Cannelle, Cooper and Just
I set off from home in bright sunlight, first heading south towards Perigueux and then west to Mussidan before branching south again for my collection point. This was the headquarters of Phoenix's cat control. Lynda and Trevor take in lots of cats, and kittens, found and handed in all requiring re-homing.
Trevor opened the gates for me at the top of the long track through the woods and I parked inside and we set about deciding which tiny kitten was to be my passenger. He had his instructions from Lynda who was at the hairdresser, the smallest one who had spots on his belly rather than stripes. The trouble was that all the many tabbies in the cage looked pretty much alike, in size and patterning. We weren't sure, we checked the chips against those on the instructions but we weren't even sure about the name of the candidate. We checked the computer, I rang the adopter and left a message. I wanted her to tell me the name of the kitten she was adopting, to give us a clue.
Trevor opened the gates for me at the top of the long track through the woods and I parked inside and we set about deciding which tiny kitten was to be my passenger. He had his instructions from Lynda who was at the hairdresser, the smallest one who had spots on his belly rather than stripes. The trouble was that all the many tabbies in the cage looked pretty much alike, in size and patterning. We weren't sure, we checked the chips against those on the instructions but we weren't even sure about the name of the candidate. We checked the computer, I rang the adopter and left a message. I wanted her to tell me the name of the kitten she was adopting, to give us a clue.
The name Barney was mentioned to me by Trevor and it rang a bell, so we put Barney in the cage at the back of the car but still weren't sure. We rang Lynda, but by then she was back on the road and without a signal. I waited in the car while Trevor checked and re-checked the paperwork. While I was updating the story to my camcorder I noticed an intruder on the bonnet of the car. This was Tiger, Trevor and Lynda's own cat who they had wanted to re-home to me. They wanted him to go as, although he was an excellent mouser, and as a consequence they have no mice in the house, he is also very dominant with the other cats and bullies them. I wanted to adopt him because my house is overrun with mice, his dominant nature would deter the unwanted neighbourhood cats from our garden, and he gets on fine with dogs. A win win for us, even our concern for the birds is of no consequence because they already have the invaders to watch out for. But there was a snag. My wife, Fran, will not have a cat in the house. So Tiger remains, and now here he is, curiously peering in to see his would be new owner. I interrupted my talk to turn the camcorder on him before switching off as I spotted Trevor returning once more from the office.
We changed cats. We decided that the reason I recognised the name of Barney was because he is the cat I am taking to Bordeaux next week and thus he had to come out of the car to be replaced by Cooper. Cooper was a little smaller and his chip number corresponded to the one destined for the Creuse today. However the experience had unnerved us and we were thankful to see the little car coming up the drive containing the one person who could tell us which was which, Lynda.
Soon all was sorted and I was on my way, already an hour later than planned and thinking ahead about what this might mean for my 2 day schedule around the Creuse and on to Brittany before returning home. Instead of the shorter route through Perigueux itself I decided to save a little time and turn along the free section of the A 89 to deposit me to the south east of the city.
The Route National 21 took me north almost as far as Limoges and before Aix sur Vienne I took the new road around the city to arrive at the A 20. Then north again, I was looking for sortie 24 at Bessines where I left to head east again to my first destination.
Fiona lives with her small son and husband in a chateau on a hill and I remembered the turning which took me round and round like a reverse helter-skelter to the top. I had delivered another cat here before which sadly didn't work out. Little Cooper was photographed and carried inside and round and round again, but this time on stone steps to the top of the tower where there was a comfortable apartment. We chatted over coffee and cake while her son entertained the new family member as he crawled around investigating and playing with a small ball.
Then it was time to wind down the hill again and head for the N 145 and east past Gueret and Montlucon. I was supposed to collect 2 Dobermanns, both female, from a breeder near the village of Givardon. Breeders are a race that I rarely come into contact with and then usually only the sleezier ones from whom I am bidden to rescue worn out breeding bitches with low hanging teats. This one is slightly different being clean and well run but still I am uneasy and only do it because I know that PAD are an ethical organisation committed to looking after Dobermanns whatever their circumstances. My 2 charges this time were Cannelle, a 7 year old Marron who had a slight abnormality in her back or hip giving her a mildly limping gait and therefore difficult to re-home. The other was a puppy, only 4 months old but already as big and graceful as my English Setter. She was black and very pretty and I have no idea why she was coming away, I was just pleased that she was and wouldn't become a puppy machine herself. Her name was Just, and was going to Bordeaux to be fostered by my friend Virginie who does wonders looking after and finding homes for PAD dogs.
