Caudebec-en-Caux and Normandy D-Day Landing Beaches - Saturday 26 August

We sailed hard against the tide during the night and arrived in Caudebec-en-Caux just before our early 8am start for our full day tour to the D-Day landings on a group of Normandy beaches. We were given packed picnic lunches to take with us - a GF one for me.

These D-Day beaches cover 54 miles of the Atlantic coast, from Utah Beach, to Sword Beach, and they represent the largest military operation in history. It was incredible to think that these now serene beaches were descended upon, by sea and air, by thousands upon thousands of soldiers, at the crack of dawn on 6 June 1944.

The journey to Arromanches-les-Bains took two hours - a long day was ahead. This town is now a seaside resort lying on the English Channel. During the Normandy Invasion of World War II, this town and its beach were part of the Gold Beach landing area and was taken by the British 50th Division on D-Day (June 6 1944). Arromanches became one of two assembly points for the Mulberry artificial harbours, temporary jetties of prefabricated concrete supports, steel spans, and floating piers that were towed across the channel in sections and aligned perpendicularly to the beach. Our first stop was at the 360 Degree museum for the 20 minute film clip presentation of films and photos from the actual D-Day and subsequent winning back of Normandy by the Americans and Commonwealth forces, from the Nazis. It was very moving... Then we went down to the town itself, for our picnic lunches and to view or walk on the beach and see the remains of the artificial harbour - the pieces having been floated or brought in behind the thousands of troops being shipped in and bombarded mercilessly by the Germans. This was the site of the largest amphibious attack ever.

We then visited a similar harbour on Omaha Beach, but this one had been destroyed by harsh storms. There was a lovely memorial work there, on the beachfront, between some flags.

We were also taken to a section of Hitler's Atlantic Wall, where he had strategically placed huge concrete gun batteries with guns that could shoot as far as 14 miles.

Next we travelled to the huge American Cemetery, where the thousands of white crosses were a poignant reminder, beside the Omaha section of beach, of the sad loss of life of so many young men coming in to these beaches to liberate Normandy and France.

Finally, we visited the Commonwealth Memorial, a much less formal and manicured site, but equally emotional. In fact, we had a wreath-laying ceremony here, the words read by the tour guide from our bus (an outstanding guide, who had brought some very complex strategic events to life for us, in a clear and interesting way, with stories and facts). I found this a bit too emotional in the end and walked away with a few sobs escaping from my mouth and tears from my eyes.

Then began the two hour journey on the bus, back to our boat. A long but forever memorable, and VERY important day - worth our journey to Europe on its own - to see these beaches and to hear of the planning and sacrifices made by so many.