This is King's story. The one I mentioned earlier. I was told that his female owner, down in Aix en Provence, had cancer and faced a long process of treatment. So I was prepared, but not exactly, for what I found when I got to our rdv south of Nimes.
I travelled down the day before, avoiding as usual the autoroutes, and passing through Perigueux, Sarlat, Gourdon, Figeac, Decazeville, Rodez, Millau, then after a short stint on the free A71, east again via Le Vigan and Ganges to Nimes.
A short video to show the part of the journey through the Vezere valley and Les Eyzies, where the ancient inhabitants of the area used to live in these caves. Some still do, in the houses built into them. Also a short stretch of the ridgeway leading to our halfway stop at Seniergues in the Lot.
https://youtu.be/26zeB71o6hA
Ganges has bitter memories for me. I always thought it strange that 3 towns in a row, Ganges, Le Vigan and Ste. Hypollite with Super Us in them, were all apparently in competition with each other for diesel. Ganges was nearly always the winner and, although very tight in and out with the caravan, was a favourite to keep the costs down. Then one day, taking a wide sweep onto the pumps (my new Partner has the filler on the left) I ran over an unmarked kerbstone. My right front tyre went just the other side of it but close enough to rip the wall out, and the steering geometry mounted on the kerb, just enough to lift the wheel clear of the ground. With front wheel drive just couldn't get off so had to call Aviva. It wasn't straightforward but after much struggling with too tight nuts and blocks of wood, I was on my way, thankful that the tyre was the only damage.
While on the subject of Ganges, it has a river running through it which is nearly always dry. Was someone having a laugh when they named this place?
Anyway, last time I passed this way I found an Inter with lots of space at Decazeville, selling nice cheap diesel. Just the job I thought but when I got back this time, perfectly judged to recieve the max, they'd put the price up. . Was even less pleased when I passed Ganges 3 cents cheaper.
Onward to Nimes. I turn right down the N 106 then east on Salvador Allende before turning south again on the old N 113 towards Arles. Just after Bellegarde there is a large routier where I was to spend the night, but not until after filling up at the Total Access in Nimes only to find Carrefour further on cheaper again. Not my best fuel planning trip, this one.
The food was good, though I'd forgotten that Gardienne de Taureau was stewed beef and ordered a thick and tender, though not over tasty, steak, only just afterwards to see one of my colleagues tucking into Gardienne and rice.
It was very warm in the caravan, though the 4 way large and netted vents in the raised roof helped greatly.
Coffeed and abluted in the morning I settled in the car with Val McDermid to await my new passenger. The blue Megane arrived dead on time at 8 o'clock and a very slim young woman emerged followed by a rather plumper 10 or 12 year old girl. Obviously a younger sister, too old to be a daughter. The youngster was in floods of tears but the older one was just about holding it together.
I travelled down the day before, avoiding as usual the autoroutes, and passing through Perigueux, Sarlat, Gourdon, Figeac, Decazeville, Rodez, Millau, then after a short stint on the free A71, east again via Le Vigan and Ganges to Nimes.
A short video to show the part of the journey through the Vezere valley and Les Eyzies, where the ancient inhabitants of the area used to live in these caves. Some still do, in the houses built into them. Also a short stretch of the ridgeway leading to our halfway stop at Seniergues in the Lot.
https://youtu.be/26zeB71o6hA
Ganges has bitter memories for me. I always thought it strange that 3 towns in a row, Ganges, Le Vigan and Ste. Hypollite with Super Us in them, were all apparently in competition with each other for diesel. Ganges was nearly always the winner and, although very tight in and out with the caravan, was a favourite to keep the costs down. Then one day, taking a wide sweep onto the pumps (my new Partner has the filler on the left) I ran over an unmarked kerbstone. My right front tyre went just the other side of it but close enough to rip the wall out, and the steering geometry mounted on the kerb, just enough to lift the wheel clear of the ground. With front wheel drive just couldn't get off so had to call Aviva. It wasn't straightforward but after much struggling with too tight nuts and blocks of wood, I was on my way, thankful that the tyre was the only damage.
While on the subject of Ganges, it has a river running through it which is nearly always dry. Was someone having a laugh when they named this place?
Anyway, last time I passed this way I found an Inter with lots of space at Decazeville, selling nice cheap diesel. Just the job I thought but when I got back this time, perfectly judged to recieve the max, they'd put the price up. . Was even less pleased when I passed Ganges 3 cents cheaper.
