Having just done 2 channel crossings and seeing the disembarking times I
am wondering at what the recent (post Brexit) experience of others are.

My 2 crossings were:-

Portsmout/St Malo - did usual trick and got off sharpish, hard to have
passport stamped, Covid cert checked and agree I had the "honesty letter".

Then a delay while queued behind cars being instpected. I was waved
past, so not too bad. On the road in France within 15 mins of docking.

Santander/Plymouth - I don't think paspport controls added anything to
the 2.5 hrs boarding time.

Bikes were down in the depth (deck D on the Pont Aven), but the nice men
had left us an escape route infront of the camper vans. As soon as the
ramp dropped I was out and up. But it still took me 40 mins to get
through passport control. There was a lot of marshelling of the
vehicles, and I had to do a bit of asking nicely to change lanes to
speed up the exit.

I also noticed that they were marshelling cars in another area, and
suspect the tardy bikers got stuffed in that as well.

In the past we would just be waved through control, but now with each
car stopping and faffing to have their passports scanned it is adding
quite a bit of time. I'd estimate that it culd take upto 90 mins to
clear at Plymouth.

How are the likes of Dover coping?

--
Bruce Porter
"The internet is a huge and diverse community but mainly friendly"
http://ytc1.blogspot.co.uk/
There *is* an alternative! http://www.openoffice.org/

YTC#1 <bdp@ytc1-spambin.co.uk> wrote in news:sloia5$88k$1@dont-email.me:

> Having just done 2 channel crossings and seeing the disembarking times
> I am wondering at what the recent (post Brexit) experience of others
> are.
>
> My 2 crossings were:-
>
> Portsmout/St Malo - did usual trick and got off sharpish, hard to have
> passport stamped, Covid cert checked and agree I had the "honesty
> letter".
>
> Then a delay while queued behind cars being instpected. I was waved
> past, so not too bad. On the road in France within 15 mins of docking.
>
> Santander/Plymouth - I don't think paspport controls added anything to
> the 2.5 hrs boarding time.
>
> Bikes were down in the depth (deck D on the Pont Aven), but the nice
> men had left us an escape route infront of the camper vans. As soon as
> the ramp dropped I was out and up. But it still took me 40 mins to get
> through passport control. There was a lot of marshelling of the
> vehicles, and I had to do a bit of asking nicely to change lanes to
> speed up the exit.
>
> I also noticed that they were marshelling cars in another area, and
> suspect the tardy bikers got stuffed in that as well.
>
> In the past we would just be waved through control, but now with each
> car stopping and faffing to have their passports scanned it is adding
> quite a bit of time. I'd estimate that it culd take upto 90 mins to
> clear at Plymouth.
>
> How are the likes of Dover coping?
>

Not done it myself but a friend came through the Eurotunnel on the
weekend and described Coquelles as shambolic. Not enough lanes open for
the volume of traffic checking in. He was on a bike in pissing rain.

At least with the tunnel all admin is completed before boarding the
train so you can leave the destination port without any hinderance.

On 01/11/2021 11:34, wessie wrote:
> YTC#1 <bdp@ytc1-spambin.co.uk> wrote in news:sloia5$88k$1@dont-email.me:
>
>> Having just done 2 channel crossings and seeing the disembarking times
>> I am wondering at what the recent (post Brexit) experience of others
>> are.
>>
>> My 2 crossings were:-
>>
>> Portsmout/St Malo - did usual trick and got off sharpish, hard to have
>> passport stamped, Covid cert checked and agree I had the "honesty
>> letter".
>>
>> Then a delay while queued behind cars being instpected. I was waved
>> past, so not too bad. On the road in France within 15 mins of docking.
>>
>> Santander/Plymouth - I don't think paspport controls added anything to
>> the 2.5 hrs boarding time.
>>
>> Bikes were down in the depth (deck D on the Pont Aven), but the nice
>> men had left us an escape route infront of the camper vans. As soon as
>> the ramp dropped I was out and up. But it still took me 40 mins to get
>> through passport control. There was a lot of marshelling of the
>> vehicles, and I had to do a bit of asking nicely to change lanes to
>> speed up the exit.
>>
>> I also noticed that they were marshelling cars in another area, and
>> suspect the tardy bikers got stuffed in that as well.
>>
>> In the past we would just be waved through control, but now with each
>> car stopping and faffing to have their passports scanned it is adding
>> quite a bit of time. I'd estimate that it culd take upto 90 mins to
>> clear at Plymouth.
>>
>> How are the likes of Dover coping?
>>
>
> Not done it myself but a friend came through the Eurotunnel on the
> weekend and described Coquelles as shambolic. Not enough lanes open for
> the volume of traffic checking in. He was on a bike in pissing rain.
>
> At least with the tunnel all admin is completed before boarding the
> train so you can leave the destination port without any hinderance.
>

