Le shuttle

[Ectopic]

On the French side when queued I just dismount and walk my bike to the customs & immigration/border farce kiosks seeing as it’s lots of stop start.

Air cooled bikes really struggle in the heat, especially if run on 10W40 oil rather than 20W50.

Same here. Get off and walk, push the bike. If you're able to do this, it's hardly arduous.

 

[rovert57]

What's the discomfort?

Generally between the shoulders and the ribs / lats

 

[Robbi]

Generally between the shoulders and the ribs / lats

I'll say it again....Stress.

You'll find it gone within a couple of days being home

 

[ChazzyB]

I'll say it again....Stress.

You'll find it gone within a couple of days being home

I get that periodically. It's being in a not relaxed state. Take a deep breath and let your shoulders drop, head up. In my experience, it's hunching up that does it.

 

[Pukmeister]

I'll say it again....Stress.

You'll find it gone within a couple of days being home

Sounds familiar.

Involuntary contraction of the upper back and neck musculature leading to pain and fatigue, resolves itself with rest and relaxation. Riding posture aggravates it.

 

[rovert57]

I'll say it again....Stress.

You'll find it gone within a couple of days being home

Yes maybe but I won’t be riding the bike .might do a short trip somewhere .
Thanks for the input.
I must say that before I set off I was in two minds as to bother or not .
Like I was saying maybe it’s time to pack it in and find something else ,but WTF that would be.

 

[twizzle]

That doesn't mean it doesn't rain in Portsmouth I'm afraid

Psst - I live on Hayling Island……

 

[Captain jack]

They all treat bikes like shite. Last year coming from Le Havre I was the only bike on an overnight crossing. Kept waiting for three hours because the captain needed to balance the ship. Yeah right

 

[stever1]

The tunnel does appear to have played a large part in you not enjoying your trip. I was getting to be the same. Since changing to now using the Hull-Rotterdam ferry the trip is much more enjoyable. A steady couple of hours to Hull, overnight ferry with a meal and a couple of drinks, a decent night’s sleep and after a leisurely breakfast ready for off around 09.00. We now go this way whether it’s a bike, pickup truck or motorhome trip. Great duty free onboard now too. When in the pickup or motorhome we tend to stock up a bit on wine and spirits on the homeward journey which the ship’s crew deliver down to the car deck for us. Coming home we disembark and are on the way home around 09.00 and home before lunch.
Our usual journey when using the pickup or motorhome is to Chamonix in the French Alps to visit our son and family. The difference in distance between Rotterdam and Chamonix and Calais and Chamonix is 40 kilometres. Not much.

I can’t believe you actually use the duty free onboard. In my case it’s whisky I like and it’s ALWAYS cheaper in the uk other than the cooking whiskies.
As for wine it’s cheaper and better bought in Europe.

 

[Robbi]

I can’t believe you actually use the duty free onboard. In my case it’s whisky I like and it’s ALWAYS cheaper in the uk other than the cooking whiskies.
As for wine it’s cheaper and better bought in Europe.

Cooking whiskies are the way to go

 

[glenn2926]

I can’t believe you actually use the duty free onboard. In my case it’s whisky I like and it’s ALWAYS cheaper in the uk other than the cooking whiskies.
As for wine it’s cheaper and better bought in Europe.

Last trip I got Famous grouse Dark Smoke for £11 for a litre bottle. My wife got her wine which is around £8 per bottle for less than £4 per bottle. Litre bottle of Campari for £8 the same price for Aperol. The higher end spirits were slightly more expensive than the supermarket but cheap cooking whisky was way cheaper duty free.

 

[ChazzyB]

Psst - I live on Hayling Island……

Do you! I lived on Hayling for the first nine years of my life. West Lane then Staunton Avenue. The days of Puffing Billy.

 

[SBD]

The rain in France always seemed warmer and softer.

True, but not always in Calais

 

[twizzle]

Do you! I lived on Hayling for the first nine years of my life. West Lane then Staunton Avenue. The days of Puffing Billy.

I’m just a bit further over - and my Grandfather was Foreman on the Hayling Billy - and was in charge in 1963 when it was shut down by Beeching


My uncle was a Guard on the Billy as well….

 

[Bigcats]

Psst - I live on Hayling Island……

Psst I live in Portsmouth

 

[twizzle]

Psst I live in Portsmouth

I’ll give you a wave……

 

[twizzle]

Do you! I lived on Hayling for the first nine years of my life. West Lane then Staunton Avenue. The days of Puffing Billy.

My grandfather is the guy on the left, hand in pocket,
smoking - this was taken in November 63 and I believe it’s the crew on the last train…..

 

[Bigcats]

I’ll give you a wave……

It actually rained yesterday here!!

 

[glenn2926]

Last trip I got Famous grouse Dark Smoke for £11 for a litre bottle. My wife got her wine which is around £8 per bottle for less than £4 per bottle. Litre bottle of Campari for £8 the same price for Aperol. The higher end spirits were slightly more expensive than the supermarket but cheap cooking whisky was way cheaper duty free.

Smoky Black not dark smoke. Just trying one now.

 

[ChazzyB]

I’m just a bit further over - and my Grandfather was Foreman on the Hayling Billy - and was in charge in 1963 when it was shut down by Beeching


My uncle was a Guard on the Billy as well….

Crikey! My mother put me on the Billy for my first solo train journey from Hayling to Fratton and back. I can't have been much older than five. She'd be locked up for that now.