Antwerp and Brussels Friday 12th June
We travelled from Bailleul to Antwerp and had to make sure we took the correct Ring Road through or around Antwerp. We stopped at a Service Centre on the southern outskirts of Antwerp and when we left it started raining again and tissue stop gaps had to be applied to the windscreen for quite a while. I lost my sunglasses for good this time at the truck stop. The traffic was a nightmare but we finally got to the camp at Brecht. A superb dinner followed by a challenge Snooker comp comprising John N and Potsy on one side and Zeb and Fiona on the other. Pots and John won. After a huge light and sound show during the night with the thunder and lightening (unheard by some) we woke to a reasonable day and went to the loading yard to clean down the vehicles and all camping gear to ensure it would pass Australia quarantine. Finally all the vehicles went into our container – our ute, Mick and Ken’s Jeeps and John N’s Harley bound for Sydney. Lorraine and Sam had sold their Studebaker and the new owners arrived to drive away. A military salute as it passed us on our way to a bus stop for Antwerp and then a train to Brussels.
Short train to Brussels and a walk around that night. Dinner on the Seafood street and short exploration.
Brussels Saturday
Wow, what a beautiful city it was. The square was a hive of activity with civil wedding parties turning up every 15 minutes or so. One of the brides turned up in a very large stretched hummer, not to mention the Mercedes, BMW coops & a very well restored Jaguar. Lorraine and I visited the Mannekin Pis and then off to the Musee Brussels and many other sights. Dinner that night was at a Cretan restaurant and more sights later.
The train ride
Seven of our remaining group boarded the train bound for Paris at 1113 hrs. It was not long before we all had a guess at the speed the train was doing, 175 to 250 km per hour. Then Graeme fired up his GPS to find out that we were doing 300 kph. The whole time we again travelled through top farming country side, as it is fairly flat with some tree belts all the land is sown down to crops. Arrived at Paris at 1230m hrs, taking 1 ¼ hrs a distance of about 360km.
Paris Sunday
It was good to see Henri at the train station platform to meet us from Brussels. Fiona and I got in the car with Henri, as he has a small 2 door car 7 people and our luggage could not fit. Graeme, Mike, John, Sam & Loraine got a large cab to the Hotel Henri had booked, it was only about 25 minutes away and within walking distance to Henri’s place. We all then had a lovely meal at Henri’s place. We eat all our meals including breakfast with Henri every day.
Paris Monday
It was decided that today we would go and look at Versailles Palace. Apart from the day being wet on arrival at the Palace we found that it is closed on Mondays, all we could do was look around the very large gardens. C’est France, c’est Lundi, c’est ferme. (it’s France, Monday and it’s closed)
Henri took Graeme & Mike to the Airport later in the day as they were leaving to go home.
Paris Tuesday
In the morning Henri took Sam, John & me John to look at the Paris military clubs work shop and storage sheds. They have 3 large sheds on loan from the Army each housing capable of housing 20 vehicles. Henri took us to an 18th century part of Versailles then in the afternoon toured the French Museum of WW I and II. Fiona and Lorraine meantime hit the shops on Avenue Hausmann taking in La Printemps and Galleries Lafayette. We came home with bugger all but dreams of a 280,000 euro diamond ring from De Beers, 2,000 euro nightie and negligee set and other goodies. Oh, we got some souvenirs though.
Paris Wednesday
After looking around Paris to La Defence, the newest area of Paris to the far west in the morning, it was time to take John, Sam & Lorraine to the airport to depart for home. Henri returned to take us to dinner near the Pantheon with his daughter Christine. Then we drove through the city and up to Montmartre and Sacre Coeur for a night version of the city.
Paris Thursday
This was the day we climbed the 700 steps up the Eiffel Tower, although it was a cloudy day.
Photos will follow
Thursday, June 18, 2009
The Somme
But we ran out of fuel before we got too far from camp!
The Somme
After we left Etreham on Monday 8 June, we travelled to Amiens and then Villers Bretonneux in the Valley of the Somme France, the scene of the battles between the Allieds’ and the Germans during WWI. We visited many War Cemeteries and Memorials, too numerous to mention and saw the site where the Red Baron was shot down. The most moving was seeing Villers Bretonneux, the site of the main Australian War Cemetery and Memorial in France and where the ANZAC Day dawn service is broadcast from. A plaque at the top of the tower indicated Canberra was 10400 odd miles away facing east and 14300 odd miles facing west.
Then we went to Albert and drove through the remaining Somme area to Ypres and Beullieul. Unfortunately during the entire time, the rain kept coming down.
