Christelle and Luna, south to north
There are at least 4 Wolfhounds and Deerhounds in here somewhere
The first job after the turn of the year for SOS Levrier Martyr’s president, Maryanne. She organises transport for both her association and SOS Adopt Sans Frontières as both of them specialise in rescuing dogs in dire need in Spain. All of these are not imported till homes are found for them, or occasionally foster homes, and my answer to those few who say that we have enough dogs in need without importing more is, a dog in need is a dog in need. Also I have been involved in sending dogs from France to Holland and England, so some sort of balance is maintained.
This time it was two medium size dogs resting after the first part of their journey in a small town in the Gers, Sos, that I was booked to take on to their new homes in the north of France.
Sylvie actually lives in the town of Gondrin, a little further south, and it is from there that I normally collect the Spanish dogs on a Monday, after their arrival the previous Saturday. This time however the job wasn’t emailed till Sunday which did not allow enough time to arrange so I agreed to collect on Tuesday instead which conflicted with Sylvie’s working week in Sos. Thus it was to be outside La Poste in the centre of Sos during her dinner hour.
It was a fine sunny day as I headed south through Périgueux, Bergerac and Marmande. Not quite as pleasant as it sounds, at this time of year it means sunglasses rather than driving glasses, and, with the overnight damp on the road, even more so. However, with no holdups I arrived early, despite taking a wrong turning, or rather missing a right turning, in a village close to my destination which resulted in a 10 km detour to get back on route but also found me a nice big quiet lay-by to give my co-pilot, Roady, a run around on the lunge rein while I had a short snack.
This time it was two medium size dogs resting after the first part of their journey in a small town in the Gers, Sos, that I was booked to take on to their new homes in the north of France.
Sylvie actually lives in the town of Gondrin, a little further south, and it is from there that I normally collect the Spanish dogs on a Monday, after their arrival the previous Saturday. This time however the job wasn’t emailed till Sunday which did not allow enough time to arrange so I agreed to collect on Tuesday instead which conflicted with Sylvie’s working week in Sos. Thus it was to be outside La Poste in the centre of Sos during her dinner hour.
It was a fine sunny day as I headed south through Périgueux, Bergerac and Marmande. Not quite as pleasant as it sounds, at this time of year it means sunglasses rather than driving glasses, and, with the overnight damp on the road, even more so. However, with no holdups I arrived early, despite taking a wrong turning, or rather missing a right turning, in a village close to my destination which resulted in a 10 km detour to get back on route but also found me a nice big quiet lay-by to give my co-pilot, Roady, a run around on the lunge rein while I had a short snack.
I found a very sleepy town with a very narrow entrance to a large, completely empty and blindingly bright square in which I found La Poste. My first attempt at photos failed due, after a process of elimination, to flat batteries, but I did get one which amply demonstrated its charm. Sylvie arrived after 10 minutes in answer to my phone call and produced the two little ladies who were to be my guests for the next couple of days. Both were supposed to be Griffon crosses but only Christelle truly fitted that description I thought while smooth coated Luna was more Collie than Griffon. They posed for pictures before willingly climbing together into the large cage and made friends through the bars with Roady in the next one. Soon they were comfortably settled and we were on our way back home.
Once back they were introduced to Ramona and Sami, being female they were in no danger from him, and set out to explore the garden. No problems at dinner time and they shared our space until bedtime when, already by choice in the comfortable large mobile crate, they settled down for the night.
I had calculated that the 584 kilometres to my first delivery, Luna at Soissons, would get me to my destination at around 6pm and, as I planned to park up for the night only an hour or so away at Blincourt to the north of Senlis, this would be perfect timing. I did know that I would better my 60 km/hour average as far as Paris as much of the route from Limoges to north of Orleans is on free autoroute, but I thought that my trip round the N/A104, the Francilienne, the outer ring of Paris, may slow me down due to the weight of traffic. In addition I had forgotten that most of the N2 onwards to Soissons was duel carriageway so, at an average of 70, I rolled up outside the house at about 4pm. Luna was taken away quickly by her new owner as I didn’t want the parting from her close companion to be too dramatic and I declined the offer of a coffee inside. After she had gone I took Christelle and Roady for a short walk in the sunshine, a couple of photos and studied my map, the one reserved for marking all the routiers I know, because my advanced schedule made Blincourt an unsuitable destination for the night.
No-one gets fed before 7!
No-one gets fed before 7!
