What a touch down we have had in Europe. It was a mommoth ferry trip from Portsmouth across to the Bay of Biscay, with such high seas that they took along a spare captain and pilot, only to drop them mid journey(!) on a small boat. Despite trying to convince ourselves that it was merely a cradle rocking us to sleep, it really felt more like the ‘Saw’ rollercoaster and the huge boat was thrown about like a dinghy. Bron and William can vouch that accu-pressure wrist bands seem to work though. As long as they stayed very still (Deane had to be fetcher and carrier so no change there then…), they kept breakfast, lunch and dinner down.

Tuesday morning saw us disembark at the glamorous port of Bilbao, and go west (young man…). To celebrate our arrival we ate a breakfast of leftover pizza (thx Richard and Anthea) in a truck stop – while the morning mist cleared. Bron did get given a book by a couple at the end of a three month journey…a nice bonus!

Thinking only of William’s education, we headed to the medieval town of Santillana del Mer and the Museo Altamira, where a replica of Cuevas de Altamira displays prehistoric paintings dating from between 14,500 to 35,000 years ago. Older than Deane! It will be interesting to compare these cave drawings with some of the others we hope to see on our travels. History lessons build up an apetite and so we enjoyed a sunny lunch beside the unexpectedly lovely San Vicente de la Barquera where the sail boat hanging from the ceiling of the chapel gives evidence to a nautical congregation.

Heading into Picos de Europa, we followed the absolutely stunning River Caves into Onis. The chill of the snow on the hills was more than matched by the thunder, hail and sleet that battered the van, but the scenery was just glorious, and the open fire and free wifi at our first night’s stop beneath towering cliffs is just what the doctor ordered.