Normandy 2017

On Saturday 3rd June2017 a gang of 7 Jeeps and 2 Land Rovers set off from Morrisons in Preston for Portsmouth, having had a breakfast there of course.. A mid way stop was planned at Tewkesbury which meant a slightly meandering trip down the country. Events took a turn for the worse for one of the Land Rovers with Paul's deciding to spray fuel all over the engine compartment. A hairline split in a pressure pipe to the injectors needed to be sorted before moving on. Thank goodness for bereakdown companies that manage to get you back on the road. A temporary replacement pipe was found and all was well. We all made it to Tewkesbury.

The second leg to Portsmouth had problems too. The back end of the exhaust dropped off the Land Rover. Luckily a KwikFit was open and managed to fix it enough to carry on to France. A lunchtime stop in Middle Wallop allowed us time to visit the Air Museum there with its large collection of aircraft and helicopters of various sorts.

No excitement on the ferry across, it was as smooth as glass.

The campsite had small two room static caravans which were comfrotable enough.... if you had a room on your own. Throughout the week gatherings at various homes were had, with a barbeque at one to add some solids to the liquid diets.

Groups went off on their own days out with all the sights of St Mare Eglise, Arromanche, the American Cemetary, and even the Bayeaux Tapestry taken in. A couple of organised convoys to firstly Arromanche then Port en Bessin taught us to ignore the rules for joining the convoys. No flags, only British, only wartime vehicles rules were ignored at Arromanche by others so our group attended Port en Bessin with a mixed bag of uniforms and flags.

Patrick's Jeep was leaving a business card everywhere it went, namely a puddle of oil. Being French of course, he was able to negotiate with a local garage to fit a new oil seal that Dave S happened to be carrying. Once fixed he was able to join us on further trips around the area.

Pegasus Bridge was on our way back to the port to return to England so we arranged a convoy across and filmed it. My Land Rover was there but as I was filming, you did not see it cross.Why do I volunteer for these things?

Back in England the group split into three, one group heading to Tewkesbury for a stop over on a two day trip back, one on the back of a recovery truck having almost lost its exhaust valve, whereas the two Land Rovers hit the motorway and made it home in a day.

A great week and plans are no in place to go to Belgium next year.

More to follow.