Is Meths fuel ok on ferry to Spain?

[iluvmybike]

U can understand them being cautious given the recent terror attacks all over Europe - but as you say vehicles don't seem to get too much attention and the scope for there being something bad in them is rather higher! We were checked at Le Havre last time and asked to open back of van - gendarme saw our bikes and we ended up have a nice bit of chat about cycling

 

[RobinS]

On the Newhaven - Dieppe ferry this spring they were "tick box" checking cyclists - apparently they were supposed to check a pannier of at least 50% of cyclists. My wife and I with a full four pannier camping load were both selected for checking - but to make it easy they chose our bar bags to check!

 

[Profpointy]

Whilst losing your meths or petrol would be a nuisance, quite apart from it being perfectly ok to carry 12 gallons of petrol plus a jerry can in your car, the thing that would bother me more is carrying a knife. Even in a car I've been asked if we had a knife, but fortunately I misheard and just said "no". Anyone camping, or for that matter, going to a rented holiday cottage, will need a knife, and I don't think they ask caravanners the same question. A decent knife being £50 or more it'd be more than annoying to have it confiscated (stolen)

 

[snorri]

, but I have been stopped a couple of times (by the Border Agency) on returning to the UK to be asked about my jollies. Where I went, who with, how long for.

That's fair enough, BA staff like to pick up holiday tips just like the rest of us.

 

[RobinS]

Re knives - have been asked both while cycling and in a car. Replied honestly, in one case when going abroad to work cooking I had multiple large very sharp knives, all no problem.

 

[Profpointy]

Re knives - have been asked both while cycling and in a car. Replied honestly, in one case when going abroad to work cooking I had multiple large very sharp knives, all no problem.

That's good to know. Was worried about my good Sabbatier knife getting lifted and quite apart from cost not sure the newer ones are quite the same.

 

[Brains]

So you are going to hijack across channel ferry with a kitchen knife ?
"Take me to Cuba "
......... maybe not ..............

 

[jay clock]

Does seem bonkers. People going camping/caravanning in cars etc will have a full kitchen on board. Are they banned?

 

[mmmmartin]

Leaving Dover once I was asked if I had a knife. I said no.
I had a bike with four panniers and an obvious tent on the rack. Who goes camping without a knife? UK Border Agency is unfit for purpose.

 

[RobinS]

I can't see why they ask about knives, as when you say yes, sometimes they check - show them a roll of large very sharp knives and they say OK!

 

[T4tomo]

Does seem bonkers. People going camping/caravanning in cars etc will have a full kitchen on board. Are they banned?

They should be, bloody caravans blocking up the roads

 

[Brandane]

Are they still X raying random panniers on touring cyclists?

Yes. Last Saturday boarding the overnight Brittany ferries Portsmouth to St Malo service I was on my bike with 4 panniers. Security told me to give them one of my panniers for x-ray, but left the choice of pannier up to me! Clearly just a paper exercise. No such checks on Condor ferries St Malo/Jersey in either direction.

 

[classic33]

That would be security staff employed by the port and/or ferry company.

Stena don't have security staff at Dover. Other than for the buildings, the rest are either police, HMRC or Border Security.

 

[Low Gear Guy]

I have had bags x-rated going out from Portsmouth but never on the return.
In August the security man at Cherbourg had a mirror to check under vehicles but this was no use for a bike.

 

[Low Gear Guy]

Taking porn with you?

The dreaded spell checker strikes again