The following morning I set off to find a vet. UK laws dictate that a pet has to see a vet not less than 24 hours and not more than 48 hours prior to departure. I had only just found out that I was only a couple of hours from Ostende so was pleasantly surprised when the vet asked me what date and time I wanted her to put on Yorgi’s passport. I’d already heard from others how flexible European vets are regarding this point. Anyway, after this formality had been completed it was back on the road. I was dreading the next bit as there was no other way than by motorway. Then the heavens opened. Visibility was down to practically zero. This was good, as it made all the traffic slow down to my speed! The E40 is rather a nice motorway in fact because it doesn’t seem to be used by trucks.

At the port it took them one minute to process me and over half an hour for Yorgi. On the ticket (which cost an extra €25) it had in big letters PET. On the mirror I had to hang an orange sign with a picture of a dog on it and on the windscreen a flurescent sticker with another picture of a dog on it, in case there was any doubt. The crossing was very smooth and took two hours including a delay.

Once on UK soil, I promptly got lost! But never mind, the sky was blue and it was a very pleasant evening.

Since this blog is called Sissydaisy.blog I thought you might like to see the culprits

Here is Yorgi’s house on the ferry from Greece to Italy. Later, he refused to use it and ended up curled up in a corner of the pen – opposite to where the two labs were.

Hi everyone from Coburg, Germany. I made it eventually after two days solid driving.
The ferry to Venice was fine although poor Yorgi had to spend his time in a Doggie Area on deck together with two other large dogs, one of which kept eating his food! It rained during the night so even though the area was covered, as soon as I stept outside in the morning, above the howling wind, I also heard another howling. I couldn´t get up on deck quick enough! There he was, curled up in a corner, wet and abandoned!
Anyway, once off the ferry in Venice, all the car drivers had to wait on the port for the trucks to unload. Took at least half an hour, so good job it wasn´t raining hard. I´d shared my cabin with a German lady who made the trip often, so I followed her out of the port area and onto the chockerblock motorway – bit different to Skopelos! Shortly afterwards, she was into the fast lane and away. I stayed in the slow lane, absolutely petrified. I haven´t got a kind word to say about the truck drivers. Not Italian ones, Austrian ones or German ones! They are all b######s! Just cos I don´t want to drive at over 100km hour, I got hassled. Sometimes though I had to use autobahn but it was a harrowing experience.
Through the Bremmer pass I took the B road. Stayed 3/4 way along in a lovely guesthouse beside a stream, surrounded both sides by mountains. Paid €40 including wine and an excellent breakfast. Can’t show you the photos as I can’t find the camera download cable. Might even have left it in Corfu which will be a right bummer if I have.
The drive along the rest of the pass was excellent. Mountains, streams, pastures, little wooden houses with flowers on the balconies – real chocolate-box scenes.
So eventually arriving late day before yesterday in Coburg, met up with dad who just happened to be waiting on the steps of the hotel, which by the way costs €85 a night! Stayed just the one night then tried to find something else. But the whole down and beyond is fully booked cos of the festival, so the hotel took pity on me and put me up in a staff room in the attic. It’s perfect but I can’t stay there any longer than one night as it’s unofficial. So goodness knows where I’m gonna sleep tonight – maybe in the car! Bit of a comedown after chocolate on the pillow accommodation.
Last night we waited for dad’s band to arrive but they didn’t make it as far as we know as their coach driver ran out of time.
The atmosphere last night in town was amazing. Bands playing, people everywhere having fun. Stalls with wine a food… Real carnival stuff. Pity you can’t be here too to share it.