At Santander they did the covid check and LFT booking at check-in. So
that was a bonus.

I think when booking ferries in the coming year a lot of thought should
be given to the time of the crossing and trying to avoid busy ferries.
(So early morning or evening for Dover. Also wondering in mid afternoon
is a good idea?)

--
Bruce Porter
"The internet is a huge and diverse community but mainly friendly"
http://ytc1.blogspot.co.uk/
There *is* an alternative! http://www.openoffice.org/

YTC#1 <bdp@ytc1-spambin.co.uk> wrote in news:sloncm$c2h$1@dont-email.me:

> I think when booking ferries in the coming year a lot of thought
> should be given to the time of the crossing and trying to avoid busy
> ferries. (So early morning or evening for Dover. Also wondering in mid
> afternoon is a good idea?)
>

for the Dieppe trip in April I am taking the 0930 ferry from Newhaven. Stay
in a pub just along the coast towards Brighton the night before. Arrives
Dieppe at 130pm so no worries about delays as it is just one smallish
passenger boat using that route which should keep the queues down.

If using the tunnel I aim for a crossing after 4pm from UK. You can travel
when the roads and port are relatively quiet and then head to St Omer,
Bruges etc for a first overnight. This way you can set off after breakfast
the following day without any customs bollocks.

On the way home, I try to get into the UK by early afternoon so I can get
home for a sensible time. A Sunday seems to work best as traffic is lighter
on the roads and a relatively quiet day in the port.

On 01/11/2021 13:23, wessie wrote:
> YTC#1 <bdp@ytc1-spambin.co.uk> wrote in news:sloncm$c2h$1@dont-email.me:
>
>
>> I think when booking ferries in the coming year a lot of thought
>> should be given to the time of the crossing and trying to avoid busy
>> ferries. (So early morning or evening for Dover. Also wondering in mid
>> afternoon is a good idea?)
>>
>
> for the Dieppe trip in April I am taking the 0930 ferry from Newhaven. Stay
> in a pub just along the coast towards Brighton the night before. Arrives
> Dieppe at 130pm so no worries about delays as it is just one smallish
> passenger boat using that route which should keep the queues down.
>
> If using the tunnel I aim for a crossing after 4pm from UK. You can travel
> when the roads and port are relatively quiet and then head to St Omer,
> Bruges etc for a first overnight. This way you can set off after breakfast
> the following day without any customs bollocks.
>
> On the way home, I try to get into the UK by early afternoon so I can get
> home for a sensible time. A Sunday seems to work best as traffic is lighter
> on the roads and a relatively quiet day in the port.
>

Yeahbut, does all that still stand since Brexit was activated?
I hate queing, but have had to do it at a lot of borders elsewhere and
always treated it as part of the day out.

However, in all my years of taking vehicles to the continent, until this
year, I have not had to queue (excessively) to enter France or the UK.

