Wheels, Wine & Wagging Tails: Adventures Across Europe 🚐🍷🐾

Day 1: Cork to La Rochelle – The Adventure Begins

Some adventures sit quietly on your bucket list for years, waiting for the right moment. For me, touring Europe by motorhome has always been one of them. This week, that dream finally rolled into life.

Our transport for the journey is Ben’s impressive Hymer Venture 4×4, part expedition vehicle, part luxury apartment on wheels. Joining us are two very important travelling companions: Ben’s dog Gordie, a seasoned traveller with a nose for adventure, and my five-month-old toy poodle Daisy, who is experiencing her very first European road trip.

We waved goodbye to Cork under skies that seemed reluctant to let us leave. Mist hung over the harbour and rain tapped steadily against the ferry windows as we boarded for Roscoff. The sea wasn’t exactly postcard-perfect, but somehow the grey weather only added to the sense of adventure. After all, every great journey deserves a dramatic departure.

Our first challenge came when we discovered there were no dog-friendly cabins available on the ferry. Gordie and Daisy were temporarily assigned to the onboard kennels while Ben and I conducted extensive research from the comfort of the ferry bar. The dogs were less than impressed—or so we thought.

As it turned out, kennel life wasn’t quite the hardship they made it out to be. By the end of the crossing they had become minor celebrities, charming fellow passengers and crew members alike. Thanks to what can only be described as parental guilt, they accumulated an impressive collection of treats, toys, cuddles and admirers.

Arriving in Roscoff, we pointed the Hymer south and began our journey towards La Rochelle. The weather remained stubbornly grey for much of the drive, with light rain accompanying us down the French coast. We managed only a couple of short dog walks along the way, enough for Gordie to stretch his legs and for Daisy to inspect every interesting French scent she encountered.

Then, as if France had finally decided to welcome us properly, the clouds began to part.

The closer we got to La Rochelle, the brighter the skies became. Blue patches appeared overhead, the temperature climbed, and suddenly the adventure felt truly underway.

We settled into La Soleil Campsite just outside the city and immediately started planning our evening. The real excitement is the ferry shuttle that takes passengers from the campsite straight into La Rochelle’s beautiful Old Port. We can’t wait to hop aboard, wander the historic harbour, watch the boats bob gently in the marina, and enjoy our first proper evening on French soil.

The motorhome is parked, the sun is shining, and the promise of good food, local wine and new adventures lies just across the water.

Europe, we’re finally on our way.

🐾 Day 2 to 3 — La Rochelle → Laredo (Daisy’s Travel Diary)

One night in La Rochelle, properly inspected.

Morning check:
✔ camper intact
✔ humans functioning
✔ Gordie calmly in security mode
✔ Ben in driver/electrical/plumbing/nav-reminder mode
✔ Sarah already decided: “Right… Spain …Laredo”

At 9am:
Ben said “Morning.”
Sarah said “Laredo.”
Gordie approved silently.
I approved emotionally (and snack-optimistically).

🌸 La Rochelle final scan

Quick patrol:

• marina ✔
• flowers ✔
• cafés , restaurants. ✔ (still refusing snack sharing, noted)

Bistro Régent:

• water bowls ✔
• duck still not shared ✔

🍺 Night stop — McNulty’s + Kinsale memory

On the night of Day 2, we went to McNulty’s.
Just friendly humans, drinks, and general excitement.

I investigated a pint glass:

• not snacks
• not tea
• confusing human behaviour

Verdict: Barry’s Tea still superior.

Sarah photographed it.
Ben observed like a systems engineer.
Gordie disapproved quietly.

I’m still unclear why humans think “drinks in bars” is a shared experience. I remain unconvinced.

🚐 Drive to Spain

Ben drove (systems control).
Sarah organised everything (chief operations).
Gordie slept (security).

