Travel during a Pandemic – France, UK or Home

We have spent weeks discussing what to do about our travels this year.  Let’s face it of all the issues to have at the moment it is not a bad one.  I am aware of just how lucky I have been during lockdown.  I’ve attended the on-line funeral of Bill, an early victim of Covid 19. I have been so incredibly proud of my friends daughter who worked the Covid wards, living in nursing accommodation and sending her daughter to her parents  for 4 months.  But now is the time to move forward.  So the debated started

Northen France

Pros 

• lower infection rate
• nice bread
• stunning scenery
• it’s warmer
• good cycling paths
• quiet roads
• good motorhome facilities
• cheap camping

Cons:

• a country border between us and loved ones that might close at any minute
• hard to get food if  self isolating
• don’t know the word for bedpan if we end up in hospital

UK

Pros

• we should be able to drive home if we start felling ill
• family are happier
• we know how to get tescos to deliver to a campsite

Cons

• we have done it!
• it’s cold
• the roads are incredible busy
• it’s cold and wet!
• average scenery, unless you go to the lakes (too busy) or scotland (too far)
• the cost, just HOW MUCH for a night?  Does that include  swimming pool? Oh no that is for a field next to a busy road which has a Chemical Disposal Point and a cold tap
• pretend Cycle paths –  routes are on the edge of busy roads with no demarcation at all

Home

Pros

• lovely place
• friends
• we can get food delivered

Cons

• friends – I socialise too much then lay in bed wondering if I may have infected people without knowing
• we spend a lot of time there, too much of a good thing and all that…

So the decision, pack the van with two weeks of food and do the UK.  The sun has come out, it’s a pleasant 33 today but that lasts 2 days not 3 months.  I hope the bank account can stand English campsite prices and that we survive cycling English roads.