But first I had to decide what I was to do. The plan had been to arrive about 4.30 and then travel on towards Brittany for 2 or 3 hours before parking up for the night. Then, to deliver Cannelle to her new home near Redon where Catherine, a PAD member to whom I had delivered my first Dobermann 3 years ago. She was Siria, a magnificent silky smooth black girl who I had nicknamed La Reine, the Queen, because of her habit of perching serenely and looking down her long nose at me in disdain. Sadly she had since died of illness and, after a long period, Catherine had decided it was time to rescue another. I had thought that I could make it by midday on that 2nd day but this was going to be overshot due to my delay with Cooper. There is a routier that I know less than half an hour from the breeder's and I began to think that it might be better to halt there for the night, collect the 2 dogs in the morning and deliver Cannelle to Catherine without the need for her at least to spend a night on the road. So it was arranged although my plan suffered somewhat when I was told that I couldn't collect till 9 in the morning. I had hoped for 7 but agreed anyway. I did regret this somewhat shortly afterwards as I whiled away the 2 hours or so till dinnertime and realised that it would be a late start and a late finish tomorrow. But the die was cast and I ate and read and went to bed early.
Up early nevertheless and I spent my time over breakfast and ablutions leisurely before leaving and parking at my destination an hour early at 8am. I was greetd by 3 or 4 adult Dobies who barked their welcome before settling down in silence again. I was pleasantly surprised whe a lady emerged from the house at 8.20 and beckoned me in after opening the gates. Surprised, because she had told me that no-one would be here till 9, but I eagerly accepted the invitation and Cannelle and Just were quickly and efficiently loaded into the cages. At least, Just was, Cannelle wasted no time in sprinting with barely a hint of a limp and jumping straight inside by herself. No doubt glad to be away I thought.
But first I had to decide what I was to do. The plan had been to arrive about 4.30 and then travel on towards Brittany for 2 or 3 hours before parking up for the night. Then, to deliver Cannelle to her new home near Redon where Catherine, a PAD member to whom I had delivered my first Dobermann 3 years ago. She was Siria, a magnificent silky smooth black girl who I had nicknamed La Reine, the Queen, because of her habit of perching serenely and looking down her long nose at me in disdain. Sadly she had since died of illness and, after a long period, Catherine had decided it was time to rescue another. I had thought that I could make it by midday on that 2nd day but this was going to be overshot due to my delay with Cooper. There is a routier that I know less than half an hour from the breeder's and I began to think that it might be better to halt there for the night, collect the 2 dogs in the morning and deliver Cannelle to Catherine without the need for her at least to spend a night on the road. So it was arranged although my plan suffered somewhat when I was told that I couldn't collect till 9 in the morning. I had hoped for 7 but agreed anyway. I did regret this somewhat shortly afterwards as I whiled away the 2 hours or so till dinnertime and realised that it would be a late start and a late finish tomorrow. But the die was cast and I ate and read and went to bed early.
Up early nevertheless and I spent my time over breakfast and ablutions leisurely before leaving and parking at my destination an hour early at 8am. I was greetd by 3 or 4 adult Dobies who barked their welcome before settling down in silence again. I was pleasantly surprised whe a lady emerged from the house at 8.20 and beckoned me in after opening the gates. Surprised, because she had told me that no-one would be here till 9, but I eagerly accepted the invitation and Cannelle and Just were quickly and efficiently loaded into the cages. At least, Just was, Cannelle wasted no time in sprinting with barely a hint of a limp and jumping straight inside by herself. No doubt glad to be away I thought.
