🐰 Buddy’s Journey – Day 2: Crossing into France ❤️

A difficult start, a long drive, and a little rainbow reminder from Millie 🌈

Day 2 of Buddy’s Journey is complete. 🚗🐰

After reaching Dover on Day 1, we knew today would bring another big step in our journey — leaving the UK behind and crossing over into France as we continued our way towards Spain.

What we didn't expect was quite how early our day would begin!

🌅 An unexpected wake-up call

Somewhere between 5am and 6am, we were suddenly woken up by some of the other groups messing around with their car horns.

After such a long and tiring first day, it was definitely not the wake-up call we had been hoping for! 😂😴

We were exhausted, and the last thing we wanted was to be awake before the sun had properly come up.

Eventually, though, it was time to get ourselves up, ready and moving.

The next part of our adventure was waiting.

⛴️ Dover to Dunkirk

We made our way towards the ferry and prepared to cross from Dover to Dunkirk.

There was something quite surreal about driving onto that ferry knowing that this was the start of our journey through France and, ultimately, towards Spain.

But unfortunately, the noise didn't stop once we boarded.

The car horns continued, with some of the other groups sounding them at an incredibly loud volume.

For us, it quickly became overwhelming.

The noise was particularly difficult for Makayla, who became panicky and scared because of the sheer volume and constant sound. 💔

It was one of those moments where we had to step back, take a breath and remind ourselves that although this journey is full of excitement and adventure, it isn't always going to be easy.

There will be difficult moments.

There will be tired moments.

There will be emotional moments.

And there will be times when things don't go quite how we imagined they would.

But we're together.

And we're still moving forward. ❤️

Welcome to France

Eventually, we arrived in Dunkirk.

France!

Another little milestone reached. 

From there, we climbed back into the car and continued our journey south towards Rouen.

And then came the rain.

Lots and lots of rain. 🌧️😂

The drive down to Rouen was wet, grey and tiring, but there was something quite peaceful about watching the French countryside pass by the windows as we continued putting the miles behind us.

There is a strange feeling that comes with a journey like this.

You spend hours in the car, watching roads, towns, fields and scenery disappear behind you, all the while knowing that every mile is taking you somewhere new.

And for us, every mile also carries a memory.

🌈 A little reminder from Millie

By the time we finally reached Rouen, we were absolutely ready to get out of the car.

We were tired.

We were hungry.

And we were more than ready for some food and a chance to sit down properly. 😂🍽️

We found somewhere to eat and finally had the chance to relax for a little while.

And then, while we were waiting for our food...

A rainbow appeared. 🌈

And honestly, it was one of those moments that made us stop.

You know those little moments that happen when you're not expecting them?

The kind of moment where you look up and just feel something?

That's exactly what this felt like.

To us, it felt like a little reminder from our beautiful Millie.

Almost as though she was saying:

"I'm here." ❤️

Of course, we know a rainbow is a rainbow.

But when you're missing someone you love more than words can explain, sometimes the smallest things can mean so much.

And in that moment, we couldn't help but think of her.

Millie may not be sitting beside us in the car.

She may not be here to see the places we're visiting or experience this adventure with us.

But she is still here in so many other ways.

She's in our conversations.

She's in our memories.

She's in the stories we tell.

She's in the things that make us smile.

She's in the moments that make us cry.

And she's in every single mile of this journey. 🐰💗

Buddy is travelling with us too, carrying that little piece of Millie wherever we go.

Every time we look over and see Buddy, we're reminded of all the adventures she had with Millie.

France.

Benidorm.

Lanzarote.

Blackpool.

Scotland.

So many places.

So many memories.

And now another journey is being added to that list.

🐰 Another day complete

After our food, it was time to head back and get some much-needed sleep.

Tomorrow is another big driving day, and another step closer to the destination we've been working towards.

Spain. 

We're tired.

We're emotional.

We've already had a few bumps along the way.

But we're doing it.

We're continuing.

We're putting one foot in front of the other — or, in this case, one wheel in front of the other! 😂🚗

And through all of it, we're carrying Millie's memory with us.

Tomorrow we'll wake up, get back on the road and continue south.

Another day.

Another adventure.

Another collection of memories waiting to be made.

And hopefully, we'll manage to get Facebook Live working so we can bring you along for a little part of Day 3 too! 😂🤞📱

For now, though...

Day 2 — DONE. ✅

Dover ➡️ Dunkirk ➡️ Rouen.

France reached.

One more day closer to Spain.

And one more day carrying our beautiful girl with us.

Goodnight, Millie Moo. 🌹💜

Wherever this journey takes us, you are coming with us.

Every mile.
Every road.
Every memory.
Always.