Josie

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Thu 27th April
Having decided on a new dog, and wanting an EU dog, complete with EU passport, we are now belting off to The Algarve, a ridiculously long way in three days. Hopefully!
France requires a property inspection before you can adopt, and Italy requires proof of residency. Also, Mike adopted a dog from Goldra Dog Sanctuary in Portugal, so a tested and proven route, run by an English lady. Who, very helpfully, speaks English.
So, off we go, decided to catch an overnight ferry Portsmouth Caen. Arrived in Portsmouth very early, and joined the back of the (short) queue. Whilst sitting in the vehicle, I suddenly realised, I had forgotten my passport. Horror! And Sue threw up her hands in horror, so had she!
A very fast journey home and back, and arrived back in Portsmouth 30 minutes after requested arrival time, but 30 minutes before departure time. Whew, made it. Left a soggy and cold UK, and a very early arrival in France (6.45 am).
Fri 28th April
One of the last vehicles off the ferry, so joined the queue for French customs at the back. Despite all this, we were away at 7.30 am. Fast open roads, little traffic, made excellent time. As we approached Bordeaux, having done just about 400 miles, it was lunch time, with an ETA of around 3.30 in Biarritz.
Have always known Bordeaux is a traffic problem, but goodness knows what happened. On the ring road, 10 miles in an hour and a half.
Eventually escaped from the traffic chaos, and onwards to Biarritz. Paege section into Biarritz, which I had not been on before. €6.40 at a barrier. Machine would not accept our prepaid euro card – something that has happened on French motorways before, so put cash in. Not very much further, another paege barrier, another €6.40. And, a very short distance later, we approached another paege booth. Seemed we were throwing unlimited quantities of euros out of the window, so we came off the motorway. Slow congested roads, incredible amount of traffic, presume it is always like this. Really slow. Finally got parked up at about 8.00 pm. Have always been narked at the expensive French motorways, and todays experience bought thinly disguised anti french sentiments bubbling to the surface.
Sat 29th April
Another long drive, although not as long as yesterday. Day started well, and continued that way. Driving out of Biarritz, saw a BioCoop, and bought French goodies – Compte, Roquefort (although found subsequently, I must have left it behind), wheat germ and more. Enabled me to wrap up my French prejudice and put it away. Crossed into Spain, and drove via Valladolid to Salamanca. A nice place. Weather is heating up, although the day started overcast and drizzly. By mid afternoon, temperature in the upper 20’s. Salamanca is at an altitude of around 2,500 feet, so cooled down nicely overnight. (Cold according to Sue). Had trouble finding a cash machine, the first two shown on MapsMe where no longer there, if they ever were there. Both Santander. The third (lots of walking) charged €5.00 for a withdrawal.
Sun 30th April
Another long drive – this proved to be the easiest of the three days. Almost immediately out of Salamanca onto a motorway straight down to Seville, a bit slow (but no stopping) around Seville and another motorway to Portugal. Weather increased in temperature all the way, around 30 degrees around Seville, and stayed very hot. Thank goodness for cab air conditioning! Nor something we use a lot.
Entering Portugal, a sign very clearly directed “Tourisme” to an area where a machine awaited us. Told us to tap a credit card here, said it was quick and easy. No indication what was quick and easy. Tapped the credit card, nothing happened. It wasn’t quick. Or easy. It was confusing. After failing to get anywhere with it, drove on into Portugal. So far nothing catastrophic has happened. Drove to an Aire 20 minutes from the dog place in Loule, looking forward to an interesting day tomorrow.
I don’t usually keep driving statistics, but in the last three days from leaving the ferry at Caen to our stop in Portugal is 1,283 miles. By far the longest leg was the first day through France.
A record I hope I never have to try and beat, let alone equal. A lot less driving each day from now until our return in 8 days or so.
Mon 1st May
A leisurely start to arrive at thr dog sanctuary for 10.00am. Already very hot, met Josie (and Jan), took Josie for a short walk, she certainly was shy (we had been forewarned), but a very nice dog. Completed the formalities with Jan, and spent a long time sharing with her. She has lived in Portugal for 18 years, and speaks very little Portuguese, her husband none. As is was a public holiday (May Day), she had more volunteer dog walkers than normal – all English.
Left the dog sanctuary, and drove a shortish, but slow, journey to Mertola, a nice place, and excellent dog walking. Josie was fine in the vehicle whilst driving. She has yet to eat anything, in fact she was sick during the drive. I hope just reaction to the big change in her life, rather than travel sick.

