Margaret, who has seen Normandy many times, was to join him later. Our ferry was quite late, and had been quite rough, so we had not eaten much. They had not eaten either, so in spite of the fact that it was after 9:30 pm when we arrived in Bayeux, our home for 4 nights, we went to dinner at a creperie very near the cathedral.  We were all very tired when we left the restaurant at 11 pm.  Joe and Brenda had been traveling from the States for two days.  The Johnsons had traveled by car to Prague, plane to Paris and train to Bayeux.  We dropped the Johnsons off at the convent where they were staying, and then drove to Col. Michael and Rosemary Chilcott's home.  It is like a manor house with a stone barn and several other stone buildings.  Joe and Brenda each had rooms there.  Because she did not have a room for us, Rosemary had arranged for us to stay in a similar place across the street.  Our room was actually upstairs in what had been a barn.  We slept well and awakened to a beautiful day!

Welcome to France!