Another very hot and sweaty day but we're doing ok since we just found a Mcdonald's where we got ice. Nowhere else do they serve anything with ice here in Europe. We got 3 of their largest cups which is like our medium. It's been so hot that our own refrigerator isn't keeping up making ice cubes.

Oh well, according to weather rapport it's supposed to cool down soon. If not we'll turn north again 

Mom is really messing up what day of the week it is and I don't care to keep a tab of that either, so let's just say "the other day"

We got up super early to walk around Omaha Beach and it was great without crowds of people.

Omaha Beach lives in legend as the site of one of the most amazing battles of World War II. And what happened here was just part of a vast effort to reclaim freedom. On June 6, 1944, the Allies crossed the English Channel and landed along 60 miles of Normandy beaches to set in motion the liberation of Europe from the Nazis. Operation Overlord included five separate landing zones and 160,000 American, British, and Canadian troops. Code names for the beaches were Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno, and Sword. Omaha is often the focus of Americans.

Of course, being up this early, no museums were open, but we looked around outside and in the windows.

this was some kind of thing Germans used to stop more troops coming in from the water

Historians agree that the landing on the stretch of about 5 miles that is Omaha Beach was the most difficult of a day of unimaginable difficulties. This beach turned out to have the largest number of German troops. Allied bombing runs failed to take out German strong points. The beach was riddled with mines and obstacles. Also, stormy weather and navigation issues led to men drowning before they could even reach the beach. Those who gained the beach faced a fortified sea wall and high bluffs from where German artillery rained down on them. But by the end of this Day of Days, the Americans claimed a toehold of about 1.5 miles on the shores of Omaha Beach.

We climbed up on top of these dunes and it was tough (especially for Mom)in the heat and we weren't carrying any equipment

The troops must have had one hell of a time

Next, we drove to the American Cemetery in Colleville-Sur-Mer. On a windswept bluff above Omaha Beach, this peaceful cemetery is the final resting place of almost 10,000 American soldiers who gave their lives in the battle for Normandy. The rows and rows of graves attest to the price paid for liberation in one small corner of the world.

 there was a gate and the "no dogs allowed" sign again. Not much to do about that 

so on we went

Many museums and many tanks were displayed in several museums around this area but Mom's morning hours meant nothing was open. It doesn't really matter though because there are always "no dogs" signs in those places and I and Mom are a team, we go together.

These flags are flying in many states in the USA too, it's a reminder about the hometown heroes. Looks like this guy got a medal from Eisenhower? 

The next stop was about 3,5 hours away, but it took much longer because that is calculated on the speed you're allowed to drive which is 130 km and Lucy prefers 90km.

We are now at a wonderful campsite in a town named Fougeres it just so happened that Mom refused another day without a shower. Washcloth washes aren't the same, especially in this horrific heat.at worst it was 113 degrees, but on the weather rapport they promised a cooler temperature soon, and they're right it's only 91 now.

Mom says we're staying here a couple of days because we need to relax (read SHE needs to) We also need to do laundry, clean Lucy, and do nothing .........

I'll tell you about today tomorrow..

au revoir

Henry

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