I attempted:

• snuggles ✔
• snacks ✔
• exploration ✔ (restricted by safety belt, unacceptable but accepted)

🌊 Arrival — Laredo

We arrived in Laredo and approved it immediately: sea air, space, excellent sniff potential.

🏕️ Base camp

Camping Playa del Regatón
👉 https://www.campingregaton.com

Beach access, calm energy, strong snack surveillance zone.

🏰 Old town

👉 https://www.laredoturismo.com/en/what-to-see/old-town/

Smells, tapas, and frequent opportunities for investigation.

🐶 Status

Daisy → snacks, snuggles, safety belt resistance
Gordie → calm security
Ben → driver/systems
Sarah → organiser of everything
Billy → arriving later

Day 5 – La Rochelle to Toledo

Today the humans drove us over mountains for the first time. Apparently they were admiring the scenery. We were busy checking for cows.

The best stop was a beautiful river where the humans had a picnic. Daisy immediately launched herself into the long grass and then straight into the river for her first-ever swim. Gordie bravely supervised from the bank, keeping dry and offering expert advice.

We arrived at Camping El Greco in Toledo tired, happy, and slightly damp (Daisy only).

🐶 Daisy: “Best day ever!”
🐶 Gordie: “Somebody had to stay dry and protect the sandwiches.”

Camping:  Camping El Greco

Toledo to Villa Nazules

After roughing it at the campsite (according to the humans), we arrived at Villa Nazules and immediately knew we had found our people. Within minutes we had received more cuddles than a celebrity on a red carpet during a scandal.

Our room was clearly prepared for VIPs (Very Important Pooches), complete with a comfy bed, water bowl and treats ready for us. We did a full inspection, approved everything, and briefly considered refusing to leave.

We spent the afternoon by the pool. Sadly, the humans enforced a strict “no dogs swimming” policy, which seemed both unfair and unnecessary. We stared dramatically at the water like tragic movie stars separated from their true love.

Before dinner, the humans disappeared to the spa. Sarah returned covered in chocolate after a chocolate wrap, and claimed it was a “treatment”. We launched an immediate investigation involving extensive sniffing and several attempted licks. We can confirm it was a terrible waste of perfectly good chocolate. Even more disappointing, it did not taste of chocolate at all. Frankly, we felt misled.

Dinner looked amazing. Unfortunately, Ben and Sarah were not very good at sharing, despite our excellent table manners, soulful eyes, and a carefully choreographed performance of Extreme Starvation: The Musical.

🐶 Daisy: “Five stars. Would relocate permanently. Already drawing up ownership papers.”

🐶 Gordie: “Still filing a formal complaint about the chocolate. This goes all the way to the top.”

Day 6 – Windmills, Vineyards & Dogs on Tour

Today was a proper road-trip day: big skies, weirdly impressive windmills, and an increasing number of smells we were expected to ignore.

We started at Campo de Criptana, where giant windmills stood on the hill like they were guarding something important. We’re not convinced they were useful, but they did make a good backdrop while the humans took far too many photos of us.

From there, everything turned green and vine-covered as we reached Valdepeñas. The humans called it “wine country.” We called it “a very suspicious number of interesting smells that we were not allowed to investigate properly.”

Then came Montilla, where olive groves rolled on forever and the roads got quieter, which usually means snacks are nearby. We checked. Repeatedly. Nothing.

Finally, we arrived at Hotel Don Gonzalo — pool, beds, shade, and confirmation that we are now officially VIP passengers rather than cargo.

We approved immediately.

🐶 Daisy: professional explorer, windmill enthusiast, snack optimist
🐶 Gordie: head of security, smell inspector, full-time sceptic

Windmills ✔️ Vineyards ✔️ Olive groves ✔️ Hotel pool ✔️
Dogs exhausted ✔️ Humans pretending they did the driving ✔️

Campo de Criptana → Valdepeñas → Montilla → Don Gonzalo 🍷🐶🐶🚗

Best road trip day yet (according uH