How And When Can We Return to Road Tripping Safely in Europe?

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When will we be able to do this again?

The question we are asked most frequently is, “What are your plans?”

Mark and I always have plenty of plans, although in these extraordinary times, there is no guarantee that any of them will come off. Nevertheless, by having plans in place and ready to go, we can respond quickly to the changing situation.

Yet even if the restrictions lift so that you can travel, should you hit the road? Here is our latest appraisal of the situation.Continue reading “How And When Can We Return to Road Tripping Safely in Europe?”

Lockdown Life – A Wander with Wild Flowers & Wildlife

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Alpine Anenomes with a snow-covered Monte Rosa in the background

The only difference between Lockdown Life and Groundhog Day seems to be that the scene outside has changed.

In the film, actor Bill Murray’s window opened daily on the same snowy landscape, although he was not in isolation. For us, seventy-two days into lockdown, the Alpine scenery has moved decisively from winter to spring. Even the thick snow on Moos, the piste opposite our apartment, has almost disappeared. 

Nevertheless, we have seen virtually no-one and have not always been able to get out. Today, both Mark and I were feeling emotionally drained.

Continue reading “Lockdown Life – A Wander with Wild Flowers & Wildlife”

Lockdown Life – 8,000ft Walkies to The Source of the River Lys

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Waiting patiently while Mark went on Adder Watch as we set off on Footpath No. 1

Let no-one call a Cavapoo frou-frou.

“Did someone switch off the Matrix?” I asked Mark when he opened the shutters on the day. In a perfect metaphor for coronavirus lockdown, the entire world beyond our garden had vanished! All we could see was a grey emptiness; as though we were the only remaining oasis of life, while the rest of creation had been erased.

There had been 69cm of snow in the forecast, but at village level, rain pelted down all day. No pups wanted to go outside and since we were almost out of data, no Netflix or internet for us. Housebound once again, our recently-restored freedom removed by the weather, we were all just so BORED.

“If it’s nice tomorrow, we’ll do a proper walk…” we promised the pups. Continue reading “Lockdown Life – 8,000ft Walkies to The Source of the River Lys”