Trained to Angers, where we had 30 minutes to obtain some supplies. Just as well too because when we caught the next train they announced that the food service was not available. Fortunately we were stocked with fresh French baguettes filled with ham and salad and chocolate eclairs. We arrived about 40 minutes late at Lille and missed our connection to Calais. After another two hour wait we finally boarded our final train. Arrived in Calais at about 5.30, rode to the ferry terminal and purchased a ticket. At passport control, the French attendants sent us to the head of the queue of cars but the Englishman in the passport booth 8 sent us back, where we were made to queue with the carbon monoxide exhaust fumes emitted by the long lines of motor vehicles. Eventually, we passed through passport control and were directed to line up at the front of traffic line 53, which we did, only to realize that they intended we should wait for the next ferry not the one currently boarding. Waiting two hours in a vehicle at 6.30 at night is bad enough, but standing on the bitumen, holding onto your bike,in a car queue for two hours is just not on. We remonstrated with the young ( fortunately French) traffic controller a number of times until he relented and let us board the ferry. We pedaled furiously up the steep ramp and breathed a huge sigh of relief, as we parked or bikes against the side of the car deck.
An hour and a half later, we were riding into Dover and our accommodation at the Eastlee guesthouse.
An hour and a half later, we were riding into Dover and our accommodation at the Eastlee guesthouse.
Oh adventures with Public Transport ! We liked your story of negotiating your way onto the ferry to Dover. Also very much enjoyed your photo of bikes wrapped in blue plastic. What a find! We too have haunted supermkts for cardboard to wrap our bikes in (always take duct tape with us!) and done some very creative rearranging of wheels etc to get bikes on board fast-speed trains (not quite meeting the width and breadth specifications for packed bikes) but fortunately getting away with it. We certainly had some amazed looks from the Italians on train from Bologna to Rome recently when there was ABSOLUTELY NOWHERE TO PUT THE BIKES EXCEPT IN THE LUGGAGE RACK ABOVE THE SEATS!! We were lucky there was space - and the occky straps came in handy as Andrew fixed the bikes to the racks so the bikes wouldn't fall out on to the travellers sitting beneath! What a hoot! No photo! Didn't dare!!
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