A simple online booking had secured a one way Brittany Ferry ticket fron Caen- France to Portsmouth UK for 66 pounds for rider and bike.

With a 0830am departure it was an early start to ensure arrival 60mins at the latest before departure.

I had walked to the terminal the night before so navigation wasn't an issue and we were processed out of France with double checks of passports. Remember we were in illegals terrority. The bike was secured on the second attempt as the deckhand was obiviously new and incapable of achieving a securing of the motorcycle so help was enlisted.

I looked at the self service cafe but settled on the A la carte restaurant with silver table service at a price equal to self service. I sat with members of the Liverpool orchestra who have an exchange concert series with a French town each May.

Breakfast was cereal, fresh fruit, yought,pastries and then a cooked fresh hot English breakfast of scrambled aggs, bacon, sausage and baked beans served with toast and jams. A whole pot of freshly brewed coffee with a silver jug of freshly heated milk with if desire free refills completed the meal.

The vessel was lightly loaded with tourist and school groups along with commercial vehicles.

The crossing of the English channel was extremely smooth and some 5hrs later we entered Portsmouth harbour with white cliffs on our left. The Port was very interesting as we passed Britain's newest warship an Aircraft carrier due to enter service in 2020.

Portsmouth is the home base for the British Navy so many other ships were also in Port along with a variety of sailing and recreational vessels.

Our processing into England took a while but with the need to secure it's borders from the mass migration of illegal's it was fully expecte and appreciated as a minor inconvenience aimed at our and the residents of the UK protection of their nation.

A short ride had us arrive at Southamption to a warm welcome from our hosts Betty & Ciggy, relatives of Greg's that we have visited on each trip and Betty an Australian citizen is often back in Australia and it is great to catch up at both ends.