Testimonial WW2 Extended Sights Tour 23 – 29 September 2018
 The Group at St Mere Eglise – although only a small group we had lots of laughs and fantastic weather |
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 We start with a briefing at Caen |
 Our first visit The Grand Bunker |
 Descend into the Bunker |
 Gun store |
 Andy with John S |
 Bob with Jon C |
| “John and Jen, many thanks for another great trip. For me this was a perfect trip combining historical sights, great riding, comfortable hotels and good food. Oh, and another fun group of riders. I’ve done several trips and thoroughly enjoyed every one. I can heartily recommend you to anyone and look forward to joining you again next year.” | |
| Bob Eve, 7th trip, Suzuki V-Strom 650, West Yorkshire | |
 Amanda & Ian |
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 John with Bob |
 Was this the disco ?? |
 Garry looks through the viewfinder |
 As does Ian |
| “Hi John and Jen. Thank you for a great week. Great sights and WW2 knowledge, great hotels, great roads with very little motorways. Having the van to transport luggage and provide somewhere to leave kit while visiting museums and sights was a great benefit. My 1st organised tour, and 1st time using the drop off system (which is great and allows people to ride at a pace that suits them without worrying about navigation). Had a great time with the tour group with lots of laughs along the way.” | |
| Garry Matthews, 1st tour, BMW S1000XR, Derbyshire |
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 We next visit Pegasus Bridge |
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 We have an explanation in English |
 Then see the original bridge |
 Details of the gliders’ landing |
 A replica Horsa Glider |
| “Thanks John & Jen for an awesome trip – great people – all had a great time even with the excursion to Brecourt manor to see where Easy company of Band Of Brothers fame did their stuff. Awesome hotels, great roads & lots of historic places to see. Oradour sur Glane was very sad but well worth the visit. Just great fun and great people – will be back soon for another trip – oh forgot to mention the food was excellent.” | |
| Chris & Debs Marland, 2nd tour, BMw R1200GSA, Staffordshire | |
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 A blustery talk at Arromanches |
 Reece |
 The Mulberry B Floating Harbour |
 Bikes parked along the front |
| “John and Jen, what a great tour! Many thanks. I will write a full review later today. I have attached a few photos – please feel free to use them (or not) as you wish [Thanks John]. Best wishes and I am looking forward to my next tour” | |
| John Savage, 3rd tour, Honda VFR 800, Peebleshire | |
 We then visit the Gun Batteries |
 John’s in the lead today |
 Next stop the American Cemetery |
 John gives a brief introduction |
 The walls with the names of the Missing |
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 The fabulous Bronze Statue |
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 The outline of the “Encirclement” |
 The crosses are perfectly lined up |
 Omaha Beach |
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 The Visitors’ Centre |
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 Our first hotel |
 Dinner is in a local restaurant |
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 Bob chooses oysters |
 The next day we visit the German Cemetery |
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 Ian & Garry |
 Chris with John |
 Bob with John S |
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 Andy |
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 Garry on his BMW S1000XR |
 Jon C on his Honda VFR 800 |
 Ian & Amanda – Honda Crosstourer |
 John S on his Honda VFR 800 |
 Reece on his Triumph Tiger 800 |
 Bob on his Suzuki V-Strom 650 |
 Andy on his Piaggio MP4 |
 Chris & Debs riding as “Back-marker” |
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 Our next stop – La Pointe du Hoc |
 Watch the moving testemony |
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 See the cliffs the Rangers scaled |
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 The Observation Bunker |
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 Inside the bunker |
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 Reinforced Gun Casements |
 John’s in the lead again today |
 Bob |
 John S |
 Jon C |
 Garry |
 Andy |
 Ian & Amanda |
 Reece |
 Chris & Debs – BMW R1200 GSA |
 World Peace Memorial |
 Next stop – St Mere Eglise |
 See “John Steele” on the Church |
 Plenty of time to visit the Airborne Museum |