--
Bruce Porter
"The internet is a huge and diverse community but mainly friendly"
http://ytc1.blogspot.co.uk/
There *is* an alternative! http://www.openoffice.org/

YTC#1 <bdp@ytc1-spambin.co.uk> wrote in news:slp0ar$j36$1@dont-email.me:

> On 01/11/2021 13:23, wessie wrote:
>> YTC#1 <bdp@ytc1-spambin.co.uk> wrote in
>> news:sloncm$c2h$1@dont-email.me:
>>
>>
>>> I think when booking ferries in the coming year a lot of thought
>>> should be given to the time of the crossing and trying to avoid busy
>>> ferries. (So early morning or evening for Dover. Also wondering in
>>> mid afternoon is a good idea?)
>>>
>>
>> for the Dieppe trip in April I am taking the 0930 ferry from
>> Newhaven. Stay in a pub just along the coast towards Brighton the
>> night before. Arrives Dieppe at 130pm so no worries about delays as
>> it is just one smallish passenger boat using that route which should
>> keep the queues down.
>>
>> If using the tunnel I aim for a crossing after 4pm from UK. You can
>> travel when the roads and port are relatively quiet and then head to
>> St Omer, Bruges etc for a first overnight. This way you can set off
>> after breakfast the following day without any customs bollocks.
>>
>> On the way home, I try to get into the UK by early afternoon so I can
>> get home for a sensible time. A Sunday seems to work best as traffic
>> is lighter on the roads and a relatively quiet day in the port.
>>
>
> Yeahbut, does all that still stand since Brexit was activated?
> I hate queing, but have had to do it at a lot of borders elsewhere and
> always treated it as part of the day out.
>
> However, in all my years of taking vehicles to the continent, until
> this year, I have not had to queue (excessively) to enter France or
> the UK.
>

Is that Brexit or Covid causing delays? Unlike airports, you do not get
"EU" lanes.

I guess I should have made it more explicit, the times I choose mitigate
any delays in transit as they don't have a great deal of impact. In my
experience, the delays are not only caused by border officials. On
ships, the biggest delays have been the technical or weather related
problems. Then there have been times when there were roadworks inside
the Eurotunnel facility impeding flow.

On 01/11/2021 15:54, wessie wrote:
> YTC#1 <bdp@ytc1-spambin.co.uk> wrote in news:slp0ar$j36$1@dont-email.me:
>
>> On 01/11/2021 13:23, wessie wrote:
>>> YTC#1 <bdp@ytc1-spambin.co.uk> wrote in
>>> news:sloncm$c2h$1@dont-email.me:
>>>
>>>
>>>> I think when booking ferries in the coming year a lot of thought
>>>> should be given to the time of the crossing and trying to avoid busy
>>>> ferries. (So early morning or evening for Dover. Also wondering in
>>>> mid afternoon is a good idea?)
>>>>
>>>
>>> for the Dieppe trip in April I am taking the 0930 ferry from
>>> Newhaven. Stay in a pub just along the coast towards Brighton the
>>> night before. Arrives Dieppe at 130pm so no worries about delays as
>>> it is just one smallish passenger boat using that route which should
>>> keep the queues down.
>>>
>>> If using the tunnel I aim for a crossing after 4pm from UK. You can
>>> travel when the roads and port are relatively quiet and then head to
>>> St Omer, Bruges etc for a first overnight. This way you can set off
>>> after breakfast the following day without any customs bollocks.
>>>
>>> On the way home, I try to get into the UK by early afternoon so I can
>>> get home for a sensible time. A Sunday seems to work best as traffic
>>> is lighter on the roads and a relatively quiet day in the port.
>>>
>>
>> Yeahbut, does all that still stand since Brexit was activated?
>> I hate queing, but have had to do it at a lot of borders elsewhere and
>> always treated it as part of the day out.
>>
>> However, in all my years of taking vehicles to the continent, until
>> this year, I have not had to queue (excessively) to enter France or
>> the UK.
>>
>
> Is that Brexit or Covid causing delays? Unlike airports, you do not get
> "EU" lanes.

As there were no Covid checks on entry to the UK, I'd say Brexit, on our
side, and a mixture on the French side.

>
> I guess I should have made it more explicit, the times I choose mitigate
> any delays in transit as they don't have a great deal of impact. In my
> experience, the delays are not only caused by border officials. On
> ships, the biggest delays have been the technical or weather related

I can accept weather relatad delays (took 3 hrs to do the Calais/Dover
crossing in Sept 2018) due to high winds.

