Although we did not get our heads down until after 01.00 on the 4th of June we were still up at a little before 06.00 in the morning. We knew it was an hour to Ouistreham and we had no idea where we would be able to park the car and the trailer and leave it for the day so getting an early start was a good thing to do. With coffee consumed we left the apartment and headed out to the car. Now to be fair, it was bloody late when we got to the Hotel and we didn’t want to wake everyone so I think how we left the car was acceptable….

We headed towards Ouistreham to the ferry port where we had come in and found a car park that was perfect. There was already a car with a trailer parked in there so we figured it was a good shout to park here as well. The lads got my wheelchair out of the boot and once I was out we set about unloading the Jeep from the trailer and then getting it ready.

We had to put the canvas bag on the bonnet which holds the sides and doors and remove the passenger seat cushion. Because I no longer have any muscle on my arse, it has left it basically skin on bone, I would therefore have to sit on a special pressure relieving cushion from my old wheelchair. We put on two sections of antennae and attached both the Union Flag and the flag of our Regiment, The Rifles. With these little preparation jobs done, we detached the trailer from the car and Simon and “Bloomy” put them both in to parking bays.

The lads lifted me in to the Jeep secured the wheelchair to the ‘bustle rack’ and we set off out of the car park and for a general drive round. We had no idea where we were going or where we would end up but we did want to explore so we just drove. We drove on the ‘motorway’, we drove along country lanes with beautiful flat fields on either side full of Poppies and through beautiful little villages where you could almost picture troops fighting and moving through and we found memorials along the way.

We put in some places of interest that I wanted to see and visit. The first of which was Juno beach, the Beach that was assaulted by the Canadians. They would be the only allied unit to accomplish their mission in the expected time.

From here we headed toward Gold Beach, the second beach assigned to be assaulted by the British. We started to experience some problems with the Jeeps gears now but we had covered a great deal more miles than we had first anticipated doing. I was not concerned about us breaking down as I had recovery for Europe and there were so many other WW2 vehicles driving around I was certain that one of them would help recover us back to the trailer if we asked, if only for them to be able to show that their vehicle was running fine! I was however slightly worried that the Jeep may not hold up for D Day and as such, I would not have done what I wanted to do.

We drove through some beautiful villages as I have previously said and eventually we arrived. We were immediately met by a security officer who said we were welcome to drive through the the ‘car park’ but that we were NOT to take any photographs of the statue that had been built as our Prime Minister would be unveiling it tomorrow, the 6th. This would be her final official appointment before she stood down as leader of her party and eventually as Prime Minister.

Whilst we were chatting to the security officer he asked where we were looking to spend the 75th anniversary celebrations. He told us that there was a large ‘exclusion zone’ as there were the heads of states visiting and it was for security. He told us that we would need to drive to the Mayors office in Caen if we wanted to be anywhere inside in the zone and as that was the whole point in my spending all the money to buy a Jeep and get here, that was what we had to do. So we headed for Caen!

The gears were really playing havoc now. I was talking with Simon about it and something that came up in the conversation with the seller came to both of us at the same time. The guy said that “If you have to spend a couple of grand on it if it goes wrong then you still have a cheap Jeep”. Didn’t think anything of it at the time but now I was starting to wonder if he had known this was going tot happen. It may also have explained the long test drive that he took Simon on. Anyway, I shrugged my shoulders and said that it was done now and that I was not going to let it spoil my time here. I wanted a Jeep for the 75th anniversary of D Day and as long as the Jeep held up for that I would have to look at what to do when we got home, for now though, we HAD to get to Caen.

Now to say we caused mayhem in Caen would be a slight understatement. We kept losing the gears and stopping in the middle of the road or roundabouts and then we drove PAST the bloody place hahaha. Oh my days. Eventually though we did manage to park up outside and myself and “Bloomy” went inside. It was the British Army that were in charge of giving the passes out and the officer inside right away clocked us as ex services. He was really chatty and made sure that we had one for the car and one for the Jeep, even though we would not be able to display it as the windscreen was down, he told us to just keep it on us and show it if needed. As we had an early start on the following day we drove around for a little while longer and then headed back to Ouistreham. Now the journey did not go particularly well. Gears were hit and miss and we took a wrong turn and ended up driving for miles up and down motorways and major roads, none of which were heading the way we needed. “Bloomy” got on it on his mobile phone and was navigating from the back shouting over the wind, there was no way we were putting the screen up, that would be a sign of weakness! After an hour and a half or so though we eventually got right and returned to the trailer and loaded the Jeep back on. Then it was the hour back to the apartment.

“We are locked out!” said Simon when we got back. We had got take out Pizza from down the road so rather than let it go cold we ate it and then I called the reception to ask for help. She didn’t speak English so she told me so “Bloomy” went round to see if anyone was there. “Doesn’t speak English my ass!” he said when he got back. “She has reprogrammed the card so we should be ok now.” And so in we went, had coffee and a chat and more of a chat, and more of a chat and then at just past midnight, we hit the sack. Early start tomorrow!

In the Army, when you return from a patrol you write something called an ‘honesty trace’. This is where you ACTUALLY went on your patrol against what you had originally put as the intended route. If we had been on a patrol and had returned to base to do an ‘honesty trace’, ours would have been entitled “your guess is as good as ours!” We had no idea of the roads we had taken, the villages we had driven through and stopped at, or the amount of miles we had done but it didn’t matter. We had had a brilliant day

The move to Normandy would be a simple three phase operation. Home to Portsmouth dock by road. Portsmouth dock to Caen by ferry. Caen to hotel by road. Simples!

