Couldn't have wished for a warmer welcome at the Hotel Balladins in Marsanny-La-Cote, Dijon. On arrival the receptionist jumped up and ran around the desk to fuss the dogs. She also had Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, 3 of them! Two identical to Dinky and Toy plus a Ruby coloured dog.

The weather had brightened up and the wind had calmed a lot but the temperature was only 16 degrees, a massive decrease from the previous weeks, around 33 degrees! The room was clean and modern for a budget hotel, it included a TV and DVD player, DVDs were available from reception free of charge. However we just wanted something to eat and sleep.

Instead of eating in the hotel, we decided to walk the 2km to KFC! The dogs needed the exercise after being in the car for 17 hours. By the time we got back to the hotel it was dark and I collapsed onto the bed exhausted.

Another early start the following morning, continental breakfast in the hotel, and a fuel stop, just a few hundred yards from the hotel. This worked out around 15 cents a litre cheaper than the motorway service station. Just over 500 miles to drive, we left the hotel at 10:10am , destination Barcelona Port, need to arrive by 9pm.