> problems. Then there have been times when there were roadworks inside
> the Eurotunnel facility impeding flow.

ITYM railworks?
>

--
Bruce Porter
"The internet is a huge and diverse community but mainly friendly"
http://ytc1.blogspot.co.uk/
There *is* an alternative! http://www.openoffice.org/

YTC#1 <bdp@ytc1-spambin.co.uk> wrote in news:slp6sd$5ei$1@dont-email.me:

> On 01/11/2021 15:54, wessie wrote:
>> YTC#1 <bdp@ytc1-spambin.co.uk> wrote in
>> news:slp0ar$j36$1@dont-email.me:
>>
>>> On 01/11/2021 13:23, wessie wrote:
>>>> YTC#1 <bdp@ytc1-spambin.co.uk> wrote in
>>>> news:sloncm$c2h$1@dont-email.me:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> I think when booking ferries in the coming year a lot of thought
>>>>> should be given to the time of the crossing and trying to avoid
>>>>> busy ferries. (So early morning or evening for Dover. Also
>>>>> wondering in mid afternoon is a good idea?)
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>> for the Dieppe trip in April I am taking the 0930 ferry from
>>>> Newhaven. Stay in a pub just along the coast towards Brighton the
>>>> night before. Arrives Dieppe at 130pm so no worries about delays as
>>>> it is just one smallish passenger boat using that route which
>>>> should keep the queues down.
>>>>
>>>> If using the tunnel I aim for a crossing after 4pm from UK. You can
>>>> travel when the roads and port are relatively quiet and then head
>>>> to St Omer, Bruges etc for a first overnight. This way you can set
>>>> off after breakfast the following day without any customs bollocks.
>>>>
>>>> On the way home, I try to get into the UK by early afternoon so I
>>>> can get home for a sensible time. A Sunday seems to work best as
>>>> traffic is lighter on the roads and a relatively quiet day in the
>>>> port.
>>>>
>>>
>>> Yeahbut, does all that still stand since Brexit was activated?
>>> I hate queing, but have had to do it at a lot of borders elsewhere
>>> and always treated it as part of the day out.
>>>
>>> However, in all my years of taking vehicles to the continent, until
>>> this year, I have not had to queue (excessively) to enter France or
>>> the UK.
>>>
>>
>> Is that Brexit or Covid causing delays? Unlike airports, you do not
>> get "EU" lanes.
>
> As there were no Covid checks on entry to the UK, I'd say Brexit, on
> our side, and a mixture on the French side.
>
>>
>> I guess I should have made it more explicit, the times I choose
>> mitigate any delays in transit as they don't have a great deal of
>> impact. In my experience, the delays are not only caused by border
>> officials. On ships, the biggest delays have been the technical or
>> weather related
>
> I can accept weather relatad delays (took 3 hrs to do the Calais/Dover
> crossing in Sept 2018) due to high winds.
>
>> problems. Then there have been times when there were roadworks inside
>> the Eurotunnel facility impeding flow.
>
> ITYM railworks?
>>
>

No. Roadworks at the terminal meaning there was contraflow on what is
usually a 2 lane road into the terminal car park so not nice if busy

