Crossing an international border is always an adventure, but doing it underwater in a motorhome while managing a dog’s paperwork takes things to a whole new level. After cutting it close with our stay in France—missing our exit deadline by a mere three days with our earbuds-wearing border agent—we finally made our way to the Eurotunnel.

With our paperwork for Salsa cleared by a kind gentleman at the pet check, we drove right through the unique experience of boarding the train. Riding inside Holly, our motorhome, as we floated through the 35-minute underwater crossing felt surreal, especially catching glimpses of passing trains through the tunnel windows.

Navigating the Other Side of the Road

Popping out on the British side brought an immediate lifestyle shift: driving on the left.

• The Learning Curve: Concentrating fiercely on staying to the left meant we completely drove right past our intended ATM and camping store stops.
• Narrow Lanes: Experiencing England’s narrow, hedge-lined single-track roads meant playing chicken with oncoming traffic and occasionally having to back up when visibility around the hedgerows vanished.

Pub Stops and Base Bumps

For our first official night in Britain proper, we embraced the quintessential motorhome experience of staying overnight at a dog-friendly pub, the Red Lion Inn, where we finally enjoyed our first authentic fish and chips with Salsa by our side.

Our supply run to Mildenhall Air Force Base offered a twist: after filling our cart with essentials like ibuprofen, melatonin, and body wash, we discovered at checkout that non-resident visitors aren’t typically allowed to shop unless an exception is made for strict necessities. We still managed a slice of Pizza Hut and a new souvenir.

Tranquility and Toilets

After a few nights out, it was time for “cousin Eddie”—our chemical toilet—to have another birthday. We hit up Camp Low House for laundry and showers before finding a luxurious, wooded layby near Norwich that felt like a park on steroids, giving us a quiet spot to calibrate Starlink.

Unable to stay at a horse racing track due to a race day, we spent a quiet night next to a train station track, followed by a scenic stay in the shadows of an old windmill where Salsa loved exploring the local footpaths. Finally, we settled into Camp Tarrington—an orchard-like spot with just a few spaces and no showers, but peaceful enough that we extended our stay by an extra day to recharge in the wheat fields.

That wrapped up our whirlwind first week across the pond, and we are ready for week two.

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