I swear I heard Filou whistling the tune to The Littlest Hobo this morning. She’s trying. She is nearly 84 in dog years (this is like her retirement cruise 🙃). I don’t buy it though. She likes doing things but really prefers to be at home with her favourite people, which amazingly, include me but also The Sturmans, who I’m sure they are both missing terribly.

Does any dog really want to find a new owner and home every day? I doubt it. Dubious development idea if you ask me. Every stray dog I have ever been aware of has tried to set up home with the first human it could find. Our family dog, Meg the Labrador, followed my Dad on a run for 7 miles cross-country (she was about 9 -months old) in 1987 and as no-one ever claimed her, the police let us have her for keeps😍. She was great. As greedy and naughty as Filou but bigger. They would have been good friends (or fierce competition!).

The dogs have been largely brilliant on this trip considering we have changed location so many times but I’m not sure it’s really the life for a hound. There were moments earlier on the trip when wrestling with Filou with my entire body-weight to prevent her running off across the campsite to hunt for scraps in the cooking area perhaps wasn’t my dream holiday plan but they have got into the swing of it over the last few days. They get very worried when Kitty is in transition from van to bedroom (there’s a loud bang each time) but sleep soundly once she’s ready. They do prefer hotels though. I think they just feel a bit safer.

We’ve discovered the most pet friendly (and unfriendly) places in Northern Europe which has been fun but it’s been a lot of work managing the two of them and despite their valiant efforts, I would probably leave them in the safety of the village next time.

That said, we do feel like much more of a team now, which is cute but might have repercussions when I need to leave home again😳. I have been away a lot for treatment and surgery since November and I have changed physically of course and Filou really struggled during my chemotherapy, not wanting to leave the house at all😢. So I felt we needed some bonding time and we have definitely had that!

This has of course happened by necessity as they haven’t really been able to get away from me. I see us as a slightly dysfunctional and rather less bold Dogtanian and the Muskehounds.

I have been plotting routes seemingly at random and swordfighting as required with the wind, hills, high-speed driving and Danish rules.

I would say Filou is more of an Aramis, trying to charm her way to any treats going while Miffy has increased her jumping span and stair skills impressively so I think she’s Porthos. Full descriptions here.

By the end of the trip they will have travelled with me over 2,500 miles in the van and taken six trips by ferry which I think is no mean feat within 21 days for a small dog! I do wish they could talk. The smells they have experienced: seaweed in Orust, manure in The Netherlands, sea breezes in Finland and the pines everywhere. They’ve met old friends they know from the UK and lots of new people from all over Europe. Maybe they do have a dog instagram with snoutvision, full of smells. That’s what they’re up to when I’m not looking.

We have been in this together the whole way, apart from to and from the UK on the ferry when they (Stena Lines) just won’t let me keep them in the cabin with me☹️. Cue sad faces tomorrow night when they have to go into a kennel again overnight, I think they will forgive me, at least I hope so.

This is the best effort – for reals – at getting a team selfie today. Even with a dog chew on my leg, they just weren’t interested. Clearly the blog and instagram photo-journal have passed them by but they are currently having very happy dreams of processed sausage. Miffy on the left and Filou on the right, just 😂.

All paw one and one paw all. Thanks for the company, gang 🐾

PS don’t miss the musical treats in the links in the blog 😍