"Special Handling"

 Ruth couldn't contribute much to the re-packing of the squeaky clean Yvette:- even relieved of the sling the left arm was (and is at time of writing) inflexible and weak, but we managed to get everything in around the bikes. There was a lengthy farewell at Reception - including presentation of macaroons - and we left Dax to its festive chaos! Destination: Toulouse:- not for the carefully planned city break we intended for June, but a functional overnight stop in an Ibis in the right place on the "Peripherique" and with - allegedly - all rooms having a walk-in shower! The journey was uneventful, and through parts new to Greyrocks, and it was very hot! The hotel was pretty simple, but the bar was open and the staff friendly. We needed to change to a different properly adapted room as the facilities were not as advertised, but this was no problem! We sat outside in a temperature of 38 deg C and surveyed the scene. We were going to have to dine on-site, with the very limited menu, but this all functioned well enough!

The next day was going to be a long one! Our flight from Barcelona was just before midnight, so we set off in a leisurely manner and  got round Toulouse and onto the "Autoroute des deux Mers", with which we are familiar. We then realised that it was a Friday in August in France, so the level of traffic was daunting, the service stations crowded and risk of hold-ups high. At times we pondered that all the surplus hours would be spent in queues, but not so! We joined the very familiar A9 and the weather deteriorated as we approached the Pyrenees, with some rain near Perpignan, and a chilly picnic. At the French border toll-booths there was a northbound queue of five kilometres or so, but we sailed through and arrived at the Girona parking well ahead of schedule, and bade farewell to Yvette for eight weeks.

Great Service at Barcelona

We now faced many hours before the first of two coaches that would get us to the airport, but some research showed an earlier possibility if we sped to Girona station and could use our existing ticket, A jolly taxi driver got us there just in time - and Ruth negotiated successfully, so we arrived at the airport ridiculously early and by now hungry, The fairly new Terminal 1 at El Prat is well designed, but has little by way of land-side catering. and involves a lot of walking - albeit aided somewhat by  moving walkways - so we had requested assistance for Ruth with her crutch, and we wanted to get through security to eat, so after a very smooth check-in - unfazed by the earliness - we were sent to the special assistance area to wait. There several of the seats were occupied by folk with no visible mobility issues who shuffled off, leaving just us and one guy in a wheelchair. Also nearby were a couple of groups filming reports on the impending strike by security staff, during which chaos was expected! We were, however, passed seamlessly from one friendly employee to the next - from wheelchair to security check to another wheelchair and to one of those buggies. We told the driver we wanted to go somewhere to eat and wait comfortably and he took us and yet another wheelchair to the perfect spot - a branch of Enrique Tomas - where we found delicious dishes based on their charcuterie - and some fine wine, Time passed and we went back to the designated spot for another buggy ride to the gate, where we sat watching queues assemble and board, until a nice man - who turned out to be French came and wheeled Ruth to the aircraft door! Now that is service. Nothing but praise for the "Sin Bareras" team! Greyrocks just doesn't want to need their services again too soon!

Not quite so impressive at Heraklion at 4 am local time! We managed slowly the descent of stairs from the plane, the bus, and the lift to Reclaim, and there was Giorgos to drive us to Paleochora. As arranged the key was in the door and we got to bed at 6.30. Worth every cent!