Normandy 3.

Sun. 4th May.

It was a cold, grey, wet and miserable beginning to the day but we left our excellent 'aire' on a farm at Saint Vigor le Grand reasonably early to drive the short distance into Bayeux in order to view the famous Bayeux Tapestry before the hordes arrived.  Success!   We managed to have an excellent viewing of the magnificent 70 metre tapestry with just a few others about before a coach load of tourists arrived.  A walk around the lovely town followed, with coffee at one of the cafes, resisting the temptation of f.a. cream cakes, and by this time the crowds were arriving so it was time for us to depart!  Before leaving though, we paid a quick visit in the rain to the British War Cemetery, and then headed to Arromanches-les-Bains, famous as the site of Churchill's Mulberry docks.  It was still raining and parking was difficult so we continued along the coast, stopping at the Croix de Lorraine near Ver-sur-Mer.  We had a sandwich in the van while waiting for the weather to clear and then strolled around to have a look at the cross, situated between Gold and Juno beaches. 
We then drove through several little seaside villages to our overnight stop at Benouville on the Caen-Ouistreham canal and were joined an hour later by Pam and Col, Kiwi friends we met two years ago, spending the next several hours catching up, sharing pizzas and beer at the camp cafe, followed by a walk along the canal and into the village.  We've decided to stay a second night here and tomorrow, weather permitting, will cycle into Caen which is approximately 10kms away.