During email discussions with Jan before we set off, she asked what sort of dog we would like, and a criteria that Sue mentioned was “We don’t want a yappy dog”. Unfortunately, autocorrect took over, and she sent an email saying we don’t want a happy dog…………Fortunately, Jan didn’t pick that up, she must have auto uncorrected!
Wed 3rd May
A lot of driving. Yesterday drove to an unpleasant, but convenient, stop about 50 miles west of Madrid. A marked parking space on a road bordering a derilict industrial estate. Fortunately, quiet enough overnight to get a good nights sleep.
Today, another long drive round Madrid and north to Huesca, just south of the border with France, and in sight of the Pyrenees.
Am hoping for a scenic drive tomorrow crossing into France, to Pau, a Pyrenees crossing we have not tried before.
Josie has not eaten anything since we picked her up, and neither has she had a crap. Hope this isn’t problems, just she isn’t yet settled with us, although we did get a tail wag this morning when I got up.
Thu 4th May

Selected an interesting route to cross the Pyrenees, drove on up through excellent scenery, but then came across a sign saying the crossing was closed. This was most unexpected, surely not snow at this time of the year. However closure was confirmed by a person in a garage, so back down we went.
Followed a sign to “Francia”, and further on the sign said Canfranc. This was most unexpected, I hadn’t realised we were near there. We crossed via Canfranc two years ago, on our way back from Portugal.
A most interesting railway and station there. And, how it has changed!
This is my picture from two years ago..

>
And this is now

The railway lines have been moved to a new, modern, station behind the original building, and is now operational. Trains run to the station from the Spanish side. The original building has been resplendently renovated, and turned into a hotel.
The agreement between France and Spain is that each side will maintain their own side if the railway. Around 50 or so years ago, an accident demolished a bridge on the French side.
The French have not repaired the damage.
Best I don’t add any further comments.
Fri 5th May
Interesting end of day – drove to an Aire in Rodez, which was full. A short way up the road, Search for Sites suggested an abandoned campsite in a small village, Gages-Montrozier, just off the motorway. Bit of a hair raising drive round the village on narrow steep roads, but the site, a bit overgrown, is fine. The local bar adjoining the site was open, so we went for a drink. Had to run a gauntlet of four large inebriated and very friendly Frenchmen. After hugs and handshakes all round, made it into the bar, and repaired to an agreeable balcony overlooking fields and trees on a warm sunny late afternoon.
I sometimes wonder if there is a Doppler universe working on a different fiscal level – a bier and a glass of wine €4.00! Decided we could afford a second……
The temperature, a sweaty and uncomfortable 33 degrees in Portugal has now dropped 10 degrees to a comfortable 23 degrees.
Josie has eaten a little, but as Sue pointed out, she is by far the smallest dog we have had, so will eat less.
Sun 7th May
Yesterday, a long drive to between Moulin and Nevers, via Clermont-Ferrand, very hilly, at times up to around 4,000 feet. Belting along a motorway not the best way to see it, but still very dramatic, and clearly a challenge for the motorway engineers, with some very tight corners (by motorway standards).
Met an elderly lady with a walking stick, and her grey hair in a bun on top of her head at the Aire, who surprisingly spoke very good English. The weather had turned, quite a bit of rain last night and again this morning. When she found we are returning to England, she remarked the weather was practising to prepare us for our return!
Today, we drove to Chartres, far less interesting drive, but the first opportunity I have had to take Josie on a long walk, which I enjoyed, and I hope she did. Chartres has a really nice path alongside the river.
Have found tomorrow is a public holiday, Victory in Europe Day, which is a nuisance. (The holiday, not the victory). Was hoping to stock up on organic French goodies, not sure if the organic French goody shop is open.
We still have Beckie’s bed, which was too big for her. Josie is smaller.

New bed required!
Sun Cont’d
A curious thing we happened upon yesterday. At least three fields jam packed with people in caravans. Like, really loads and loads. At least a thousand we both agreed. And, whilst driving on past these three fields, loads more caravans arriving.
As it rained overnight and into the morning, the entrances into the fields, and spaces between the caravans, was an absolute sea of mud.
As Sue said, “I didn’t know there were so many caravans in France”. We tried to find out what was going on, but failed. Very odd.
Tue 9th May
I am delighted to say the Organic French Goodie shop did open. Goodies gotten.
Yesterday, drove to Wissant, and with sufficient time, avoided peage motorways. Added about an hour onto the journey.
Wet and decidedly cool, but rain stopped later, and we were able to sit outside (just) at the Wissant poussin restaurant. Nice to have someone else do the cooking, and we both enjoyed our meal.
Now waiting to board the tunnel train, big control done, passed with flying colours. That is always a relief!
Miserable weather, good practice for our return I suppose.

Fin.