Menin Gate
We arrived at Ypres in Belgium to go see the lost post played at the Menin Gate at 1700 hrs, only to find out it is at 2000 hrs. After looking around the gift shops and buying some books we had a meal while waiting. At 1930 we headed back to Menin Gate, what a magnificent building, mush larger then you would believe it to be. Around the inside of it are the names of over 53,000 unknown soldiers killed in the First World War from all allied nations. Then came the ceremony, and a very moving one it was. Three buglers played the Last Post followed by the Ode from a WW2 veteran, then a minutes’ silence. Two visiting buglers from Lancashire Regiment then played Reveille with a group of their soldiers, about 50, stood on parade during all this. Wreaths were then laid. This was the most moving moment of the whole trip, Fiona and I both had tears in our eyes.
From Ypres and the Menin Gate area, we travelled to Antwerp in Belgium to a caravan park. Because it had been raining so much over the last few days, everyone was having damp issues with their canvas tops and tents. The evening meal was at the caravan park restaurant, as it turned out it was the best park meal we had had on the trip. That night it was the most spectacular light and sound show after we went to bed. Before dark, we were attempting to sort out our gear and repack, somewhat of an impossibility in the rain and lack of shelter.
The next morning dawned with clear skies and sun shine. A hasty pack up ready to get to the loading yard for the arduous cleaning process to ensure all traces of mud and grass were removed so our wonderful Quarantine people could not fault our return. The vehicles were reloaded into containers ready to be sent home and we left the yard with many tearful goodbyes to some of the travelling group.
After that we travelled from Antwerp to Brussels to spend a couple of nights before heading to Paris by a very fast train for a fear days with our friend Henri before we go to London for 3 nights staying at a B & B.
Brussels is an absolutely beautiful city dating back to the 10th century with many ornate buildings in one square in the centre of the city. Of course photos will follow when we have a chance to work them out.
Farming
We were still seeing very lush crops and some dairy farming. A lot of Australian farmers would I’m sure love to have the rich land and rain that is abundant here.
The Somme
After we left Etreham on Monday 8 June, we travelled to Amiens and then Villers Bretonneux in the Valley of the Somme France, the scene of the battles between the Allieds’ and the Germans during WWI. We visited many War Cemeteries and Memorials, too numerous to mention and saw the site where the Red Baron was shot down. The most moving was seeing Villers Bretonneux, the site of the main Australian War Cemetery and Memorial in France and where the ANZAC Day dawn service is broadcast from. A plaque at the top of the tower indicated Canberra was 10400 odd miles away facing east and 14300 odd miles facing west.
Then we went to Albert and drove through the remaining Somme area to Ypres and Beullieul. Unfortunately during the entire time, the rain kept coming down.
Menin Gate
We arrived at Ypres in Belgium to go see the lost post played at the Menin Gate at 1700 hrs, only to find out it is at 2000 hrs. After looking around the gift shops and buying some books we had a meal while waiting. At 1930 we headed back to Menin Gate, what a magnificent building, mush larger then you would believe it to be. Around the inside of it are the names of over 53,000 unknown soldiers killed in the First World War from all allied nations. Then came the ceremony, and a very moving one it was. Three buglers played the Last Post followed by the Ode from a WW2 veteran, then a minutes’ silence. Two visiting buglers from Lancashire Regiment then played Reveille with a group of their soldiers, about 50, stood on parade during all this. Wreaths were then laid. This was the most moving moment of the whole trip, Fiona and I both had tears in our eyes.
From Ypres and the Menin Gate area, we travelled to Antwerp in Belgium to a caravan park. Because it had been raining so much over the last few days, everyone was having damp issues with their canvas tops and tents. The evening meal was at the caravan park restaurant, as it turned out it was the best park meal we had had on the trip. That night it was the most spectacular light and sound show after we went to bed. Before dark, we were attempting to sort out our gear and repack, somewhat of an impossibility in the rain and lack of shelter.
The next morning dawned with clear skies and sun shine. A hasty pack up ready to get to the loading yard for the arduous cleaning process to ensure all traces of mud and grass were removed so our wonderful Quarantine people could not fault our return. The vehicles were reloaded into containers ready to be sent home and we left the yard with many tearful goodbyes to some of the travelling group.
After that we travelled from Antwerp to Brussels to spend a couple of nights before heading to Paris by a very fast train for a fear days with our friend Henri before we go to London for 3 nights staying at a B & B.
Brussels is an absolutely beautiful city dating back to the 10th century with many ornate buildings in one square in the centre of the city. Of course photos will follow when we have a chance to work them out.