My investigation turned up a likely candidate at Les Landrons, about 15 kms the other side of Beauvais. We arrived at around 6 and I spent some time re-organising the car. This was not easy with 2 dogs to displace and while it was done it required a bit of logistical thinking. Eventually though it was done with both dogs settled together on their bed at the side of mine. A protective blanket extended over the latter for protection and the 2 of them were secured to an anchorage point for security while at last I was able to go into the bar for a welcome kir, or 2. The barman was a jolly chap who, puzzled by my strange accent eventually proclaimed his view that I was a Breton!
A phone call to the bride and then into the restaurant for the excellent meal. My companions were genial and humorous but by 9pm I was back at the car with cold meats from the vitrine to add to the croquettes I had brought for my 2 hungry charges. Then I settled them both down while I lit the lamp for a 10 minute read of the Kindle before sleep. Christelle was marvellous; she wanted a bit of a cuddle first but was soon curled up on her portion of the dog blankets. Not so Roady, as I have seen before he prefers to be closer and this is fine until I want to turn from one side to another. Then, the hot little bundle snuggled in my back, or behind my knees, while welcome on a cold night, becomes a bit of a nuisance when needed to be transferred to my stomach or groin!
We awoke at 5 as the lights of the restaurant were lit and after a pee for all of us it was time to fold and roll up the beds and put the single cage up again. I decided against both cages as both dogs had proved their compatibility during the night and were perfectly happy together in the one.
After my usual petit cafés and ablutions we were on the road again, stopping only for an advantageous diesel top up at a Super U and then we hit Rouen. Rush hour, not normally a problem in the past, but this time it was snarled up with a closed bridge due to road works. On 3 lane carriageways I stuck firmly to the centre track, better able to dive either way when confronted by an overhead sign. Driving through from this direction was unfamiliar to me but I knew that as long as I headed for the autoroute A 150 towards Le Havre until I left it and passed Barentin, the next town would be my destination, Pavilly. A right turn and the road in towards the centre was the one I wanted. The house stood alone with little room to park, but the traffic was light and, in any case it only took a few minutes to lead Christelle inside. I was sorry to see her go, she had been very well behaved and affectionate, but I had to be content with a couple of photos of her meeting her new family and it was back to the car to calm the barking Roady. With nothing heard from PAD, I always inform them when I am to be empty in the north, we turned for home and a short break for internet catch-up at McDo’s in Chartres. There a message from Mary at PAD gave me a heads up for a possible journey next week for 2 Dobermanns, male and female, from Tarbes, in the Haute-Pyrénées, to Bordeaux.
A phone call to the bride and then into the restaurant for the excellent meal. My companions were genial and humorous but by 9pm I was back at the car with cold meats from the vitrine to add to the croquettes I had brought for my 2 hungry charges. Then I settled them both down while I lit the lamp for a 10 minute read of the Kindle before sleep. Christelle was marvellous; she wanted a bit of a cuddle first but was soon curled up on her portion of the dog blankets. Not so Roady, as I have seen before he prefers to be closer and this is fine until I want to turn from one side to another. Then, the hot little bundle snuggled in my back, or behind my knees, while welcome on a cold night, becomes a bit of a nuisance when needed to be transferred to my stomach or groin!
We awoke at 5 as the lights of the restaurant were lit and after a pee for all of us it was time to fold and roll up the beds and put the single cage up again. I decided against both cages as both dogs had proved their compatibility during the night and were perfectly happy together in the one.
After my usual petit cafés and ablutions we were on the road again, stopping only for an advantageous diesel top up at a Super U and then we hit Rouen. Rush hour, not normally a problem in the past, but this time it was snarled up with a closed bridge due to road works. On 3 lane carriageways I stuck firmly to the centre track, better able to dive either way when confronted by an overhead sign. Driving through from this direction was unfamiliar to me but I knew that as long as I headed for the autoroute A 150 towards Le Havre until I left it and passed Barentin, the next town would be my destination, Pavilly. A right turn and the road in towards the centre was the one I wanted. The house stood alone with little room to park, but the traffic was light and, in any case it only took a few minutes to lead Christelle inside. I was sorry to see her go, she had been very well behaved and affectionate, but I had to be content with a couple of photos of her meeting her new family and it was back to the car to calm the barking Roady. With nothing heard from PAD, I always inform them when I am to be empty in the north, we turned for home and a short break for internet catch-up at McDo’s in Chartres. There a message from Mary at PAD gave me a heads up for a possible journey next week for 2 Dobermanns, male and female, from Tarbes, in the Haute-Pyrénées, to Bordeaux.
But for now it was homeward bound, a journey which was completed by late afternoon after a lunch break in the forest north of Vierzon when Roady and I had a long walk in the sunshine down a logging road to settle our packed lunches.
Distance 1,789 kms.
Distance 1,789 kms.