We've had the Norwegian teacher exchange group over this week and, as they looked after us so well when we were in Stavanger, taking us up a mountain called Dalsnuten, visiting a museum about traditional Norwegian costumes, taking in the beautiful scenery at The Old Vicarage (Hå Gamle Prestegard) and exploring the World War II Bunkers in Vedafjellet, we wanted to show them the sights of Dunkirk too. The beach and the dunes were the obvious place to start, so we went for a long walk followed by a picnic.
It was a Sunday morning so the far end of the beach was pretty much deserted, except for a few horseriders in the surf. It still seems strange to me to see horses in the sea, but I suppose it's because I'm used to shingle beaches in Britain which are pretty unstable underfoot.
Add a few palm trees and you could be in the Seychelles ! We're in the middle of a heatwave so we've certainly got the sweltering temperatures.
We all kicked off our socks and shoes and splashed through the wet sand and shallow water at the water's edge.
We've visited this beach many times before - it's where the World War II bunkers are and we've been geocaching around here too - but never at low tide, so I was delighted to see that one of the shipwrecks was visible.
I knew they were there - there are about three or four, to my knowledge - because they are marked out with yellow buoys bobbing in the sea, so that the kite surfers and jet-skiers stay away from them, but I've never had a chance to see them. I've always wanted to though, so this is something to tick off my "local things to do" bucket list !
From a distance, the wreck looks like a whale carcass rising up out of the sand.
This was apparently a cargo boat, not one of the Little Ships that came back and forth across the Channel - you can still see the engine - but it was still involved in rescuing troops during Operation Dynamo and sadly didn't survive.
Parts of it are surprisingly intact, given that it has been under the sea for over 70 years.
It's quite creepy, when you think about the history behind it. We're all looking forward to Christopher Nolan's Dunkirk film being released this summer, having seen the town transformed into how it looked during wartime, so I'm sure that will make it even more poignant.
It was strange to think that the tide would soon be hiding it away again.
In twenty years of living here, it's the first time I've managed to see it and some of the members of the group didn't even know the shipwrecks were there !
What a lovely treat for your Norwegian Teacher. Your beaches always look so inviting and deserted. Surely in a heat wave they should be filled with swimmers and sunbathers? I must have a very British outlook! It looks like you managed to see the shipwreck at it's best with so many aspects so clearly visible. I love discoveries like this.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing with me on #CountryKids
It always makes me laugh - the part of the beach closest to the town centre is absolutely heaving, you can barely find a spot to sit on the sand and it's noisy, crowded and too easy to lose your kids. If you drive ten minutes or walk half an hour further along the beach, you get this - I know which one I prefer but nobody bothers !
DeleteGosh what an absolute treat to be able to see the wrecked ship, this would make the day of my history loving boy and I'm with you, I'd go to the lovley desrted area and enjoy time there. Mich x #CountryKids
ReplyDeleteI was very chuffed - couldn't have planned it better :)
DeleteThe ship is incredible! We also love exploring the Atlantic Wall bunkers here in the Netherlands, but this ship is so amazing! We were in Normandy in May and had a chance to visit the beaches on low tide and see some of the ships there. Its so incredible how they have become part of the beach now. #CountryKids
ReplyDeleteIt's great that so much history is still there to explore and discover :)
DeleteWhat an amazing way to learn about the history of Dunkirk. It's very well preserved in spite of the sea, I'd love to take my children to see it next time we're passing through, if we get the tides right!
ReplyDeleteI didn't expect it to be so complete, given the amount of time it's been there
Deleteohhh this is fascinating! I'm one for history, especially on the beach... we were recently, well, a few months ago, at Filey on holiday and we found some old historic ruins on the beach, some of them we were able to go in. I can't remember for the life of me what they were called, but we were able to explore them and go in them with our son who found it interesting! I thought he would be scared but he wasn't.
ReplyDeleteit's fascinating to think of what the time must have been like in battle on these beaches, and now we are left with the remains! #countrykids
It's amazing what's still out there to discover - we have lots of bunkers which are interesting to explore too.
DeleteMy husband would love to visit this he is a little bit of a history nut and anything to do with the world wars. Hopefully we will get to see hem one day. #CountryKids
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