Farming
We were still seeing very lush crops and some dairy farming. A lot of Australian farmers would I’m sure love to have the rich land and rain that is abundant here.
Monday, June 8, 2009
D-Day 6 June 2009
My gosh we have been busy. I'll put all the pictures here as I can't find my little mouse to do the pasting into the right area.
We have been to Sainte Mere Eglise, Port en Bessin for the fireworks on the night before D-Day, D-Day from Asnelles to Arromanches driving our vehicles in convoy on the beachfront to form up on the beach before the official ceremony later in the day. We couldn't stay around for the whole thing as we had to head off to our garden party at Amaye sur Sieulles, near Villers Bocage, south of Caen. Heavy rain started before we got to Noyers Bocage for an Australian memorial ceremony at the Typhoon Memorial, the only Australian memorial in this region. We were hoping to stop somewhere to change into our special clothes but all we ladies managed was the back of Sam and Lorraine's Studebaker.
I wore an original WWII nurses uniform belonging to a lady from Yass and it was greatly admired and certainly one of the most authentic there. She joined the VAD from Yass NSW in February 1941 and then the Australian Women’s Medical Service in August 1941, serving 2 tours overseas and being discharged in 1947.
Monsieur le Mayor of the area was guest of honour at the ceremony and Fiona was master of music setting up the computer with a recording of the Last Post and Reveille (Rouse) and the reading of the Ode written by Binyon and recited by Lang Kidby.
A quick 8km trip to the village of Amaye and to the lodge for the party. It was originally built as a hunting lodge in the late 1600's and has been added to since that time. A shame about the weather because we were forced inside, instead of enjoying the stunning weather outdoors in the magnificent gardens that we have had for the last 4 weeks or so. What a feast was supplied by Anna and Frank and hugely anticipated by all on this convoy and what a night that turned out to be, every body dressed in period clothing. Thanks to everyone.
By the end of the evening, it was too late to drive the 40-50km back so we slept in the grounds in our ute and then in the morning went back to Sainte Mere Eglise for the mass parachute drop, weather dependant.
It finally happened around 1430. We only stayed for a drop from 5 aircraft, not knowing what else was coming. We heard later there were around another 350-400 dropped.
Back to camp and more rain to learn we had left the back flap of our tent up and there was a great pool of water in there which Graeme and Mick cleaned up for us and very grateful we were too.
Well the Normandy section is now at an end. We head off to Dieppe tomorrow and then up into the Somme Valley where Villers Brettoneux is located. By the end of the week we will be in Belgium and getting the vehicles ready for shipping home.
Bye till next post.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Normandy area photos
Here is Paddy at the Mulberry Harbour remnants on Juno Beach, Arromanches.
The vehicles on the beach itself
And entering the village of Etreham
Oops Hans
One of our group had a slight mishap when he pulled over for a comfort stop the other day. He didn't realise there was a deep culvert on his right hand side and fell in. Hans was on the left side and his passenger Rene, had a very close encounter with the bank beside him. Plenty of eager photographers captured the moment and his embarrassing return to the roadside courtesy of tow ropes and Ray's vehicle.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Tuesday, 2 June 2009 Normandy
We are now in one of the major regions surrounding the liberation of France from the German Nazi occupation during WWII on and around 6 June 1944, the 65th anniversary of the liberation of France. We will tell you more about that later.
Today we went to the American War Memorial at Omaha Beach before the mobs of Presidents from USA and France and the PM’s from UK and Canada arrive for the official ceremonies on Saturday, some 10,000 Americans are buried there.
After that we went to Juno Beach near Arromanches where the American’s set up the Mulberry Harbour to unload equipment, vehicles, men and supplies. The ships were able to access a false harbour so they could download to all vehicles running alongside. They collected supplies and Paddy came out again investigate the situation, above and on the beach. The sandy area was a surprise to us all as we have only seen pebble beaches until now. It was low tide and there we were on the beach in front of 65 year old relics of the Mulberry Harbour.
Photos will follow
Today we went to the American War Memorial at Omaha Beach before the mobs of Presidents from USA and France and the PM’s from UK and Canada arrive for the official ceremonies on Saturday, some 10,000 Americans are buried there.
After that we went to Juno Beach near Arromanches where the American’s set up the Mulberry Harbour to unload equipment, vehicles, men and supplies. The ships were able to access a false harbour so they could download to all vehicles running alongside. They collected supplies and Paddy came out again investigate the situation, above and on the beach. The sandy area was a surprise to us all as we have only seen pebble beaches until now. It was low tide and there we were on the beach in front of 65 year old relics of the Mulberry Harbour.
