Packed up quick, all ready to leave, tried Evan’s
seatbelt and it wouldn’t work….Thought I was going to have to ask the French
guy in front of us to pull forward so we could get out but Chris managed
thankfully - still moaning about getting power-steering! Just pulled into the top of
the aire when ‘Kev heRev’ and Co. pulled in – I’d just said to Chris how only
a T25 would fit in the space we've come out of and so lucky for them!! Great timing!! It appeared that Evan’s seatbelt clicker had
jammed. Kev suggested heating a
screwdriver and bolting Morgan’s second seat belt holder to Evan’s strap so
Chris did it and it worked!! We pulled
out of the aire and said bye again to Kev & Co. only for me to then try to
put my strap on and realise we've been trying to my put my belt across Evan and
into his clicker – so all the faffing was for no reason!! LIVE & LEARN!!!!
Drove down to Omaha beach and the American
cemetery. Chris and I went to the British
one in Bayeaux previously. There was
airport security to enter with police and guards everywhere – the reality of
life in America today. There is a
brilliant museum/ memorial before you enter the cemetery itself. It is an immaculate cemetery, beautifully
laid out. There is a great viewing point
across Omaha beach. It was very moving
to see 9000+ white crosses and star of David head stones.
From here we drove back east to Le Chaos, a WW2
battery that has kept the guns in 3 of the bunkers. Very impressive to see but also horrific
too. Lots of American pensioners were
here on a bus tour. It is a fascinating
site.
We decided then to get some of the driving back towards Calais out of
the way So we headed for the Alabaster
coast (Cote d’Albatre) and a village called Etretat. The guide book said it has a great
coastline. We arrived at the aire after
a huge diversion through some very pretty villages (Chris and I both commented
that we previously had thought that Normandy was boring but now I've completely
changed my mind, it really is very nice).
There had obviously been a fete in the village today as today is a
French bank holiday for Assumption Day and it was packed! The aire had a barrier that you had to pay
before going in and so I got out and checked that there was a space first, so I
paid 8€
, Chris drove in and then an Italian jumped into the space in front of
us – well you can imagine how cross we were at this, they had watched me
check it was empty!! Could not believe
it!! Chris got out and walked around the
rest of the site, there was an old couple sat on a space next to their van, Chris
asked if someone was there and they tried to fob him off saying they didn’t speak
English (they were German). Then they
told him that someone was coming at 8pm and that we could have the spot if we
absolutely needed it, great understanding for people who couldn’t speak English!! So I took the kids out of Flo and marched them down
to the space and Chris drove in. We got
major evil looks all evening from the German woman until they went out!! Never in the 4 weeks we've been away have we
heard or seen people trying to keep spaces in the aires!! Anyway, thankfully as Flo is small we could
sit at the front of her. A little French
girl from the van next to us came and played for a couple of hours, its really
sweet how the children can play regardless of language!!
