can’t resist a quick post as the hotel is quiet and everyone else sleeps so the internet is more active. Yesterday we came through the tunnel – really exciting and definitely the best way to cross over/under with dogs. They didn’t even check the microchips or pet passports so we whizzed through to stand in line waiting to board. I had hoped to catch an earlier train as they allow you a lot of flexibility and you can turn up late or early and get on the next available train. But this time there were no spaces on earlier trains – I imagine because of the huge storms overnight there were many people taking refuge from the ferry crossings.
A wonderful way to pass the time on the train under the sea is to have hand massages! Wonderful Marta had brought along some cream and we did fifteen minutes each which made the whole trip pass in a dream. Dogs slept of course!
Windy and rainy most of the way down to Chartres but the roads were mostly open and clear. We stopped and let the dogs out for their first French walk at an Aire in the Somme valley. A lovely place with open fields and pathways beside streams and lots of birds swooping around. I hadn’t realised the Somme was so far west. How deeply resonant these First War names are to me – was it just the influence of Vera Brittain and the poets?
Here are some images from the day – all in a mishmash I’m afraid as I want to sleep a little now before setting off. We ended the evening with a picnic on the bed as we were too tired even to cross over to MacDonalds for chips.  Menu – apples, carrots, Cheeselets and whisky!

Here I am in Cornwall with two new half sisters that I didn’t know existed a month ago! I love being in the countryside with places to dig and get really dirty and it’s quite fun having a pack to run around with but something bad gets into me sometimes and I lose my temper and get into a fight with my new family. Usually it is when there is food around, or when we are getting ready for a walk and I want to be first out of the door. Suddenly I am snarling and snapping and I don’t know myself! 

Before we got to Cornwall we had a looooooong journey and one of the exciting parts was staying in London. Here are some of the places I visited – we were only there two days so I think I did quite well.
I got lots of attention in the streets as there aren’t so many dogs walking around the tourist parts! 
We walked all the way from Portobello Road to the South Bank and the Houses of Parliament. They designed London so dogs can do this by park hopping – Kensington Gardens to Hyde Park to St James Park to Green Park – and you hardly ever need to walk along a road.
Here we are at the Princess Diana memorial fountain (I wasn’t allowed to enter)

Then the ducks on the Serpentine. There were swans too but they tried to attack me

We had to cross the road here and I don’t know if you can see but the traffic light has a filter for HORSES to stop or go!

Buckingham Palace was busy and lots of people talked to me

Green Park and a bit of a rest because it’s quite a long way!

Arriving in Trafalgar Square – phew it was busy and noisy!

I felt a bit small and vulnerable when we arrived at the lions

Theatre land and more noise and traffic

I didn’t want to go to Picadilly Circus so we went back to the river and had something to eat at the South Bank with the London Eye in the background. (Thanks goodness there were long queues for that so we couldn’t go on it!)

It’s nice by the Thames with Big Ben striking the hours. Also….there are lots of lovely things to eat on the ground. I look a bit sheepish here don’t you think?

Too far to walk home so we took the underground – I didn’t really enjoy it

But it was lovely on the escalators

Baker Street is famous for something or someone isn’t it?

Next day we went to a lovely place called Hampstead Heath but it was like this

so I didn’t get to walk or run much.
London has some lovely countryside in it!
But although it was fun I was glad when we set off to drive west and we stopped places like this – it’s called Avebury and is one of Kate’s favourite places. And now mine!

We are still on the road – after so many kilometres and so many countries I can’t get my head straight to do a diary that is linear. So here are some memories of the journey – in no order whatsoever, I’m afraid, and sent out in little portions as tonight I have internet but tomorrow perhaps will be again far from a wifi zone!
After Tuscany we traveled up to the north of Italy and arrived at Lake Maggiore to find it was an Italian holiday and the campsites were full of parties and music. We got a space near the water – close enough to hear the ‘lake water lapping with low sounds’ but there was a row of touring caravans hogging the best spots right by the edge.
There were two parties – one a Beatles revival and the other an old time dance night with a saxophone and a singer.  It made an interesting mixture of music.
We were surprised awake around midnight by the sound of one of the ‘respectable’ elderly dancers pissing over the wall rather close to our tent! 
Otherwise it was a good stop and a place to return to ….one day.

The next morning we couldn’t resist visiting the Sanctuary of Saint Catherine of Sasso. The hermitage was founded in the 12th century by a merchant who almost died in a shipwreck but was rescued after calling on Saint Catherine of Aexandria. Obviously this interests me because of our shared name but it was also a coincidence as I was talking in Tuscany to my sisters about which saint Catherine to adopt as my namesake. It is very common in Catalunya to be named after a saint and to celebrate on your saints day. Catherine of Siena seemed too rigid and pompous and I was pulling towards Catherine of Alexandria who is the patron saint of Philosophers and Preachers and who apparently asked God in her dying breath to help all who call on her name. This beautiful place seemed to suggest she is the right one for me!  My saints day will be November 25th so I am hoping for lots of messages – Per Molts Anys!!!!