Discussion boards hosted by Cycling UK. Post by groberts ยป 13 Jun , pm. Post by irc ยป 14 Jun , pm. Post by hondated ยป 15 Jun , pm. Post by aquilegia ยป 19 Jun , am. Post by groberts ยป 19 Jun , pm. Post by aquilegia ยป 19 Jun , pm. Post by Pouletplage ยป 25 May , pm. Privacy Terms. Quick links. D-Day Ride, Done It Post by groberts ยป 13 Jun , pm Having just returned from riding the Normandy D-Day beaches, I foremost would like to thank those on this Forum that previously provided their help and guidance in planning my tour.
The trip was all the more poignant as it coincided with the 66th anniversary of the landings, as a result the whole area was full of soldiers and people dressed as soldiers riding around in army vehicles and most importantly of all, the veterans, back to remember and honour the events of 6th June and most of all their friends and those killed in action.
It created an exciting and sometimes very moving experience. Whilst visiting all the beaches and many battle sites, museums and cemeteries was fascinating, meeting some of the veterans was the highlight and frankly an honour for me. Along the way many remembrance ceremonies were taking place, which were fully supported and still appreciated by the local French population.
As a Royal Marine Jim had landed with the Canadians early on the morning of June 6th and undertook many subsequent actions along the beaches. I had done much preparation for this ride over the past year โ cycling, camping and history โ but nothing can replace hearing from someone who was there; I found it very moving.
Thanks Jim and to all the others. I did a lot of historical reading beforehand and also watched and re-watched some of the classic films on D-Day, which was very helpful in understanding what went on during that fateful day as I cycled along the coast. Obviously the cycling was really secondary to the events that unfolded on 6th June but as so often, cycling proved a wonderful way to engage with the general environment and provided fascinating geographical context that in this case often proved so crucial to the outcome of the D-Day battles.
