Going Under the Channel to France

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How time flies when you are having fun. That is what we have had in England. We haven’t let the damp weather get us down. Today looks like a real mix. We wake to some sunshine but rain is forecast. Hopefully we’ll be well on our way when it arrives.

We pack our bags and reload the car. There is slightly less to load on the return journey. We have drunk the French wine, handed over the birthday gifts, and added a few clothing items to fill the empty space. One or two extra surprises have also been added. That 30 kg limit is getting close. Farewells are sometimes hard but we have all seen each other a number of times recently and Skype helps. So we promise to be together soon, either back in England or in New Zealand.

The time for departure comes all too quickly. The M25 has a problem around Junction 1-3. Actually the M25 is a problem. It is the UK’s largest parking lot. We need to take this unfortunate motorway from Junction 19 to Junction 5. Just as well we leave with time to spare. The other announcement we hear is this is the busiest day of the year for flights in the UK. What could possibly go wrong? Nothing. We hope.

We join the flow of traffic heading towards the M25. It is looking busy. Traffic is moving at a controlled 50 mph. Often we crawl at less than 30 mph. Once past Heathrow the flow speeds up. Then it slows, then it speeds up, then it slows, and on it goes for some distance until we reach the M20. We are not affected by the problems caused by an accident somewhere near J1-3. Very heavy traffic is moving slowly the other way. What a way to spend time traveling in this sort of traffic on a regular basis. Not for us. Bring on rush hour traffic in our own home town where it lasts no more than ten minutes.

We stop briefly at a service centre for some light relief from the intense driving, a coffee, and other necessities. It starts to rain. We had intended driving into Folkestone for some grocery items and a chance to use up our loose change. We decide against doing so and head for check-in for our le Shuttle ride back to France. The touch screen check in doesn’t like our touch but a helpful voice offers to take over. “Would we like an earlier crossing, no charge?” “Yes please”. The parking area is full. Everyone in the UK is heading across the Channel. Our boarding call comes up on the big screen and we join the hundreds of others.

First we need to pass through UK Immigration. We are then specially selected to undergo a detailed security investigation. The gunpowder residue device is wiped over the steering wheel. We are asked if we have anything to declare. We wait in the rain. Our departure time comes and goes. After some time we get the all clear. That red number plate is the problem. This happened to us two years ago. We work our way into a queue for French Immigration. Passports stamped we proceed to the boarding area. We are now thirty minutes past our original departure time. Not to worry, we’re in Lane 1 near the front. Once on board everything proceeds quickly.

Arriving in France it is only a short drive to our hotel. We purchase some grocery items for a light evening meal and an early night. The English weather has caught up with us. Now it is French weather. Hope it doesn’t follow us south. The hotel car park is full. The number plates reflect the multi-national nature of the people staying at the hotel. Some are preparing for a Channel crossing, others, like us, preparing for a French holiday. Wonder what the roads will be like tomorrow.

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