We raced westwards now through Chateauroux and Chatellerault, then Mirabeau and Airvault to Bessuire. We stopped in a small town with a large shady parking area and clean toilets. I offered first Cannelle and then Just out for a walk round and a drink of water, and of course anything else that they felt the need for. Cannelle was very reluctant to come out but did eventually though only took 2 turns round the car, refusing water or pee, before eagerly jumping back into the cage. Just was even more cautious. She stoutly refused to leave and I didn't force her. I know what cast iron and cavernous bladders Dobies have and trusted her not to relieve herself on board during the journey. In the event she didn't let me down. She took a very brief lick at the water bowl and, after an apple and a visit to the nice facilities ( I wasn't going to let the chance go begging even if they did) we were on our way again.
North now, Cholet and Nantes then the road to Redon. I had bought a satnav recently but use it only as a scrolling map, still preferring to follow my tried and trusted method of pre-planning the route and printing it out for my sunvisor. I do pre-programme the destination to the Garmin for use in the final few kilometres of minor streets and roads and this time was testing it against my own printout. It passed, and monitoring it as I went I soon arrived at the house without difficulty. In the garden, greeted by Catherine, I coaxed Cannelle from the car and then lifted Just bodily. Within minutes they were running and playing with Danae, the incumbent Dobermann girl who was delighted to have new companions, she had missed her friend Siria for too long.
It was 3.45 when I arrived and we went into the house for a cool drink and so that I could check emails on my laptop. Now the plan had been for me to take Just home with me in the morning where Virginie would come from Bordeaux to collect her. Not for the first time that would change. The message I got when I logged on was for me to meet her in Libourne at 10 tomorrow morning. I would have to go their directly, a good job my delayed progress hadn't meant that I was expected home for the night. I returned the message asking where she had in mind and was rewarded with an immediate phone call suggesting the Mairie. Neither of us knew where it was but such places are not too hard to find and, as I couldn't think of a suitable large parking place in the area, reluctantly agreed. Reluctantly, because driving to the centre of a medium size city did not strike me exactly as fun. Little did I know how right I would prove to be.
Videos and photos taken and Just safely re-loaded, we set off again an hour later. I reckoned that if I could get past Nantes and park at a much loved resto for the night, a nice early start in the morning would get us to the rendezvous on time. And so we rolled into the parking of Le Relax at St. Hilaire de Loulay, always for some reason referred to by drivers as Montaigu, the first thing was to feed my little friend. True to form she didn't want to exit so I gave her a bowl of the croquettes donated by Catherine inside the cage and she wolfed them down without taking a breath but declined more than a lick of the water offered afterwards. Still she refused to come out so I took control of the situation and reached in and physically lifted her out. A very good job that she was so slight and light. Once out and on the lead persuasion was still needed to get her to follow me. There is a little lane leading to a field next to where I park but we managed only a few yards along it before returning to the car. I was relieved though that so was she. In fact, in true Dobie fashion, she squatted and peed for minute after minute until, completely empty, the stream finally slowed and stopped. Then my turn and into the resto for the usual excellent meal and good company. Bed to read and sleep at 10pm.
The restaurant opens at 5.30am, but that was too late for me. Up at 4.30 and away by 5, Just still declining an outing, and we travelled for an hour or so before I stopped for breakfast and the usual freshening. I had been unable to programme the satnav as I did not have an address but I know my way well enough down the western coast, La Rochelle, Rochefort, Pons, Jonzac etc, and, close to Libourne Virginie rang to say that the Mairie was surrounded by a market and we had better meet at the church of St. Jean in the Place of that name instead. The satnav was set, but what a merry dance it led me round and round through narrow streets solidly parked or completely blocked by stalls. I know what I should have done, and what I will do in future, allow it to get me close enough to see my target and then switch to the map alone and work it out for myself, the same as I would if I had one of my numerous street maps. But make it I did and I pulled into the car park surrounding the church and rang Virginie. She was only metres away and walked across entirely unfazed in her easy going French way by my blocking at least 5 parking spaces with my car and Teardrop and the necessity to shunt backwards and forwards to let people in and out. With Just out of the car and in Virginie's arms I handed the paperwork over and prepared to leave but she insisted that first I take some photos of them both.
Once out of the car park it was impossible to head directly towards Perigueux so I headed south west out of the city towards Bordeaux until I hit the southern by-pass where at last I could turn for home. This I reached just after 1pm after a brief stop en route for some food.
Total distance – 1,634 kms
Total distance – 1,634 kms