A beautiful day greets me as I open the window of my hotel room.
My TWIKE spent the night charging and is now fully ready for whatever the day has in store for us.
I had planned to enjoy a relaxed breakfast by getting up slightly earlier than stricly necessary…this extra time came in very handy as I got a text from the ferry operator warning of longer boarding times due to high passenger volumes.
So instead of a long, leisurely meal, it’s just a quick bite – some very flaky croissants, nevertheless – before hitting the road.
My TWIKE had already shown some starting issues earlier: but this morning, it simply refused to start at all.
I took out all my luggage and dove into the guts of the TWIKE. A quick investigation revealed the culprit: those rough Belgian roads had completely disconnected the ‘starter battery.’ With some quick hotwiring, I got the TWIKE running again. It works for now, but I’ll need a more permanent solution soon. While I can wake the controller by plugging into the mains, it’s not exactly practical on the road.
As always, I take the obligatory ‘I was there’ picture.
On the way to the ferry port, everywhere I look, I see fences, barbed wire, and cameras. Anti-immigration measures that cast a bit of a shadow on an otherwise beautiful sunrise.
The port is huge, but thankfully there’s an app that guides me right to where I need to be.
The “Welcome to the Port of Calais” sign is bathed in golden sunlight, and the day is slowly warming up.
Despite the warning about high volumes, the check-in counters are quiet.
The place is massive, and I rarely see more than one or two vehicles at each booth. Check-in takes about 3 minutes and another 10 for explaining the TWIKE to curious staff.
Ticket in hand, I move on to French border control.
Same experience here: the process is smooth and quick, with a few more minutes dedicated to sharing the TWIKE story.
UK border control is a different story. Out of 12 booths, only 3 are open…and lines are already forming. I can only imagine what it would look like on a truly busy day.
Still, things move along, and again, I spend more time talking about the TWIKE than undergoing actual checks.
I’m directed to a special lane for unique vehicles. Apart from an oversized camper van, the lane is completely empty.
Almost instantly, I’m surrounded by curious onlookers asking questions. I answer a few before heading off to get a coffee from the port cafeteria.
An hour later, I’m waved forward towards the ferry. It’s always a special feeling to board a ferry in a TWIKE!
Once on board, parked between massive vehicles and trailers, the TWIKE looks a bit out of place.
Now it’s time to find a good seat for the journey across the Channel.
Up on the upper deck, the wide-open skies over the Channel are stunning. I set off to find a seat with a view – fingers crossed!
Since I boarded early, the upper deck is still quiet. I grab a front-row seat with a plug nearby and begin writing the blog entry about my ride from Switzerland to Luxembourg.
Progress on the blog entries is good: I even start on the entry for the previous day as the coast of Dover slowly comes into view. What a spectacular sight!
The first few metres on UK soil feel a bit odd. My brain needs a moment to adjust to driving on the left. It takes conscious effort at every crossing, but I slowly get the hang of it.
Today, I’m meeting up with Alan in Woolwich. He’s a local and has kindly offered to guide me through London, helping me find the best spots for those must-have TWIKE shots.
But first, there’s about 180 km to cover. As usual, I’m trying to avoid main roads and dual carriageways.
That decision turns out to be a bit of a mixed blessing. British B-roads often just connect small villages, and many are barely wide enough for one car. The surfaces are rough, and progress is slow. A-roads, on the other hand, are unpredictable: they can be anything from quiet two-lane routes to near-motorway dual-carriageways.
After about 30 minutes of bouncing along B-roads, I decide to abandon my usual low-consumption goals and cruise at 80 kph on A-roads. I even stop at a service station and I love it: I’ve officially arrived in cider country, and the variety is overwhelming. Looking forward to a proper draft cider later this afternoon in London!
London starts to loom closer and traffic becomes noticeably denser.
At last! This is where all the paperwork and patience to get TW560 registered for ULEZ pays off!
And just like that…I’m in!
I meet up with Alan, and off we go: straight into central London and right into the Congestion Charge zone. Good thing the TWIKE qualifies for a full discount!
The Blackwall and Silvertown tunnels aren’t free, but I’ve set up auto-pay. Let’s see if that works as planned.
First stop: Canary Wharf. Both of us used to come here regularly for meetings with clients and partners, so there’s something familiar about it. But seeing it through the TWIKE’s windscreen gives it a fresh new feel.
It might sound odd, but in this ultra-modern setting, the TWIKE actually feels… mature. Like it belongs here.
Time for my first proper cider of the day, finally!
After a short break, we continue heading into the heart of the city.
Now it’s time to start checking off the sights!
As always, I find ways to take advantage of the delightful ambiguity in how the TWIKE is classified. It lets me do things that just wouldn’t be possible in a regular car:
Eventually, hunger kicks in. Fish and chips is my go-to comfort food…and Alan knows just the right pub, complete with a convenient parking spot nearby.
With full bellies, we head off to Buckingham Palace. To our surprise, the streets are quiet: perfect for capturing some great shots and videos of the TWIKE in front of this iconic landmark!
Another classic shot and free of traffic, no less!
These are the moments I love most: seeing such a famous place from inside my own TWIKE. It never gets old.
We make our way onto the bridge for the classic Elizabeth Tower shot.
But first, a proper TWIKE pilot team picture.
And here it is: the money shot for anyone arriving in London with a TWIKE!
We spend the rest of the day enjoying London. People here are wonderfully curious about the TWIKE. Drivers roll down their windows to ask questions, and kids shout excitedly, “Cool car!” The TWIKE effect in full force! Eventually, Alan and I head out toward the scenic hills near Woking for one last picture before heading to his place, where I’ll stay for the next two days.
We arrive, set up a slow overnight charge, and settle in for a relaxed evening catching up with Alan’s family. A lovely end to a full day.
Tomorrow, I’ll visit Simon from weathervelo.com, as well as my former colleague Yarden, whom I last visited with TW560 in the south of France.
What a day! So many sights, good food, great company, and that unmistakable TWIKE magic. I’m already looking forward to tomorrow!