On 01/11/2021 17:26, wessie wrote:
> YTC#1 <bdp@ytc1-spambin.co.uk> wrote in news:slp6sd$5ei$1@dont-email.me:
>
>> On 01/11/2021 15:54, wessie wrote:
>>> YTC#1 <bdp@ytc1-spambin.co.uk> wrote in
>>> news:slp0ar$j36$1@dont-email.me:
>>>
>>>> On 01/11/2021 13:23, wessie wrote:
>>>>> YTC#1 <bdp@ytc1-spambin.co.uk> wrote in
>>>>> news:sloncm$c2h$1@dont-email.me:
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> I think when booking ferries in the coming year a lot of thought
>>>>>> should be given to the time of the crossing and trying to avoid
>>>>>> busy ferries. (So early morning or evening for Dover. Also
>>>>>> wondering in mid afternoon is a good idea?)
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> for the Dieppe trip in April I am taking the 0930 ferry from
>>>>> Newhaven. Stay in a pub just along the coast towards Brighton the
>>>>> night before. Arrives Dieppe at 130pm so no worries about delays as
>>>>> it is just one smallish passenger boat using that route which
>>>>> should keep the queues down.
>>>>>
>>>>> If using the tunnel I aim for a crossing after 4pm from UK. You can
>>>>> travel when the roads and port are relatively quiet and then head
>>>>> to St Omer, Bruges etc for a first overnight. This way you can set
>>>>> off after breakfast the following day without any customs bollocks.
>>>>>
>>>>> On the way home, I try to get into the UK by early afternoon so I
>>>>> can get home for a sensible time. A Sunday seems to work best as
>>>>> traffic is lighter on the roads and a relatively quiet day in the
>>>>> port.
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Yeahbut, does all that still stand since Brexit was activated?
>>>> I hate queing, but have had to do it at a lot of borders elsewhere
>>>> and always treated it as part of the day out.
>>>>
>>>> However, in all my years of taking vehicles to the continent, until
>>>> this year, I have not had to queue (excessively) to enter France or
>>>> the UK.
>>>>
>>>
>>> Is that Brexit or Covid causing delays? Unlike airports, you do not
>>> get "EU" lanes.
>>
>> As there were no Covid checks on entry to the UK, I'd say Brexit, on
>> our side, and a mixture on the French side.
>>
>>>
>>> I guess I should have made it more explicit, the times I choose
>>> mitigate any delays in transit as they don't have a great deal of
>>> impact. In my experience, the delays are not only caused by border
>>> officials. On ships, the biggest delays have been the technical or
>>> weather related
>>
>> I can accept weather relatad delays (took 3 hrs to do the Calais/Dover
>> crossing in Sept 2018) due to high winds.
>>
>>> problems. Then there have been times when there were roadworks inside
>>> the Eurotunnel facility impeding flow.
>>
>> ITYM railworks?
>>>
>>
>
> No. Roadworks at the terminal meaning there was contraflow on what is
> usually a 2 lane road into the terminal car park so not nice if busy
>
Ah, makes more sense :-)

--
Bruce Porter
"The internet is a huge and diverse community but mainly friendly"
http://ytc1.blogspot.co.uk/
There *is* an alternative! http://www.openoffice.org/

On Monday, 1 November 2021 at 15:54:54 UTC, wessie wrote:

> Is that Brexit or Covid causing delays? Unlike airports, you do not get
> "EU" lanes.

Hmm... I wouldn't be surprised to see them appear; there are 'EU' lanes
at all of the external EU borders I've passed to date when on a bike.

I guess once we're past the Covid period that EU citizens will expect to
be able to return to France without queuing up with the Brits who need
further inspection/visa checks/whatever.

It was quite convenient coming into Hungary from Serbia being able to take
the shorter queue, fewer formalities lane.

Another thing the cunts took from me.

On 01/11/2021 19:04, Stephen Packer wrote:
> On Monday, 1 November 2021 at 15:54:54 UTC, wessie wrote:
>
>> Is that Brexit or Covid causing delays? Unlike airports, you do not get
>> "EU" lanes.
>
> Hmm... I wouldn't be surprised to see them appear; there are 'EU' lanes
> at all of the external EU borders I've passed to date when on a bike.
>
> I guess once we're past the Covid period that EU citizens will expect to
> be able to return to France without queuing up with the Brits who need
> further inspection/visa checks/whatever.
>
> It was quite convenient coming into Hungary from Serbia being able to take
> the shorter queue, fewer formalities lane.
>
> Another thing the cunts took from me.
>
>
Yep, Ukraine to Poland as well :-)

--
Bruce Porter
"The internet is a huge and diverse community but mainly friendly"
http://ytc1.blogspot.co.uk/
There *is* an alternative! http://www.openoffice.org/

wessie wibbled:

> Not done it myself but a friend came through the Eurotunnel on the
> weekend and described Coquelles as shambolic. Not enough lanes open
> for the volume of traffic checking in. He was on a bike in pissing
> rain.
>
> At least with the tunnel all admin is completed before boarding the
> train so you can leave the destination port without any hinderance.

