MLU / CMP meeting, Normandy, June 2009

Lang · #1 04-03-09, 09:36

Hanno,

I suggest a good meeting point might be Port en Bessin. Not only is it the border between the American and British beaches but there are some great little restaurants we could organise. Plenty of room to park vehicles up near the sea wall.

Lang

Hanno Spoelstra · #2 04-03-09, 09:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lang

I suggest a good meeting point might be Port en Bessin. Not only is it the border between the American and British beaches but there are some great little restaurants we could organise. Plenty of room to park vehicles up near the sea wall.

Lang,

Good suggestion! Let´s work on this and try to set a date and time to proclaim the Maple Leaf Up Normandy Meeting 2009.

Hanno

Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP) · #3 05-03-09, 15:10

That is both doable and a great idea! See if you can get hold of either of the Ballards... even if they don't bring a vehicle, they have my original large painted Maple Leaf Up sign in their shop - maybe you can arrange to borrow it, even ad infinitum if they're slowly disentangling themselves from the business.

Keep us posted!

Jif

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

Lang,

Good suggestion! Let´s work on this and try to set a date and time to proclaim the Maple Leaf Up Normandy Meeting 2009.

Hanno

servicepub (RIP) · #4 05-03-09, 16:17

I am giving some serious thought to taking 2 weeks leave in early June and going to the UK. If this pans out I will also attend the Normandy events (sans vehicle, alas).
Jiffy, Any MLU swag available so that I can be appropriately 'branded'?

Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP) · #5 05-03-09, 16:48

Good point, Clive.... let me see what I can come up with and I'll get back to you ASAP!

Quote:

Originally Posted by servicepub

I am giving some serious thought to taking 2 weeks leave in early June and going to the UK. If this pans out I will also attend the Normandy events (sans vehicle, alas).
Jiffy, Any MLU swag available so that I can be appropriately 'branded'?

Hanno Spoelstra · #6 25-03-09, 15:12

In an effort to get the Maple Leaf Up Normandy Meeting 2009 going, I have made a Google map which denotes the known locations of MLU members.

Most of us are travelling with a group (Keep The Rolling and Military Vehicle Trust), each having their schedule for events. All we need to do now is to establish a common gap in these schedules which we can use to pinpoint a date, place & time for the Maple Leaf Up Normandy Meeting 2009.

Please post your possibilities here. I´m guessing it will be somewhere during 2-4 June?

If you want your location added on the map, post it here or PM me, and I will add your campsite, hotel, etc. to the map.

Thanks,
Hanno

Gunner · #7 26-03-09, 00:41

Jiff:

Clive and I are trying to coord an RV in UK or Normandy to participate in this bash. I leave for deepest darkest Africa (OK, its only Nairobi!

) on 18 April. I will happily hand carry the MLU goodies if we can get them to Ottawa.

Ubee cue! Mike

Lang · #8 26-03-09, 01:09

The Australian convoy is swinging south to Mont St Michel for a day and not now arriving at Etreham until 01 June when the Brits move in from Falaise (and their second wave arrives also).

I would be more than happy to try to organise a meeting point in Port en Bessin but it might be a bit rushed. Maybe some of the earlier arrivals could drop in to see the lay of the land.

As well as several great little restaurants/cafes there are a couple of pizza places. If it is not raining what about getting a bunch of pizzas and beer and having a picnic. It does not get dark until late.

If we walked about 100 metres over the harbour entrance to the east there are some nice small grassy areas with a magnificent view up and down the coast on the hill near the old German gun emplacements.

If it is wet and miserable we have a choice of trying to crowd into one of the little cafes or parking up near the harbour, circling the wagons and skulking under truck tarps and whatever else will keep the rain off.

I think the outside system is best because there are not a lot of places in the area that can cater to a big sit-down mob. Also, once you get seated at a small table you only really talk to 3 or 4 people all night. Outside you get to move around and talk to everyone.

I am happy to plan on a grassy picnic but be prepared to put on a rain coat and make the best of it if it rains. A simple solution to keep warm would be to change from beer to Calvados!

Lang

Richard Farrant · #9 26-03-09, 01:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lang

If it is not raining ..............
If it is wet and miserable ............... circling the wagons and skulking under truck tarps and whatever else will keep the rain off...............but be prepared to put on a rain coat and make the best of it if it rains.

Lang,

Think positive..........it will not rain. In 2004 we had a good week, think it might have rained on one day only.

Mind you I will take waterproofs...just in case.

Lang · #10 26-03-09, 01:31

This is the photo Bev took a couple of months ago when I flew over Port en Bessin.

My proposed picnic spot is on the hill to the left above the red fuel cap on the wing.

Main cafe section is on the right hand side of the river along the waterfront and back into a couple of the nearby streets. You can see there is plenty of room for vehicles if we spread around a little.

Lang

M38CDNBill · #11 26-03-09, 02:27

Hello All,

Me and a group of about twenty Canadian HMVs owners let us be going belong to Bernieres-sur-Mer in next june. Near the beaches of Bernieres, a WWII Canadian military camp will be set up by Belgian and French re-enactors and they'll be there with their HMVs. During the activities of june 6th, we expect to be more than 150 Canadians in this sector.

I hope that you will have a lot of pleasure to participate in the rememberance activities of the 65th anniversary of the D-Day of Normandy.

Cheers from Canada

Hanno Spoelstra · #12 27-03-09, 00:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lang

I think the outside system is best because there are not a lot of places in the area that can cater to a big sit-down mob. Also, once you get seated at a small table you only really talk to 3 or 4 people all night. Outside you get to move around and talk to everyone.

I am happy to plan on a grassy picnic but be prepared to put on a rain coat and make the best of it if it rains. A simple solution to keep warm would be to change from beer to Calvados!

Lang,

Personally I opt for a car boot picnic type of meeting. Big problem in Normandy during that week will be to find a place to meet.

A group of Dutchmen is organising a British & Canadian living history camp at the Batterie de Longues at Longues-sur-Mer (see the map). Knowing the situation in 2004, their site would be suited ideally for our "MLU boot picnic". I will discuss the possibilities with the organiser. Big advantage of this location is we can arrange everthing in advance.

Regards,
Hanno

Lang · #13 27-03-09, 06:48

Hanno,

That is a good idea. Not as pretty as Port en Bessin but as you say, if they are already camped there it should be easy to organise. Just depends if you want the MLUers having their own gathering or going to a place where there will be lots of others joining the mob.

Lang

Sydneymver · #14 26-03-09, 09:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lang

I suggest a good meeting point might be Port en Bessin. Not only is it the border between the American and British beaches but there are some great little restaurants we could organise. Plenty of room to park vehicles up near the sea wall.

I agree,as i will be staying in the ACCOR at Port en Bessin with my wife, we will have a civillian hire car, an will be cruisin to the camp at Etraham, would loveto catch a ride in any MV to various outings.

Bruce McCann
65th D-DAY