Border Control

On towards the French coast and along the familiar Canal de Calais once more. A short stop at a last street market in Watten, past the garden where the lady kindly let me camp on the way out. Over the canal bridges and on into town to the passenger ferry terminal

The P&O ferry offered uncompromising exploitation - no combined ferry and train ticket as on the way out and 38 Euros one way so  I plumbed for the more reasonable £18 Euros at Sea France. The next ferry was in just half an hour.

So onto passport control where life shuddered to a stop. I chose the wrong line. The one with all the vans from Lithuania. Three vans but 36 passengers. Each taking 10 minutes to convince the French Border Control Officer. She was fast-idious. But the word seems wrong. She may be "protecting our borders" and supposedly "keeping Britain Safe" but she was making me miss my ferry. When my turn came and I reached the embarkation desk the response was "Sorry Monsieur, the next ferry is in 2 hours." It is the price we pay for safe borders. But pleading helps and a mad dash got on board in time.

And finally the White Cliffs of Dover appear. The UK Customs Officer asks where I have been. Italy and Back. Oh, well done. It's not really a customs check, more a friendly welcome. The borders will take care of themselves.