There was a slight change in plans, we’d leave on Monday instead of Tuesday as originally discussed.
This gave us a few days to get all the particulars sorted out.
We would need to get to the Channel Tunnel two hours early on Monday to check in and go through all the border formalities.
Because of the season and the areas we’d be traveling through, the car needed winter tires.
Having never driven through Europe, changing tires for a trip like this would never have occurred to me.
In truth, I didn’t need to think about the tires, so I focused on what needed my attention which was packing.
What would I need for this trip? I’m pretty good at packing but I feel a bit out of touch since I haven’t traveled much over the last few years.
On the other hand, packing should be easy since all I had to choose from was what I brought with me.
The days flew by and before I knew it, it was time to leave for the tunnel.
The car had its new winter tires, the luggage was loaded, and all that was left to pack into the car was us!
My excitement was building.
Passport – check!
Tea – check!
Snacks – check!
Can’t go on a road trip with no snacks haha!
I’m ready.
Once we were underway, it was explained that the crossing itself takes about 35 minutes not including the check-in, loading process etc.
There would also be a border check, and our travel documents would need to match each person in the car traveling on that reservation number.
I’m not sure why, but that made me feel a bit nervous. What if there was some sort of error and we couldn’t get on the train?
Then I remembered I didn’t want that to be my truth for this part of my journey and swapped out that thought for a new story line where “everything is always working out for me”, especially since I made it this far in the most magical way.
Arriving at the Channel Tunnel felt much like arriving at the Midtown Tunnel, lots of traffic lanes with cars and trucks waiting their turn to board.
And there they were, border agents! They checked our documents with our faces, and whatever else they needed from my host and waved us on.
We pulled into the lane that matched the number on our reservation pass. Now we waited.
There was nothing fancy about the Channel Tunnel loading terminal. It looks very industrial. The only way to describe it is that it reminds me of big shipping containers end to end which makes sense since some of the trucks in the waiting queue with us are very large tractor-trailer types.
I was deep in thought when the light flashed our number, and it was our turn to drive into an enclosed vehicle carriage (shipping container).
A tunnel worker directed us to our stopping position. There were several cars ahead of us, too many to count. There were only one or two behind us.
Once parked, I felt myself relax.
Apparently, we were to remain in our car, engine off, during the journey but were permitted to get out to stretch our legs if needed.
Once we were underway it became very noisy and as I took in the interior of the tunnel it registered that there would be nothing interesting to see.
There were no windows in sight.
Then I noticed many people, mostly children were passing the car on their way to what I assumed was the bathroom since there’s no vending machines or refreshment counter.
It felt like a combination of traveling by train and plane, although I didn’t experience the ear-popping sensation that sometimes comes with flying. There was nothing particularly strange about how my body felt.
Then the reality hit me, we were UNDER the English Channel!
How unnerving! Ha
Happily, it was an uneventful trip to the other side.
We pulled away from the Channel Tunnel and onto the highway; off we went on our merry adventure.
To my surprise there was nothing to see except land as far as the eye could see.
Farms to be exact.
And to further my amusement there were cows and horses.
Not one sheep to be had.
Just then I realized that the sheep had become comforting in a familiar kind of way.
I wonder what else would be different about this trip?