We collected handsome 10-year old Pachi from his grandma, Monica. He’s travelling with Animalcouriers to the UK where he’ll rejoin Simoneta, who’s quite excited as she hasn’t seen Pachi for a while. Before we left, several members of the family called in to say goodbye and wish him a safe journey. Pachi may not have been too sure what it was all about, but he certainly enjoyed all the fuss and attention.

Also on board are four more cats. Caco and Cleo from the beautiful seaside city of Vigo, belong to Jonathan, who has relocated to Stoke on Trent for work. He hasn’t seen them for months and is keen to know how they’re doing. Well, Jonathan, they’re doing very well and have very good appetites, and have at last emerged for a photo-op.

Kuka and Té are Mariana’s cats, who’ve travelled with Animalcouriers before. They joined us in the Porto area of Portugal and are off to Reading in England where they’re rejoin Mariana and family. Poor Mariana had scratches up one arm and warned us that the cats hadn’t been too pleased to be disturbed from their afternoon nap! So we left them to settle in with lots of familar-smelling items around them, which is why it looks in the photos like they’ve been throwing a party!

On Spain’s north-west coast it was a perfect dog-walking day, not too hot and not too cold, so we gave all our canine travellers a really good leg stretch. This was partly to give them a chance to get to know us better, especially those that have only recently joined the trip. They’re all quite sensitive souls, and this is an unusually long trip for us, so we want to make sure our passengers feel secure and happy.

Today we’re continuing north and expect to cross in to France late afternoon.

Handsome sweet-faced Pachi

Handsome sweet-faced Pachi

Pachi saying goodbye to Monica

Pachi saying goodbye to Monica

Lots of goodbyes for Pachi

Lots of goodbyes for Pachi

The very beautiful and well groomed Cleo (L) and Caco (R)

The very beautiful and well groomed Cleo (L) and Caco (R)

Mariana says goodbye to her cats…

Mariana says goodbye to her cats…

… gorgeous sliver-and-white Té and…

… gorgeous sliver-and-white Té and…

…pretty tortie Kuka

…pretty tortie Kuka

Sky, having started out rather shy, is now quite waggy tailed and jumps up for attention. Still a bit coy when it comes to posing for the camera, she loves to snuffle around on her walks. She's also very energetic, and can leap, spin and land on her lead — impressive stuff!

Sky, having started out rather shy, is now quite waggy tailed and jumps up for attention. Still a bit coy when it comes to posing for the camera, she loves to snuffle around on her walks. She’s also very energetic, and can leap, spin and land on her lead — impressive stuff!

As you can see, Sky has a nice long nose to get into all sorts of interesting places!

As you can see, Sky has a nice long nose to get into all sorts of interesting places!

Good-natured Lili watches all the comings and goings from her compartment, waiting perhaps not so patiently for her walk

Good-natured Lili watches all the comings and goings from her compartment, waiting perhaps not so patiently for her walk

Lili is taking it all in her stride, behaving as though driving round Spain is a regular part of life for her

Lili is taking it all in her stride, behaving as though driving round Spain is a regular part of life for her

Lili's been on a course of ear drops and, although she's been very good about having them put in, she told us she's very glad today was the last day!

Lili’s been on a course of ear drops and, although she’s been very good about having them put in, she told us she’s very glad today was the last day!

Dawn out walking, with Pachi to her right, and Luna coming to greet her. Dawn and Pachi's compartments share a little window, so they've been having big chats en route. This is great as Dawn has been a little nervous, but Pachi is very calm and kind, and today Dawn is feeling much more settled and enjoying her new friendship.

Dawn out walking, with Pachi to her right, and Lili coming to greet her. Dawn and Pachi’s compartments share a little window, so they’ve been having big chats en route. This is great as Dawn has been a little nervous, but Pachi is very calm and kind, and today Dawn is feeling much more settled and enjoying her new friendship.

Here you can see just how gentle and wise Pachi is

Here you can see just how gentle and wise Pachi is

Glamorous Luna enjoyed her morning walk along the paseo. She's very sociable and loves the admiring glances she draws from passers-by.

Glamorous Luna enjoyed her morning walk along the paseo. She’s very sociable and loves the admiring glances she draws from passers-by.

Here's Luna having had a big drink of water after her walk. She's very much looking forward to catching up with Rafaella, who we hear is counting down the minutes!

Here’s Luna having had a big drink of water after her walk. She’s very much looking forward to catching up with Rafaella, who we hear is counting down the minutes!

Eat, drink, go to the loo, then play at tearing up all the newspaper that's been carefully laid out. Such is the life of pups like Pete and Mia. Then just as suddenly as they woke up, they fall asleep!

Eat, drink, go to the loo, then play at tearing up all the newspaper that’s been carefully laid out. Such is the life of pups like Pete and Mia. Then just as suddenly as they woke up, they fall asleep!

Mia gives 'that other puppy' a telling off as she barks at her reflection in the water bowl

Mia gives ‘that other puppy’ a telling off as she barks at her reflection in the water bowl

We usually only see the tops of their heads as they eat and drink. But here's Pete looking very cute as he waits his turn at the food bowl.

We usually only see the tops of their heads as they eat and drink. But here’s Pete looking very cute as he waits his turn at the food bowl.

The west coast of Spain is a fishing paradise, as this lovely status reminds us. If you like delicacies such as sole, giant prawns and furry-shelled crabs, they're all on the menu in this region.

The west coast of Spain is a fishing paradise, as this lovely status reminds us. If you like delicacies such as sole, giant prawns and furry-shelled crabs, they’re all on the menu in this region.