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A final note to our travel companions

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To Max and Mia-Rose,  In case you ever come across this blog - and I really hope you do stumble upon it in future - here are some final words from us to thank you for everything you have done to make this trip so special... Our big boy Travelling with you is like travelling with a friend. How many parents can say that about their three year old? Sure, you're only little - you test boundaries, and patience at times - but you are funny, clever, kind, and simply the best company one could ask for. We love who you are at your core - you think before jumping in head first; you are curious, sensitive, thoughtful. Yet these last few weeks we have watched you climb to new heights, chat to strangers in the three words of Spanish you now know, try new foods and take in everything that's going on around you. You're beginning to understand just how big and varied this world is, and that it can be yours for the taking. It's a privilege to experience it all through your eyes and to h...
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Plymouth to Welwyn

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So I think it's fair to say that the boat was not a trip highlight. I still feel very ropey today but a combo of sickness tablets, the room move and calmer seas come the morning have helped. Max was up in the night shouting that he was falling out of bed - he wasn't but the turbulence was that strong. Met a nice family in the play area so we all swapped crossing war stories until it was time to disembark. Swiftly through passport control, got her settled into car seat and off to our first stop on the way home, Exeter. The boys dropped us off at a pub about 15 mins from Exeter St David's and kept driving. I had a pub lunch with her (which didnt sit well, is all I'll say) and I felt as though I was rocking back and forth at the table the whole time. She's off her food too - neither of us ate very much. Then to the train station; there are strikes today and the trains to Paddington before and after ours were cancelled so we were lucky, but it meant our train was busy. ...
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Reinosa - Santander - Plymouth

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Well it's taken 3 weeks but I (Lewis) am writing this one for reasons which shall become clear! The day began with us waking up to an unnerving silence around 7.30am. Everyone had a lie in which is just what we needed - the boat check-in wasn't until 11.30/12 and the journey to Santander was less than an hour so we had no need to rush. We are pros at packing up the Airbnb now and we were out of there sharpish, via the recycling bins! The journey itself was another incredible drive across rolling hills and tunnels through tree covered mountains in Cantabria. We arrived and had the painful wait in line to board the ferry like on the way here (though thankfully no international man hunt this time!). It was a relief to get on board and nice to be somewhere familiar - our cabins were the exact same ones as the way out and Max found his way straight to the kids area and we all had lunch. I set up the rooms with Mia-Rose's travel cot as she needed a sleep and Emily & Max heade...
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Reinosa

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Today was just what we needed to claw back some rest and find our groove together again. Kids up and playing with the toys - there's all sorts for them to play with (the musical dinosaur being the major hit) and then she had her nap and Max watched TV/the two of us had a read up of the area and chilled too. On wake up we headed out back into the town - it's a really interesting place, not big but not overly quaint, there's definitely some life here and randomly it has some of the best clothes shops I've ever been into! So Lewis took them to the park for a few mins so I could have a browse and I got myself a top. Stopped off for a quick coffee and (very average) hot choc and cake. Tried her with a little jar of food but she's absolutely not interested, she just wants proper food which is a great thing but can make eating on the move a bit trickier! Back home and she had another sleep, he was super tired too but not settling so I bought him in with me and we had a nic...
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Madrid to Reinosa

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Still a bit scarred from last night this morning, and we have another quick exit to contend with. But we've found a rhythm with it now, and we're in the car by 9.30am. Everyone is tired and thankfully Mia-Rose crashes out instantly. Max surprisingly doesn't, so we have about 12000 enquiries of "are we there yet" before our first stop in Olmedo, chosen for no other reason than it was only 20 mins away from when she woke up and that's about all we get out of her in the car at the minute....found a supermarket, bought a makeshift picnic lunch and headed to the park, which was actually brilliant for Max. He ran off lots of energy and she had a lovely time on the swing and crawling around. A few locals were chatting to them (and wondering what on earth an English family were doing in such a small random town in the middle of nowhere). Back in the car, timed for her next sleep, and thankfully both of them did this time so we could sit in the front with some peace an...
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