My Wife woke me at 04.00 on the 4th of June so I would be ready for my friend “Bloomy” to arrive around 05.00 He had left Birmingham at 02.00 so as to miss any and all traffic and to allow for any roadworks that may be going on. We wanted to leave my place around 08.30 which would give us five hours to get to Portsmouth. Obviously we were again airing on the side of caution and allowing for catastrophes. My friend Simon was also coming and would be the third member of the three stooges. “Bloomy” is an ex Army friend of mine who I had not spent any length of time with since our tour of Kabul back in 2004. I was really looking forward to the trip itself, to have a ‘holiday’ with my mate Simon which we have NEVER done in the 40 years we have known each other and to share the D Day anniversary with Simon and “Bloomy” was going to be brilliant.

“Bloomy” arrived around 06.00 as he had stopped off to have coffee so as to not get to us too early. We had a brew and a chat and then Simon arrived around 07.00 Now it was time to load up the suitcases in to the roof box, my shower chair in to the Jeep and strap it down and a final check of paperwork, tickets, passports, spares and tools. Finally, at 08.30 we were on our way to Portsmouth.

We stopped off en route for a brew as we had left plenty of time and we missed any real traffic as it was flowing really well so it came as no real surprise when we arrived at the docks two hours before sailing. At first we spoke about leaving the dock and finding a cafe somewhere but after only ten minutes of sitting there we were told that they would be opening the check in booths in just ten minutes time. Fantastic. There were toilet facilities and the opportunity to get coffee once through the check in so we just stayed with it. I was much happier knowing that we were there already and not worrying stuck in traffic. Part one of the three phase operation was a success!

We drove through and showed the tickets and passports as required and they sticker’d up the car to show I was a wheelchair user and had to park in a specific place to enable me to exit my car and get to the lift. Then we were directed to a lane where we were the only vehicle, this obviously didn’t last too long as other vehicles that were towing joined us. Whilst sitting drinking coffee and talking, a Gentleman came over who was also towing his Jeep on a trailer and told us that as the various Presidents and Prime Ministers were going to be there in Normandy, they had tightened up on security and as such he had removed his “Pioneer tools” (axe and shovel), from the side of his Jeep for fear of them being confiscated. Not wanting to lose mine, Simon and “Bloomy” removed the tools from the side of our Jeep and placed them in the boot of the car. It was but a short time after they had done this and we finished our coffees when they started to load the ferry. Happy days!

Despite being at the front of the line, it was a good while before we were called forward. We were discussing how they work out which vehicles they need to ensure that when I load, there is room for me to get in to my chair and also so I am close to the lift. Very quickly we decided that although it must take some real organisation, we actually were not that bothered as someone gets paid to worry about that and went back to talking about other random stuff. Finally though it was our turn. Well whoever did the planning was worth their wage as we were brought to a stop right next to the door for the lift so once I was out of the car and Simon and “Bloomy” had got me over the door threshold, we got in to the lift and headed up to the deck, we would see what Naval ships were in dock and watch us leave England behind.

Whilst on the ferry, having a drink at the bar, we got talking to a US Marine Veteran. He was not a Veteran of the Normandy landings but still an interesting guy to chat with. He was on a tour and had visited Aldbourn where I had been with the Jeep for the Op Nightingale dig. He was gutted when I said that the Sergeants accommodation hut area had been excavated and exposed with some finds, it had only been covered back in a couple of weeks before he visited. As I was talking to him about it and telling what had been found he would simply reply with “No shit” after ever item, oh it did make me chuckle! We had a really good laugh with him, and spoke for at least an hour or so, he had only gone up to the bar to get his Wife a drink and as it turned out, someone else in their group got her one as he had clearly been sidetracked by talking with us. Eventually it was announced over the information speakers that we could make our way to our vehicles. People have this mad dash to get to their cars much like when the plane lands on the runway. The three of us sat there watching and commented on how every single person must be the first vehicle at the front of the boat, because if they aren’t then how do they think they will drive off? Anyone behind me could not get off the boat until i move my car so it seemed a bit pointless rushing to be fair. Anyhoooooo, we got to the car and sat ready to depart. Phase two of the operation was complete

It is about an hour drive to the hotel that I had managed to book, the light was fading but I had updated the SatNav and so with the Hotel address typed in, we made our way there. Now it was pitch black when we got to the town, we had stopped at the entrance to one Hotel but could not see the name so carried on past, we could not find the bloody Hotel for love nor money but we did find a Frenchman out walking his dog so we showed him the address and he very kindly gave the directions in sign language. I turned the car around and headed back the way we came and after no time at all we arrived….at the Hotel that we could not find the name for, typical. Anyway, as it was late, I ‘parked’ the trailer and car across a few spaces and we unloaded our stuff. To be honest, we all just wanted to get our heads down….which didn’t happen until after 01.00 by the time my room had been rearranged to make it easier for me, my shower chair had been put back together and the “We made it ok” emails were sent. I do worry about the suitability of accommodation when I go away and even more so on this trip as I would be having to ask my two friends for help which could potentially push the boundaries of friendship beyond anythng you could imagine but I was pleasantly surprised at the place, it was as close to perfect as I could have hoped for.

You won’t understand how much of a relief it was to see this in the apartment unless you have a need for the same or have someone in your family but such a huge weight lifted as soon as I entered the apartment I can’t begin to tell you. So, phase three of the operation was a success. Time for some shut eye and tomorrow, we’ll head to Ouistreham to start our exploration of Normandy.