9.7.2008

Last winter me and my husband planted our summer holidays and we had a thought to travel to UK one more time and show Usko in dog show. Which show depend when Jukka has holidays.

Our adventure towards Europe and my favorite country United Kingdom started on Wednesday by taking ferry to Stockholm.

10.7.2008

In the morning we started to drive towards southern Sweden and Denmark. Right after we started to drive we noticed that highway was closed because of accident. Luckily the road was opened quite soon (about 0,5 hours) and we could continue our trip. We had a vet´s appointment in Denmark.

There were also other adventures. We saw Trabant which came from Hungary. Eldery couple had quite many kilometres behind them so far.

Scenery was beautiful all the way and harvest time was about to start. Here are few photos from southern Sweden and Denmark.

From Denmark to Germany we took ferry and stayed over night in small town called Neustadt. 

 

11.7.2008

In the morning we started new driving day. In Germany we are no speed limits in all highways, so kilometres flies. This time we chose to use roads which are in north side so we could avoid jams.

Quite early in the afternoon we were in Belgium in our hotel. The garden was amazing and there were so much of lavendel. What a parfym. I think I might get some lavendel to my garden.

12.7.2008

In the morning we started to drive towards France and Calais. This time we chose to cross English Channel using Eurotunnel. I think it´s the best way to cross the sea. So easy and fast. We just showed Usko´s passport and our´s passports before we got into the train.

 

We had only 2,5 hour driving before we were in Peterborough. Not too much. We passed London from east side using Dartford tunnel. On way back we used the bridge.

 Our hotel Express Holiday in Peterborough was tidy and comfortable. Next to hotel, there was a pub called Harvester. The food was good in the pub.

 

13.7.-15.7.2008

We had some rest in hotel and saw some near-by areas. There were excellent woods and green areas where you could walk dog. Usko loved all rabbits (there were lots of them) and was very excited about them. Me or Jukka wasn´t so fond of them when we were on the other head of the lead ;-)

On SundayJukka visited Duxford Imperial War Museum watching air show called "Flying Legends". What an experiance and he took so many photos. Here are just few.

Near-by our hotel was a village Alwalton. So little, so sympathetic (everybody said Good Morning in the morning) and beautiful. I watch Emmerdale tv-serie and Alwalton reminded of Emmerdale just by looking at Alwalton´s pub "The Cuckoo" and postoffice. We sat in the pub´s garden many times and could bring Usko with us.

On Tuesday 15.7. we went shopping to show ground and two shopping centers in Peterborough. We made some serious shopping and I can see it from my Visa-bill.

16.7.2008

Show day.

The show ground was very tidy and spacious. All rings were covered and in grass. The benching area was also covered.

Some people came to show ground already three days before shows. They will go one show to other hole their holidays and have a camb near-by show ground.  It´s something you dont´t see in Finland. Portable bathtabs are very important to cambers so they  can wash dogs. 

17.7.2008

On Thursday we drove to Ashford near coast.

18.7.2008

We started our home journey early in the morning using Eurotunnel. There was little less traffic when went to UK and we thought that´s good. How wrong we were.

19.7.2008

In the morning Jukka wanted to go to Louis-motorbike store in Bremen and we went there. It was little difficult to find the place because all the road works there were. Even the navigator was a little confused. Luckily the roald signs helped us a lot.

And then started all difficulties in traffic. All highways were full of cars and jams were terrible. We thought that we would have an easy day in driving but it took 12 hours to us to get to hotel in Malmö. 3 hours we stayed in jam and our speed was about 50 km/h. After Kiel we decited to take smaller roads, We knew that I´m good reading a map, so we would find hotel fine. In some point we found that a roud was closed because of bridge work. There were a detour but what a road. It was a road that only tractors use. Luckily some concrete was added to road and there were some spots were cars could pass eachother. Fast we were back on the real road and we didn´t need to pass caravans or trucks.

20.7.2008

Driving towards Stockhom to ferry. We took some smaller highways because we had plenty of time.

21.7.2008

After few hours drive we were finally at home. The dogs who were home all the time were very happy to see us. I think they probably missed us and we missed them. Usko was also very pleased to get back to his friends.

Thanks to my mum and dad looking after our house and dogs. Without them this trip wouldn´t happen.

   

Our holiday trip was very successfull and nice. It was interesting to drive in Europe during summer- and holidaytime. So many cars. I think this was my last time I was in Europe by car in the summer. I like less traffic.