Le Mans GP & Normandy Landing WWII Sites

Bubba Zanetti

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Just back from a great trip to the Le Mans round of the MotoGP with a couple of mates. Picked up a lot of the WWII historic sites in Normandy en route.

The auld Busa never missed a beat, the new Pirelli Angel GT hardly shows any signs of the 1000 miles that are on it, albeit at a reduced pace.

Here’s the pic as we set off, 2005 Busa, 2005 Fazer 1000 and a 2004 954 Blade.

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The sailing took us from Rosslare in the South East of Ireland to Cherbourg in Normandy, about 17 hours and an overnight in the cabin. They supply the straps and all the stuff to tie em down.

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Bit long for the oldies…

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Took a quick spin past the Utah beach landing site on the way to the Hotel, the Museum was closed at that stage. Big gun and Sherman tank outside.

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Stopped over for the night in the town of Bayeux, view from the Hotel room, secure parking for the bikes for the princely sum of €4.50.
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The town of Bayeux.

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Next morning we set out for the Cemetery outside Colleville-sur-Mer. My generation (not yet 40) will never comprehend what went down in 1944!!

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Outside the not yet completed Overlord Museum,

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Big tank……. and a Sherman.

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From there we headed down the coast to Arromanches where there are the remains of the temporary harbour from the landings are still to be seen.

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Then it was onto the Pegasus bridge which was the first liberated bridge of the landings. This is actually not the original bridge but a replacement one in the same spot. The original is in the Museum around the corner.

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Then the house we had rented for about €250 for the week. Rural but well equipped, even had “secure” accommodation for the bikes ;-)

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Sunday was race day and it was bonkers getting into the track, see all the bikes. There was what they called contolled parking which meant a sticket on your bike, a corresponding ticket in your pocket and the showing of you log book on the way out. We had the same amount of bikes coming home as we did going out, unlike Assen last year!

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It was a washout on Monday, confined to barracks playing cards but back to the Le Mans 24 hour Museum on Tuesday, well worth a visit! Also worth a spin around part of the 24 hr track that is on the public roads, video to follow.

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My new favourite Yank Tank, Caddy Eldorado

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Here’s how to load up the tank bag with beer & steak to maximum capacity ;-)

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And the glove drying machine

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Wednesday was time to saddle up and head for the boat but we still had time for a museum or 2, this time the town of Sainte Mere Eglise which id famous for the Paratrooper landing on the church in WWII, as played by Red Buttons in movie “The Longest Day”. The Museum is dedicated to the troops of the 82nd Airborne Division and 101st Airborne Division.

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That was that and time to queue up for the 17 hour return sailing and the sun sets on another mini adventure.

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Hope you enjoyed the pics!
 
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A quick clip with the phone of the start of the MotoGP race. They were clocking over 190mph on a flying lap past us.

 
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