Emma's notables from Guernsey:
- Docked at St Peter Port at around 4.00am but had to stay on ferry until 6.00am as Guernsey customs and immigration staff simply refuse to work before that hour!
- Truly authentic 6.30am Guernsey cafe experience whilst waiting to board the early ferry to Sark. The cafe used has a reputation as being one that services local working fishermen as they head off to / return from the sea. Much was learned there about Guernsey wool / knitting and sweaters.
- Sark itself was both intriguing and interesting with some really fascinating cultural interest, plus some spectacular landscapes (pic) - but bitingly cold weather made the day's bike excursion pretty tough.
- Guernsey itself (around St Peter Port at least) was much more densely populated and urbanised than expected.
- B&B is super-posh and seems very nice.
Steve's notables from France:
- This is the 5th time I've now crossed EU borders since the introduction of the EES scheme but have still yet to be subject to the EES process. Given the time it already takes to enter / leave the EU anyway, it's hard to imagine how the EES can ever be rolled out without bringing borders to a complete standstill. I sense this scheme is about as well thought out and managed as HS2.
- It's grand to be back in France and to encounter highly tended public spaces instead of bags of fly-tipped waste and discarded fast-food packaging. Therein is betrayed the simple fact that France remains a developed country whilst my own is undeveloping.
- Filled with fuel at a staggering €2.27/l. Thanks, Donald. At least I'm sure the world will be a safer place going forward. Oh, wait ...
- Spent almost all day at and around one of my favourite nature reserves in France: the Domaine de Beauguillot. Met some French ornithologists here who tipped me off about bearded tits and a bluethroat. I sought and spotted bearded tits but the bluethroat eluded me.
- Birdlife altogether very healthy plus some good mammal sightings including stoat, common seals, a raggy red fox, countless roe deer and equally countless coypu.
- Had a spin out on the bike on incredibly quiet and civilised lanes through incredibly quiet and civilised villages in the heart of D-Day country. Grounding stuff.
Post composed at 22:10 on Wednesday 1st April from my intended overnighting spot N 49.37122°, W 01.17816° / http://maps.google.com/maps?q=loc:49.37122%2C-01.17816