Only a short time to fill this morning; i start with a recce for some other points later this week which may or may not work out. I've also been given an executive order by MrsFr that there is a group trip this afternoon and my presence is expected so i have to plan around that.

I decide to head to the west coast, to Vazon bay. There are reminders everywhere of the Nazi occupation all along the coast as Hitler instructed the channel islands were to be part of his Atlantic wall. Therefore the coastline is peppered with such fortifications. Vazon bay is a wide sandy beach and until today i didn't realise it was actually 2 bays in 1. The southern 30% is Richmond, the other 70 is Vazon itself.


There's a gentle breeze which is quite nice; it's dropped over the last few days and you can feel it's starting to get warm - for guernsey, at least. I start at the southern end of Richmond bay and start walking towards Vazon; for mid weekday morning few people are here.

In the distance you can see Fort Hommet.

Just nestled in the dunes, a concrete gun emplacement. Just like any other beach across the world...

For islanders i think it's just taken for granted as to what you find around. For visitors though i think it's quite a stark reminder of comparatively recent past.

There's a kiosk here, but closed today it seems. I wasn't buying anyway.


I find it quite interesting to see how many of these things were constructed. You can still see the imprints of the individual planks of shuttering and a little of the concrete spillage from when it was poured. Wonder how long it will last.



I then go on further around into Vazon bay itself. it's well before midday so in need of a little refreshment i stop at Vistas, a cafe at the northern end of Vazon.



With fort Hommet to the left and a heavy machine gun emplacement to the right. Spot the heavy gun emplacement...?


Some are brave enough to venture into the artic-like waters. Not me...


Walking along the sea wall, there are casements every few 10s of meters along the sea wall. Some of the walls are more than a metre thick.




Fortifications from a different era as mixed in with the WW2 locations is another Martello tower from the 18th Century. As it seems with most other installations i've seen, the Germans "improved" them with lots of concrete.


The entrance to the hidden heavy gun emplacement. This was apparently home to a 22cm gun with a 20km range. On certain days each month an island charity opens them for viewing, sadly not while i was there this time.


Fort Hommet is on the peninisula and was an older 18th century fortification. It's not just the concrete you can see above ground but all the bunkers, tunnel and other areas underground that we can't see.








Still love the blue waters, this time from fort Hommet.

yes, that is my finger

18th century gun fortifications and crenelations



one of the casements is starting to deteriorate, quite unusual from what i've seen. Wonder if it was bad mix or bad poor or just weathering?



It's time for lunch; i had a look at the Vistas menu and it just didn't appeal so i head over the road to Crabby Jacks. Upstairs to the terrace and a view over the bay.



A little rehydration before ordering...


On an island that takes pride in its seafood, interesting to hear that one thing Crabby Jacks doesn't serve off their menu is... Crab! It's on 2 day pre-order according to the server. Huh...
Not wanting a big meal i order the chicken and chorizo melted cheese sandwich which comes is bigger than i expected. The bread has absorbed a lot of fat from the cheese and the grease-proof paper covering on the plate had started to absorb the rest and had shredded itself by the time i had finished. Most of the bread and fries i didn't bother eating as i was getting full.The filling though was filling and nice enough. The coleslaw was downright nasty though. We'd eaten here before last year; it's nice enough, not expensive and i think aimed at families. And open through most of the day so if you're stuck for a meal its always an option. I'd go back, so long as i wasn't expecting a gourmet banquet. it's not trying to pretend by be something it isn't, unless you're looking for crab.


It's starting to warm up now, well into the 20Cs and the wind has dropped; that sun is string. Back to the hotel for my assigned duties this afternoon...