Emma's notables from Guernsey:
- It was supposed to be a relaxing day after yesterday's tight schedule dictated by the Sark ferry timings and general logistics, but I got so engrossed by and carried away with visiting abandoned military emplacements that it's probably been even more hectic than yesterday.
- Totally worth it though; it's been fascinating!
- In addition to military emplacements I also visited the 'Little Chapel' and was glad I did. It was both surprising and moving.
- Even managed to time a crossing to Lihou Island during the window that tide times allowed the causeway to be opened. Having got back off Lihou I purposefully made time to sit and watch the tide render the causeway impassable again and made a note-to-self that such things are far more important, memorable and rewarding than the things modern life would prefer we should pay attention to.
- Total mileage on the bike to make these things happen was about 28.
Steve's notables from France:
- Spent the morning on and around the Domain de Beauguillot again. Plenty of birdlife but nothing rare or unusual.
- Again moved by the memorabilia of the D-Day landings omnipresent in these parts. Lest we forget, indeed.
- Moved to a spot I know mid-Cotentin for lunch and then had a couple of hours blast out on the bike along an awesome network of greenways that we've used before. These connect and traverses much of the Cotentin peninsula. The design and upkeep of this cycle / pedestrian / equestrian network is just amazing. It's immaculate and just so darned civilised.
- On my route along a section of the greenway is a former station house that - but for Covid-19 locking things down - we may well have now owned (pic). I was slightly unsettled revisiting.
- Post cycle I'd intended to head for another spot I know to overnight but en-route found myself traversing an unmade byway that was just so quiet and inviting that I pulled over to scope it out. Within seconds the local farmer appeared on a bike (he'd been working on an electric fence out if sight round a corner) and we engaged in pleasant conversation about all-things Normandy, including the infamous landings. He was mega-intetested in the truck and - post guided tour - he talked me through the local wildlife and unexploded ordnance, and then almost insisted that I overnighted next to his field. So that's where I am. What else is a man to do in such circumstances ...
Post composed at 22:15 on Thursday 2nd April from my intended overnighting spot N 49.28938°, W 01.42740° / http://maps.google.com/maps?q=loc:49.28938%2C-01.4274