I came through Coquelles Friday before last and it was a bit slow.
Nothing like a previous trip to the UK that I did in March, mind. But
UK passport control told me that I needed settled status for the
nippers, to which I was very confused. It was only after I said that I
lived in France (and I had a LHD motor) that she realised her mistake.

Going back Saturday just gone, it was the quickest trip through
customs/passport control that I've ever done [1]. They didn't even give
me a once over for any suspect bacon or cheese. Not that I was carrying
any. Of course not. That's illegal.

[1] I would say that the Irish and British passports probably helped,
but that would be wrong, as my kids only have French passports (need to
get their British ones) and my Mum was with me (British passport only).

--
Cab
Z1000 and CB1300 and VeloSolex 3800

wessie wibbled:

> Is that Brexit or Covid causing delays? Unlike airports, you do not
> get "EU" lanes.

Not what I can see. Covid caused issues earlier on in the year, as
people were trying to get through without the mounds of paperwork
required, but that all seems to have settled down now. On my way back,
they must have had the passenger locator form [1] info on their
computer, as they never even asked me for this.

[1] Which is a farce in itself. I had to do one form for me and the
nippers and it only asked for the 2-day test reference for me, not the
kids (who were also required to self test).

--
Cab
Z1000 and CB1300 and VeloSolex 3800

On Monday, 1 November 2021 at 20:00:00 UTC, YTC#1 wrote:
> On 01/11/2021 19:04, Stephen Packer wrote:

> > Another thing the cunts took from me.
> >
> >
> Yep, Ukraine to Poland as well :-)

Also... Russia to Latvia and Belarus to Lithuania IIRC.
I don't recall Turkey to Bulgaria but that might be a bit different because
Turkey is in a partial customs union with the EU.

It's strange that the customs queues and Dover/Calais or Harwich/Hook
trouble me so much when I've spent (from memory) over 4 hours waiting at
borders before- Turkey to Georgia during Ramadam (Ramazam?) when they
decided my bike needed to be X-Rayed shortly before the fast broke (so all the
workers fucked off to eat something). I'm sure I'll get over it eventually; or
probably not.

On 02/11/2021 18:19, Stephen Packer wrote:
> On Monday, 1 November 2021 at 20:00:00 UTC, YTC#1 wrote:
>> On 01/11/2021 19:04, Stephen Packer wrote:
>
>>> Another thing the cunts took from me.
>>>
>>>
>> Yep, Ukraine to Poland as well :-)
>
> Also... Russia to Latvia and Belarus to Lithuania IIRC.
> I don't recall Turkey to Bulgaria but that might be a bit different because
> Turkey is in a partial customs union with the EU.
>
> It's strange that the customs queues and Dover/Calais or Harwich/Hook
> trouble me so much when I've spent (from memory) over 4 hours waiting at

Because you have not had to do it for so long, and I suspect you are
like me and geared up for the queues at these other borders.

I even suffered the 5 hours to get into Russia quite calmly. But we had
allocated the entire day anyway, and only had a short run to Pskov that
day.

> borders before- Turkey to Georgia during Ramadam (Ramazam?) when they
> decided my bike needed to be X-Rayed shortly before the fast broke (so all the
> workers fucked off to eat something). I'm sure I'll get over it eventually; or
> probably not.
>

I still hate Portugal after the sneaky way the change free roads to toll
roads (with no entrance booth, you are meant to know that you have to
pull into the layby and take a tickiet), and charge you a large whack
for a small distance.

--
Bruce Porter
"The internet is a huge and diverse community but mainly friendly"
http://ytc1.blogspot.co.uk/
There *is* an alternative! http://www.openoffice.org/

On 02/11/2021 16:38, Cab wrote:
> wessie wibbled:
>
>> Is that Brexit or Covid causing delays? Unlike airports, you do not
>> get "EU" lanes.
>
> Not what I can see. Covid caused issues earlier on in the year, as
> people were trying to get through without the mounds of paperwork
> required, but that all seems to have settled down now. On my way back,
> they must have had the passenger locator form [1] info on their
> computer, as they never even asked me for this.
>
> [1] Which is a farce in itself. I had to do one form for me and the
> nippers and it only asked for the 2-day test reference for me, not the
> kids (who were also required to self test).
>

So, how long does it take to get off the boat and past customs/passport
control (at Dover) now then?