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 Debs steps out of the ‘plane… |
 See the flight path |
 John S arrives |
 John ! |
 Ian |
 Amanda |
 Garry & Jon C |
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 101st Airborne Division Memorial |
 Eventually we found it ! |
 Impromptu visit to Utah Beach |
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 Garry, Amanda & Jon do “The Lunge”! |
 An interloper joins dinner in Bayeux! |
 Bayeux Cathedral by night |
 Another gorgeous morning |
 See the waterwheel |
 Our hotel is next to the Cathedral |
 Forget etchings…come to my room & see my Tiger !! |
 Photos taken as we leave our hotel in Bayeux |
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 Pavement parking at lunch stop |
 Pretty towns |
 Lunch in the sun – Bob was Back-marker today |
 Afternoon coffee stop |
 Our next hotel |
 The restaurant |
 Drinks before dinner |
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 (The next day) Jon & Garry |
 Dinner is included again tonight |
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 Jon C takes a turn as Back-marker |
 We ride to St Nazaire |
 The gun from HMS Campbeltown |
 John provides the “idiots” guide |
 The group at St Nazaire |
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 We go on board the Espadon submarine |
 Headsets included |
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 Amanda |
 Debs |
 Chris |
 Jon C |
 Bob |
 Up Periscope Andy ! |
 Reece |
 Garry |
 The torpedo room |
 The way out |
 Bob & Ian |
 Amanda & Debs |
 Time for coffee |
 Before we ride over the bridge |
 We re-group, Jen’s in the lead today |
 Our hotel in La Rochelle |
 Drinks in the bar |
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 A short walk into town |
 Live music |
 Lovely evening at La Rochelle |
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 Lots of bars |
 The old town |
 Tightrope walker ! |
 Walk round the ramparts |
 Lots of restaurants to choose from |
 A lovely sunset |
 The next day Garry’s Back-marker |
 Morning coffee stop |
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 Lunch stop |
 Lovely town |
 Stunning chateau |
 Jen’s in the lead again today |
 Weird ! |
 We visit Oradour sur Glane |
 Again headsets are provided |
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 A very detailed history |
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 The pictures of all who were killed |
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 The garage |
 The Doctor’s car |
 Walk through the old village |
 Visit the Church |
 The remains of the Church Bell |
 John inside the Church |
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 In Memory of those killed |
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 Visit the Cemetery |
 Outside our next hotel |
 Drinks in the bar |
 Thanks “Super Six” – the Champagne was lovely !! |
 Another sunny day ! |
 Reece rides as Back-marker today |
 Morning coffee stop |
 Us (thanks John S) |
 Lunch stop |
 We visit the Saumur Tank Museum |
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 A Tiger ll |
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 Flak 88 anti-aircraft gun |
 German Hummel taken by US 5th tank div |
 Part of the Berlin Wall |
 Czechoslovakian multiple rocket launcher |
 The French contingent |
 Pluton – French nuclear missile carrier |
 AMX 50 |
 Andy’s swapped his MP4 for an ACMA TAP !! |
 AMX 30EBD remote control mine clearer |
 Car in a suitcase !! |
 British Chieftain Tank |
 The German section |
 The new BN support vehicle !! |
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 Our final hotel |
 Drinks before dinner |
 A great group |
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 Jen tells the story of Big Jim |
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 We enjoyed a lovely meal |
 Followed by the “Penguin” joke !! |
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 “Are you in the army…?” |
 Or the Observer Corps ?? |
 Then it’s “Guess the vegetable” !! |
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 Bob takes a turn |
 “Ith it Dithco” ?? |
 The next day John S is Back-marker |
 A morning briefing |
 Our final visit is to the Museum at Montormel |
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With a pic-nic lunch back at BN HQ we ended the tour back at Le Havre. Thanks to all on the tour for being so prompt in the mornings and for taking turns to ride as “Back-markers”. We look forward to seeing many of you again on future tours. Ride safe, John & Jen. |
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