Couriers M and Gwen make their way back from Portugal and Spain with a fine crew of cats and dogs on board. As we drove through France, several more cats joined our UK-bound trip in France.

Sammy, Tommy and Charly

This fine feline trio got on board in Albuferia, on the Portuguese Algarve. They’re on their way to be reunited with Evelyn in Surrey.

These three great mates are sharing a bedroom. Tommy and Sammy are even sharing the tunnel bed!

These three great mates are sharing a bedroom. Tommy and Sammy are even sharing the tunnel bed!

A closer look at Tommy

A closer look at Tommy

Charly is the most confident of the trio

Charly is the most confident of the trio

Portuguese ceramics for sale

Portuguese ceramics for sale

Dazzling designs

Dazzling designs

Another take on tiles!

Another take on tiles!

Raeka

Ginny met us on the Algarve to deliver Rhodesian Ridgeback Raeka. She’s a frequent traveller between Portugal and Hertfordshire, so perhaps she’ll be able to give us some tips if the satnav lets us down!

Gorgeous Raeka

Gorgeous Raeka

She's a great girl who loves her walks

She’s a great girl who loves her walks

Very obedient, too, so it's always a pleasure

Very obedient, too, so it’s always a pleasure

This late-flowering bloom is Crinum, also known as Bare Naked Ladies. The plant grows leaves in the spring, which die off before the flower appears.

This late-flowering bloom is Crinum, also known as Bare Naked Ladies. The plant grows leaves in the spring, which die off before the flower appears.

Buddy

Cute Chihuahua Buddy was a late addition to our trip. He joined us near Loule and is travelling to Bournemouth to rejoin owner Maria.

Maria's friend Isobel has been looking after Buddy since she left for the UK

Maria’s friend Isobel has been looking after Buddy since she left for the UK

Buddy is a keen walker

Buddy is a keen walker

Looking good against the autumn colours

Looking good against the autumn colours

He also loves attention and is happy to pose for the camera

He also loves attention and is happy to pose for the camera

We came upon this local worthy with his tuba

We came upon this local worthy with his tuba

Nanuk

Sweet-natured Nanuk is travelling with us from Portugal to rejoin owners Andrew and Alison in the UK.

Nanuk in playful mood

Nanuk in playful mood

Enjoying a walk in Spain

Enjoying a walk in Spain

We spotted this natty-looking gent, complete with beret, cycling to his allotment

We spotted this natty-looking gent, complete with beret, cycling to his allotment

Eddie

Darling Eddie belongs to Cintia, who’s relocated from Aveiro in Portugal to Kent. Cintia’s mum and sister have been taking care of Eddie until he was ready to make his own journey to join her in the UK.

 Cintia's lovely mum and sister shed a few tears as they said goodbye to Eddie

Cintia’s lovely mum and sister shed a few tears as they said goodbye to Eddie

This imposing chap kept an eye on us from a nearby house as we collected Eddie

This imposing chap kept an eye on us from a nearby house as we collected Eddie

Here's Eddie himself

Here’s Eddie himself

He's a very good boy!

He’s a very good boy!

Teddy

Super hound Teddy belongs to Luis, who’s relocating from Lisbon to London to join his partner, Diana.

Luis with his mum and dad, giving Teddy a proper send-off

Luis with his mum and dad, giving Teddy a proper send-off

We love Teddy's ears!

We love Teddy’s ears!

While we were out walking, Teddy and the resident cat at our hotel spotted each other

While we were out walking, Teddy and the resident cat at our hotel spotted each other

The cat didn't look too pleased to see Teddy, who wisely decided not to push his luck!

The cat didn’t look too pleased to see Teddy, who wisely decided not to push his luck!

June

Lovely Pastora, known to her friends as June, joined us in Seville, where Maria has been taking super care of her. She’s travelling with us to rejoin Natalia in London.

June enjoying a grasshopper hunt on her morning walk

June enjoying a grasshopper hunt on her morning walk

Here she is birdwatching among the autumn leaves

Here she is birdwatching among the autumn leaves

A somewhat serious look from June

A somewhat serious look from June

Tyson and Lacey

Fabulous Shih Tzu cross duo Tyson and Lacey belong to Elisa and Jose. They joined us in Palencia, Spain, en route for a reunion with Elisa in Hampshire.

A very loving goodbye from Jose

A very loving goodbye from Jose

Tyson and Lacey having fun in the leaves. They also love to scamper around tying us in knots with their leads!

Tyson and Lacey having fun in the leaves. They also love to scamper around tying us in knots with their leads!

A morning yawn as we make an early start on our way to Calais

A morning yawn as we make an early start on our way to Calais

Winnie

On our way through France we stopped off in the charming town of Saint Pantaléon to collect pretty strawberry tabby cat Winnie from Florence. Florence has been taking care of Winnie since finding her as a young stray. Now Peter has adopted Winnie, who’s on her way to live with him in Milton Keynes.

A fond farewell for Winnie from Florence

A fond farewell for Winnie from Florence

Winnie is calm and self contained — but also loves human company

Winnie is calm and self contained — but also loves human company

Tinker

Splendid tabby Tinker got on board in Mézières sur Issoire, where Nigel and Sally have been looking after her. She’s on her way to rejoin Sally’s mum Janet, who has relocated to the Nottingham area.

Nigel and Sally with Tinker ready for the off

Nigel and Sally with Tinker ready for the off

Tinker happily ensconced in her bedroom for the journey

Tinker happily ensconced in her bedroom for the journey

An interesting flock has made its home in Mézières…

An interesting flock has made its home in Mézières…

…along with a magnificent pair of storks!

…along with a magnificent pair of storks!

Jules

Jules, a former passenger of ours, was a last-minute addition to the trip. When his owner Frazer had to return to the UK, he found that Jules’s rabies vaccination had lapsed. So Jules had to have a new vaccination and wait 21 days before travelling to the UK.

He stayed temporarily at the Pension Moustaches in Chémeré le Roi, which is where we collected him. We dropped him off at another cattery near Calais, to make it easy to scoop him up in early November for a reunion with Frazer.

What a handsome fellow he is!

What a handsome fellow he is!