--
Bruce Porter
"The internet is a huge and diverse community but mainly friendly"
http://ytc1.blogspot.co.uk/
There *is* an alternative! http://www.openoffice.org/

On 02/11/2021 16:34, Cab wrote:
> wessie wibbled:
>
>> Not done it myself but a friend came through the Eurotunnel on the
>> weekend and described Coquelles as shambolic. Not enough lanes open
>> for the volume of traffic checking in. He was on a bike in pissing
>> rain.
>>
>> At least with the tunnel all admin is completed before boarding the
>> train so you can leave the destination port without any hinderance.
>
> I came through Coquelles Friday before last and it was a bit slow.
> Nothing like a previous trip to the UK that I did in March, mind. But
> UK passport control told me that I needed settled status for the
> nippers, to which I was very confused. It was only after I said that I
> lived in France (and I had a LHD motor) that she realised her mistake.
>
> Going back Saturday just gone, it was the quickest trip through
> customs/passport control that I've ever done [1]. They didn't even give
> me a once over for any suspect bacon or cheese. Not that I was carrying
> any. Of course not. That's illegal.
>
> [1] I would say that the Irish and British passports probably helped,
> but that would be wrong, as my kids only have French passports (need to
> get their British ones) and my Mum was with me (British passport only).
>

Interesting, so it is either a case of Plymouth being slow (well it is
Devon), or it just varies wildly.

--
Bruce Porter
"The internet is a huge and diverse community but mainly friendly"
http://ytc1.blogspot.co.uk/
There *is* an alternative! http://www.openoffice.org/

YTC#1 <bdp@ytc1-spambin.co.uk> wrote in news:sls11f$ltl$3@dont-email.me:

> On 02/11/2021 16:34, Cab wrote:
>> wessie wibbled:
>>
>>> Not done it myself but a friend came through the Eurotunnel on the
>>> weekend and described Coquelles as shambolic. Not enough lanes open
>>> for the volume of traffic checking in. He was on a bike in pissing
>>> rain.
>>>
>>> At least with the tunnel all admin is completed before boarding the
>>> train so you can leave the destination port without any hinderance.
>>
>> I came through Coquelles Friday before last and it was a bit slow.
>> Nothing like a previous trip to the UK that I did in March, mind. But
>> UK passport control told me that I needed settled status for the
>> nippers, to which I was very confused. It was only after I said that
>> I lived in France (and I had a LHD motor) that she realised her
>> mistake.
>>
>> Going back Saturday just gone, it was the quickest trip through
>> customs/passport control that I've ever done [1]. They didn't even
>> give me a once over for any suspect bacon or cheese. Not that I was
>> carrying any. Of course not. That's illegal.
>>
>> [1] I would say that the Irish and British passports probably helped,
>> but that would be wrong, as my kids only have French passports (need
>> to get their British ones) and my Mum was with me (British passport
>> only).
>>
>
> Interesting, so it is either a case of Plymouth being slow (well it is
> Devon), or it just varies wildly.
>

Plymouth has always been slow and Portsmouth can be a PITA if 2 boats
disgorge passengers at the same time and they decide to only have 1 pair
of passport check windows open.

YTC#1 wibbled:

> On 02/11/2021 16:38, Cab wrote:
> > wessie wibbled:
> >
> > > Is that Brexit or Covid causing delays? Unlike airports, you do
> > > not get "EU" lanes.
> >
> > Not what I can see. Covid caused issues earlier on in the year, as
> > people were trying to get through without the mounds of paperwork
> > required, but that all seems to have settled down now. On my way
> > back, they must have had the passenger locator form [1] info on
> > their computer, as they never even asked me for this.
> >
> > [1] Which is a farce in itself. I had to do one form for me and the
> > nippers and it only asked for the 2-day test reference for me, not
> > the kids (who were also required to self test).
> >
>
> So, how long does it take to get off the boat and past
> customs/passport control (at Dover) now then?

