This post is about travels after reaching the west coast of France following our adventures travelling from the south, doing the Gavarnie walk and exploring Bordeaux.

The current story begins with a visit to Mont St Michel, a picturesque tidal island that has been a pilgrim destination for centuries because of its early monasteries and later its magnificent Abbey. Today's pilgrims are mostly of the camera toting variety, and they were certainly out in numbers the day we were there.

The later parts of the story are about the Normandy beaches and the great historical battles they are associated with, and the equally important WWI battlefields of the Western Front in the Somme Valley. In the mix are a couple more brushes with our old friend William the Conqueror, who we met across the Channel earlier in our adventure.

We hope you enjoy travelling with us on this part of the journey.