Shadows and Light

12-14 June

“Time to go home”, well, almost. From Clervaux we headed in the direction of Brussels but stopped off at Bastogne to visit the Mardasson American War Memorial, which commemorates the many thousands of American soldiers who lost their lives during the Ardennes Offensive, otherwise known as the Battle of the Bulge. The memorial is shaped as a circle within a five-pointed star and the names of the American states and a narrative of the battle are inscribed on its sombre grey pillars.

On the same site is the brand new interactive Bastogne War Museum www.bastognewarmuseum.be which is comprehensive, absorbing and moving. In addition to the exhibition of material relating specifically to the battle and more broadly to World War II, the entrance fee includes an audio guide, which gives commentaries from four real people, an American soldier, a German soldier, a young boy and a teacher. These commentaries give a good insight into what it was like being a soldier and for ordinary Belgians under German occupation.

We are surrounded by trees, two small lakes and geese tonight at Camping au Val Tourinnes, chosen mainly because it is pretty much halfway to Calais. Although the setting is lovely, the facilities do not live up to the price, in our humble opinion.

Friday: arrived at Camping Les Erables at Escalles (no website) where we also spent our final night last year and passed a relaxing late afternoon and evening on this very peaceful site in glorious sunshine, overlooking the English Channel and munching through the remaining items in our stores.

From there it is just a 15 minute trip to the Channel Tunnel. We arrived a bit early and were able to transfer to a slightly earlier shuttle, but as all the trains were running behind schedule due to an earlier incident, we actually left around the time originally intended.

Grey skies and drizzle greeted us in Kent - good to be home!