Utah Beach

Utah beach was the most westerly of the five landing sites. The beach has a relatively flat terrain that assisted the Americans, however their problems began when they entered the countryside. The farm land is dominated by narrow lanes, small paddocks with hedgerows that made fighting extremely difficult. Furthermore the Germans had flooded much of the low lying land behind the beaches creating large swampy areas. Several of the paratroopers, which landed behind the German front line, drowned in the flooded.

Some of the images we captured include:

This picture illustrates the difficulties faced by the American soldiers - narrow lanes flanked by hedgerows.

A sixteen year old soldier steering this landing craft was killed on D Day

Mont St Michel

Mont St Michel is an abbey constructed in the 8th century and added to/altered over time. It is built on an island rock, now connected to the mainland by a causeway. The construction was incredible, although the sheer number of tourists (we don't count as tourists) somewhat spoils the experience.

This wheel drives the goods lift. Six prisoners were required to walk in the inside of the wheel to provide the necessary force.

The tide around St Mont Michel recedes a total of 18 kilometres! It seems to be a tradition for children and young adults to walk about in the mud, which is very sticky and smelly (12 centuries of monks sewage). The blonde boy in the foreground thought it amusing to kick mud at me.

The cloister. St Mont Michel has an extraordinary number of columns (a bit like Pip's house).

Uzerche, Brittany

Due to popular demand (actually just two people) we have included some pictures of tony

Hillion

A St Helens league supporter (what other game is there?) on the Brittany coast. Keen to discuss the merits of Kiwi league players.

A small chapel that looked down the coast for several kiolmetres.

Treguier

A rare day without wind in Brittany

Kermouster and Creach Mout

Half tide at Hillion, a very quaint village on the northern side of the Brittany peninsula

Creach Mout was the location for a German pillbox and semaphore station. The Allies were advancing rapidly on the fortification. In another tragic war crime the Germans massacred 32 inhabitants of the town. The fortifications serve as a memorial.

High and dry: The tide on the west coast of Brittany recedes several kilometres. This tide drop and low gradient of the seabed facilitates the major industries of shellfish gathering and seaweed collection for iodine extraction.

Carnac

Some of the Megalithic stones at Carnac - about 3000 of them in total, all set in linear patterns. Apparently the stones date from about 3500 years ago.