After a somewhat leisurely drive 0.6 miles to the ferry terminal, the kind lady at the check in insisted we were parked in the car deck below to protect in her word "your lovely little car". Couldn't refuse really. On boarding, thought there might be a bikers convention - given the number of motorbikes on board.

Left on the dot at 4pm, and though we did not spot anyone on the quayside we did see some of the Bournemouth air display as we went out past the chain-link and round Old Harry. The Vulcan looked graceful and huge as it swung its way to & fro along the front, and then the red arrows put on their show - one plane down with eight flying.

It's a long journey and you soon take on being institutionalised when told the restaurant is open for dinner, breakfast and lunch. Had our first bottle of wine on board with dinner - at €8 a bottle it wasn't bad for a Pinot Grigio though not sure we should have been drinking Italian given we are on a Spanish boat.

After lunch, Lucy went to have a nap in the cabin, while I ended up on deck looking at a fleet of trawlers off the port side. Between us I noticed a spray of water, and shortly later a pair of plumes that hung in the air, some two miles off for about ten seconds or so. These repeated about six to ten more times. A while later, the same happened, and by then two other blokes also sporting binoculars told me that they were certainly whales and probably killer whales. It was very exhilarating to be part of the Biscay sea safari club.

And then we had the saga of the bent car key. With Spain in sight Andrew went to pack up the room only to return with a bent car key after the cabin door had slammed on it. Oh no - we thought we are well and truly up the creek without a key and visions of our little MG being wheeled off the ferry came to mind. Lucy began to panic but ever the cool one Andrew arranged to meet up with a ferry engineer when we docked. So the key held firmly in a vice and it was straightened with minutes to spare and we returned to the car in time to vacate without holding anyone up!

Enjoying the amazing scenery out of Santander and lots of tunnels we drove into Logrono and arrived at our first stop, and of course our first proper glass of wine a beautiful Rioja.