Onward to Nimes. I turn right down the N 106 then east on Salvador Allende before turning south again on the old N 113 towards Arles. Just after Bellegarde there is a large routier where I was to spend the night, but not until after filling up at the Total Access in Nimes only to find Carrefour further on cheaper again. Not my best fuel planning trip, this one.
The food was good, though I'd forgotten that Gardienne de Taureau was stewed beef and ordered a thick and tender, though not over tasty, steak, only just afterwards to see one of my colleagues tucking into Gardienne and rice.
It was very warm in the caravan, though the 4 way large and netted vents in the raised roof helped greatly.
Coffeed and abluted in the morning I settled in the car with Val McDermid to await my new passenger. The blue Megane arrived dead on time at 8 o'clock and a very slim young woman emerged followed by a rather plumper 10 or 12 year old girl. Obviously a younger sister, too old to be a daughter. The youngster was in floods of tears but the older one was just about holding it together.
King emerged on a light lead, a very handsome Dobie easily gentle enough to be entrusted to the young girl while his stuff was transferred between cars. A thick duvet, a bag of croquettes, a cuddly toy, a small sealed ham bone and the biggest bone I have ever seen outside of a cow. All except the croquettes went into the cage and then it was time for King too.
No papers, she had, erroneously, sent them directly to the association, but at last she could hold it no longer and, with her cuddling his head, and the youngster hanging onto his rear with her face buried in his back, I had to stand back for a few moments, silent, before taking charge of the situation.
He jumped in readily and allowed his, now former, owner to unclip his lead before I shut the door.
Then we were on our way. No trouble at all I heard not a peep out of him for several hours. At the commune of Seniergues in the Lot, where the locals keep a very clean toilet room and large open area for lunch and dog walks available for travellers, we took our break.
King was gentle enough for me to put him on the 8 metre lunge rein, not possible with all big and fast dogs in case they take off and break a neck or my shoulder, so that I could take a few photos and videos. The last part of the first video was shot there.
He jumped in readily and allowed his, now former, owner to unclip his lead before I shut the door.
Then we were on our way. No trouble at all I heard not a peep out of him for several hours. At the commune of Seniergues in the Lot, where the locals keep a very clean toilet room and large open area for lunch and dog walks available for travellers, we took our break.
King was gentle enough for me to put him on the 8 metre lunge rein, not possible with all big and fast dogs in case they take off and break a neck or my shoulder, so that I could take a few photos and videos. The last part of the first video was shot there.
Then it was off for the final 2 1/2 hours to Sharon's pension near Nontron, for him to join the other 10 Dobies there awaiting their new homes. And some more pics and vids.
https://youtu.be/fGuvrJzcu4Y
Home in time for tea, as they say, I think.
Latest news is that someone came to look at one of the others but was so taken by King that he has applied to adopt him. First there will be a home visit, then exchange of contracts, till finally, we hope, he will be in his new home.
https://youtu.be/fGuvrJzcu4Y
Home in time for tea, as they say, I think.
Latest news is that someone came to look at one of the others but was so taken by King that he has applied to adopt him. First there will be a home visit, then exchange of contracts, till finally, we hope, he will be in his new home.
King was adopted by a single man, an early retiree, back in the south, and the 2 bonded immediately. Shock news a week or so later, because his elderly mother was scared of this gentle dog (a lifetime of reading typical bad publicity perhaps) he was put up for re-homing.
As a stop gap, to avoid returning to the pension, King was fostered by a friend of his master in Brittany. She already had a Dobermann and the 2 dogs got on well, the feeling in the association was that perhaps it could be permanent? It wasn't to be though, not because of any reluctance on her part, but because the adopter couldn't bear to be parted from his new friend. So he made a 2nd trip to Brittany and fetched him back.
And the mother? Apparently the large house is being converted to give her her own space, kitchen and bathroom.
What some boys will do for their Mums. .....And for their dogs!!
Total Distance 1,009 kms
As a stop gap, to avoid returning to the pension, King was fostered by a friend of his master in Brittany. She already had a Dobermann and the 2 dogs got on well, the feeling in the association was that perhaps it could be permanent? It wasn't to be though, not because of any reluctance on her part, but because the adopter couldn't bear to be parted from his new friend. So he made a 2nd trip to Brittany and fetched him back.
And the mother? Apparently the large house is being converted to give her her own space, kitchen and bathroom.
What some boys will do for their Mums. .....And for their dogs!!
Total Distance 1,009 kms