Oh you use a boat. How quaint. Seriously though, Eurotunnel is the way
to go. Overall it's far quicker, and that's including customs, etc.

--
Cab
Z1000 and CB1300 and VeloSolex 3800

On 03/11/2021 07:51, Cab wrote:
> YTC#1 wibbled:
>
>> On 02/11/2021 16:38, Cab wrote:
>>> wessie wibbled:
>>>
>>>> Is that Brexit or Covid causing delays? Unlike airports, you do
>>>> not get "EU" lanes.
>>>
>>> Not what I can see. Covid caused issues earlier on in the year, as
>>> people were trying to get through without the mounds of paperwork
>>> required, but that all seems to have settled down now. On my way
>>> back, they must have had the passenger locator form [1] info on
>>> their computer, as they never even asked me for this.
>>>
>>> [1] Which is a farce in itself. I had to do one form for me and the
>>> nippers and it only asked for the 2-day test reference for me, not
>>> the kids (who were also required to self test).
>>>
>>
>> So, how long does it take to get off the boat and past
>> customs/passport control (at Dover) now then?
>
> Oh you use a boat. How quaint. Seriously though, Eurotunnel is the way
> to go. Overall it's far quicker, and that's including customs, etc.
>

Not useed the train since 2012.

--
Bruce Porter
"The internet is a huge and diverse community but mainly friendly"
http://ytc1.blogspot.co.uk/
There *is* an alternative! http://www.openoffice.org/

On Tue, 2 Nov 2021 11:19:12 -0700 (PDT), Stephen Packer
<stephen.packer@gmail.com> wrote:

>It's strange that the customs queues and Dover/Calais or Harwich/Hook
>trouble me so much when I've spent (from memory) over 4 hours waiting at
>borders before- Turkey to Georgia during Ramadam (Ramazam?) when they
>decided my bike needed to be X-Rayed shortly before the fast broke (so all the
>workers fucked off to eat something). I'm sure I'll get over it eventually; or
>probably not.

I don't think it's that strange. Crossing between two foreign (to
you) countries entails going through whatever regs & processes *they*
have, and I would just shrug and wait.

Getting back into *my* country, however, gives me a strong sense of
"but I fucking live here!"
--
Champ
neal at champ dot org dot uk

I don't know, but I been told
You never slow down, you never grow old

On Wed, 03 Nov 2021 09:56:00 +0000, Champ <neal@champ.org.uk> wrote:

>Getting back into *my* country, however, gives me a strong sense of
>"but I fucking live here!"

Sorry, is this the IoM you're talking about?

Otherwise fuck off with your "my country" bollocks.

--
Ace
http://www.chaletbeauroc.com/

El Wed, 03 Nov 2021 09:17:15 +0000, YTC#1 escribió:

>
> Not useed the train since 2012.

Heh. I just turned 60 so am about to pay 6€ for a gold rail discount
card. Up to 40% off long and middle distance travel. Train-travel here I
come...

--
Paul.

https://paulc.es/elpatio

On 3 Nov 2021 11:13:26 GMT, Paul Carmichael <wibbleypants@gmail.com>
wrote:

>El Wed, 03 Nov 2021 09:17:15 +0000, YTC#1 escribió:
>
>>
>> Not useed the train since 2012.
>
>
>Heh. I just turned 60 so am about to pay 6€ for a gold rail discount
>card. Up to 40% off long and middle distance travel. Train-travel here I
>come...
We both like trains, and are planning to make more use of them.

--
Colin Irvine
FJR1300A

On Wednesday, 3 November 2021 at 09:56:04 UTC, Champ wrote:

> I don't think it's that strange. Crossing between two foreign (to
> you) countries entails going through whatever regs & processes *they*
> have, and I would just shrug and wait.

I don't think it's that. It's my ongoing monumental sulk at the knuckledragging
masses. I used to state I was 'European first and British second' but so much
for that; the country I used to believe I lived in only ever existed in my mind.