Photos will follow
Monday, June 1, 2009
Mont St Michel to Normandy
Mont St Michel Saturday 30 May
After leaving camp at 0800 all the vehicles headed down to the Mont St Michel for a photo shoot with the vehicles lined up on the Causeway.
Then we had a look through old place, Fiona paid to have a look inside the Monastery.
After lunch was spent doing vehicle maintenance and generally relaxing. Dinner was at camp again provided by Graeme & Mick, another fine cooked meal.
After the sun had gone down 2200 hrs John & I went for drive to see the Monastery with it lit up. As the camp ground gates were closing at 2230 and it was still not very dark, the lighting was not fully effective.
Mont St Michel to Periers Sunday 31 May
Given we had to drive only 60 km today we all had a sleep in, then headed for Peter & Marjorie Tomb’s farm between Lessay and Periers as they were putting us all up for the night (camping). They are an English couple who moved in France to live 1 year ago. Peter has his own military vehicle collection of 4 Dodge’s, 2 Jeeps, WLA & a Ferret plus a few old cars.
Our hosts put on drinks on our arrival followed by a BBQ and a good time was had by all. Parts of the house on the farm are dated from the 16th century. It was beautiful but I didn’t have my camera with me when I went inside. Wonderful to meet Peter and Marjorie and to receive some mail from home (thanks Jodie).
On the way we went through Granville and the Roc complete with fortifications on the harbour. Then Coutances and another lovely Gothic Cathedral. It was being set up for an orchestral and choral recital of Mozart, Brahms and Holtz. What a shame we couldn’t make it.
Periers to Normandy Monday, 1 June
Once again, an early start. Alarms went off at 0600 and on the road by 0730 to the point of this whole trip, NORMANDY and the region where France was liberated from German occupation during D-Day on 6 June 1944.
As we came into the area, we made a detour through Omaha Beach and where Presidents Obama and Sarkosy will be on Saturday, blocking off large areas. We have come into a camp with the English Military Vehicle Trust group and when we first got here around 0930, there weren’t too many vehicles around.
But guess what, we discovered the recital was being repeated tonight at Bayeaux Cathedral, so eight of us went there and it was wonderful. Have not heard choral or orchestral music like it for ages or in such a cathedral where the building commenced in the early 1100’s. Just think about that – 688 years before Captain Cook came to Australia.
After leaving camp at 0800 all the vehicles headed down to the Mont St Michel for a photo shoot with the vehicles lined up on the Causeway.
Then we had a look through old place, Fiona paid to have a look inside the Monastery.
After lunch was spent doing vehicle maintenance and generally relaxing. Dinner was at camp again provided by Graeme & Mick, another fine cooked meal.
After the sun had gone down 2200 hrs John & I went for drive to see the Monastery with it lit up. As the camp ground gates were closing at 2230 and it was still not very dark, the lighting was not fully effective.
Mont St Michel to Periers Sunday 31 May
Given we had to drive only 60 km today we all had a sleep in, then headed for Peter & Marjorie Tomb’s farm between Lessay and Periers as they were putting us all up for the night (camping). They are an English couple who moved in France to live 1 year ago. Peter has his own military vehicle collection of 4 Dodge’s, 2 Jeeps, WLA & a Ferret plus a few old cars.
Our hosts put on drinks on our arrival followed by a BBQ and a good time was had by all. Parts of the house on the farm are dated from the 16th century. It was beautiful but I didn’t have my camera with me when I went inside. Wonderful to meet Peter and Marjorie and to receive some mail from home (thanks Jodie).
On the way we went through Granville and the Roc complete with fortifications on the harbour. Then Coutances and another lovely Gothic Cathedral. It was being set up for an orchestral and choral recital of Mozart, Brahms and Holtz. What a shame we couldn’t make it.
Periers to Normandy Monday, 1 June
Once again, an early start. Alarms went off at 0600 and on the road by 0730 to the point of this whole trip, NORMANDY and the region where France was liberated from German occupation during D-Day on 6 June 1944.
As we came into the area, we made a detour through Omaha Beach and where Presidents Obama and Sarkosy will be on Saturday, blocking off large areas. We have come into a camp with the English Military Vehicle Trust group and when we first got here around 0930, there weren’t too many vehicles around.
But guess what, we discovered the recital was being repeated tonight at Bayeaux Cathedral, so eight of us went there and it was wonderful. Have not heard choral or orchestral music like it for ages or in such a cathedral where the building commenced in the early 1100’s. Just think about that – 688 years before Captain Cook came to Australia.
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