July22nd, 2011, arrival at the Normandy Beaches, site of the Allied landings on D-Day, the 6th of June, 1944. Photo above is of the pool in front of the visitors centre at the Normandy American Cemetery above Omaha beach landing area. The English Channel is in the distance.
The most brutal fighting on D-Day took place along this stretch of coastland, Omaha Beach, with its steep cliffs. The above photo is taken from the grounds of the cemetery.
The cemetery holds 9,387 burial sites. It is a place of pilgrimage rather than a tourist destination.
In Operation Overlord, the code name for the landings, 130,000 troops made landfall and the casualties numbered over 10,000.
In Operation Overlord, the code name for the landings, 130,000 troops made landfall and the casualties numbered over 10,000.
Pointe de Hoc Ranger Memorial is located west of Omaha Beach on a spur of land separating Utah and Omaha Beaches. The Germans had long range artillery pieces here that had to be taken out before the landings.
On the day of the invasion, 225 U.S. Rangers scaled the cliffs taking the position. When relief arrived two days later 90 combat effective troops remained.
On the day of the invasion, 225 U.S. Rangers scaled the cliffs taking the position. When relief arrived two days later 90 combat effective troops remained.
The point has been left as it was after the bombardment in 1944 with huge bomb craters and destroyed bunkers.
Wrecked German gun emplacement.
Above, Gold Beach, fronting the village of Arromanches.
Mulberry Harbours, man made harbours fabricated in England, were towed across the Channel and put in place on the beaches for the landing of equipment . Their remains can still be seen.
Mulberry Harbours, man made harbours fabricated in England, were towed across the Channel and put in place on the beaches for the landing of equipment . Their remains can still be seen.
View over the village of Arromanches with the remains of the Mulberry Harbour on the beach.
The Canadian War Memorial at Juno Beach in Courseulles-sur-Mer.
Juno Beach, one beach east of Gold Beach, in the village of Courseuilles sur-Mer. This is the area where the 3rd Canadian Infrantry Division of 14,000 troops landed on D-Day. Casualties were 340 dead and 574 wounded. At the end of the day, its forward elements stood deeper into France than any other division. The opposition faced was stronger than any other save Omaha.
Bruges in Belgium, small medieval city with lots of tourists.
The Canadian War Cemetery in Bergen-Op-Zoom across the Belgium border in Holland.
There are just under 1000 veterans buried here. It, as all the war cemeteries in Europe, is as neat as a pin.
I finally get to meet one of my Uncles, Austin Heffernan, my mother's brother, who was tragically killed in a jeep accident shortly after the war had ended.
A street scene in the town of Ommen, a small city in central eastern Holland. It was the birth place of an old friend that passed away suddenly the previous March.
Highway view from the motorcycle west of Ommen on my way to Amsterdam. The countryside is flat, green, and full of waterways and sloughs.
Dam Square, central Amsterdam.
Typical street-canal scene, central Amsterdam with its row houses.
Red light district, Amsterdam with a Cathedral just down the block.
Working lady, window display.
"Coffee Shop", the smell of marijuana was everywhere in the downtown.
After parking the motorcycle in Amsterdam, I met up with one of my brothers and my sister-in-law for a week long trip by canal boat in the south of Holland. Pictured above is the boat.
The adventure started at Loosdrecht, twenty minutes south east of Amsterdam and covered 168 kms., 48 lift bridges and 14 locks. Above is the first lift bridge going north from Loosdrecht towards the southern suburbs of Amsterdam. The bridges had a set of lights like traffic lights, red yellow and green. Some were free, on others the operator cast out a small wooden shoe on a fishing line for a donation, usually a Euro.
The vast majority of the trip was through small canals, but occasionally we had to cross major waterways like the main Amsterdam canal above.
Among the cities and towns we went through were Amsterdam, Woerden, Gouda, Oudewater, Utrecht and Montfoort , finally returning to Loosdrecht.
Passing the day away fishing.
Young Dutch family on an outing
Aft on the boat. We ate both on the boat and in towns. Moorage was often free, and when charged no more than 10 Euros per night.
Entering Gouda.
Kids doing what kids everywhere do.
Doing a wash. Most of our fellow boaters were Dutch, with a smattering of other nationalities. We met no other Canadians.
Ladies having morning coffee on the patio at the side of the canal.
Lush farmlands east of Gouda.
Dennis at the helm. After the first day and getting used to the boat it got easier.
The first mate, Paula.
Some very Dutch looking children!
Checking out the route.
Entering Utrecht and a maze of bridges.Utrecht is one of Holland's oldest cities and boasts a beautiful, vibrant, old world city centre
Downtown Utrecht and a lot of congestion. One of us stayed fore on the boat with a small pike pole in case things got too tight.
Young family, central Utrecht.
Character setting, Utrecht.
Tourists watching tourists, canal side restaurant. The heart of Utrecht is ringed by striking 13th century canal wharves. The wharves, well below street level are unique to the city and the streets alongside brim with shops restaurants and cafes.
The canals north of Utrecht have some fine houses built in the past by rich merchants from the city.
Happy time.
Taking it easy.
On the last lock before arriving back at Loosdrecht.
A little blurry, but a map of the canal trip.
A little blurry, but a map of the canal trip.
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