Travel Through Jersey on a Harley-Davidson
By Peter & Kay Forwood
Jersey on a Harley (18/3/98 - 21/3/98)
Distance 94 km (93265 km to 93359 km)
This is part of the third section of our around the
world trip.
Complete Trip Overview & Map
Coming from France
18/3/98 Part of England, well not really, the Channel
Islands are considered separate countries of Jersey and Guernsey, linked
to Great Britain but vehemently hanging on to their independence. Being between
seasons we were lucky to get winter prices with the increased services of
the coming summer season meaning we could visit both islands in three days
cheaply. The new high speed vehicle catamaran takes only one hour and everyone
speaks English. Quite a relief for mono linguists like us who haven't spoken
English "generally" since Gibraltar two months ago. Renowned for their Jersey
cow (and creamy milk), jersey football sweater and early potatoes and more
recently as a tax haven they also welcome tourists in great numbers and have
the facilities (literature and information) for them. The great Jersey history
museum in the arvo and we are ready to explore the island, all 116 sq km,
tomorrow.
19/3/98 With only 360 km of roads on the entire island
we traversed over a quarter of them following the coast and stopping constantly
to look, at a 5000 yr. old Neolithic tomb and burial site, medieval defence
castles, light houses and German built concrete defence bunkers from WW2.
The island, connected to Europe by a land bridge just 8000 years ago, also
has great natural scenery of beaches, cliffs, rocky outcrops and dozens of
small islands offshore. The day was completed at a "Typical English Pub"
where too many pints of the local "Mary Ann" beer were consumed with native
Jerseyites and their internationally acquired spouses. To be a National of
Jersey not only must you have at least one Jersey parent but you must be
born on the Island.
Immigration here is virtually zero, unless you have millions for the economy,
and only locals can own land or buildings, even to rent your landlord needs
special approval. Not part of the EU they don't need to allow freedom of movement
of EU members which could easily swamp the inland, particularly with their
low tax situation.
Move with us to Guernsey