My "handler" has let it be known that the "followers" are raising a ruckus and wondering where in the world we might be. It has been an eventful few days since we left Honfleur. To give you a peak into the mind of our trip "planner" - we drove 1,221 kilometers between Sunday afternoon and Wednesday afternoon. We now own the Normandy Coast and Loire Valley of France. You name a Beach - we've been there, name a Chateau - we've been there. With apologies to Hank Snow, Johnny Cash, and all the others that have sung "I've Been Everywhere" - we covered a lot of ground in three days. It was beautiful - even hallowed ground to travel. We weren't busting down any autobahn. These were country roads - over hill and over dale through villages, farms and the heartland of France. And ... I have flip flops bigger than this car. It was a Chevrolet Spark - with maybe 3.5 cylinders. I was hell on wheels going down hill but I was Fred Flintstone running up hill - "feet don't fail me now"!
Beyond the fun (and it really was fun) of driving around France, I should share some highlights. One excursion I really enjoyed was stopping in the small coastal town of Trouville. V-Mac and I walked through the local markets buying tomatoes, peaches, apricots, fromage, baguette, andouille, mustard and wine. Later, we stopped along the beach, ate our lunch - and washed our hands in the Atlantic Ocean. It was "quite lovely" I must say.
There is much left to share with you and we won't get it all covered tonight. I do want to wrap up regarding the Normandy Coast however. I think Vicki would agree that visiting Omaha Beach and the United States D-Day Cemetery was an honor. It is such peaceful, hallowed ground - a different time and place entirely than the one it commemorates. Quite literally, I was moved to tears reflecting on the sacrifices men, women, families, friends and countries made. I think the thing that struck me most was seeing graves marked with the Cross and the Star of David side by side. People from all ethnic backgrounds, people from all religions and people professing no religion - fought together to preserve liberty for all. Not just for some and not just for those like them - but for all. They also fought knowing that they, very likely, wouldn't be around to reap the benefit of the liberty they fought to secure. It was very humbling being in that place - and a powerful reminder that we must carry on their charge yet today - standing up for those who have neither the voice nor the means to stand up for themselves.Merci. Au revoir.
