We’re Off In LMB (Yes, Really)!
“Don’t you have to blog today?” Paul asked me
I was surprised by the question because I thought it was Thursday, or maybe Friday. The days have sped by this week and I’d clearly lost track of time.
“Is it Sunday already? Really? And where are we again?”
I’m usually not this muddled having gotten into a pretty regular writing rhythm over the past year, but this week was different. This week everything went out the door and it’s because, my dear Polly, we’re not in France anymore. Yup, after 385 days of sitting still (not that anyone’s counting or anything) LMB is on the road again!
It’s been a bumpy start, that I cannot deny and for many weeks we weren’t even sure we’d get this far.
Home inertia has been high. There’s been the whole mess of COVID of course, but then there’s the infallible truth of Newton too. Bodies at rest tend to stay that way, and home bodies seem to have a special kind of physics that require extra humungous forces to move them (and yes, that’s a technical term). The comforts of home anchor you to the ground, and “regular life” becomes a habit that calls you to stay.
Leaving is tough, especially when you really love where you live!
But here we are, finally out again. We’re off, we’re gone, we’re on a new adventure. The miles are running beneath our wheels and we’ve got open horizon in the windshield. Where we end up, only the Travel Gods will know…
Why Travel At All?
It’s such an interesting question when you think about it.
In and of itself travel is really a very uncomfortable thing. You drag yourself out of your comfort zone into situations and places that you don’t really know if you’ll ultimately enjoy. You travel long distances on roads fraught with obstacles and rife, and you’re so exhausted by the end of the day that you can barely drag yourself to bed (assuming you’re even somewhere you’ll be able to fall peacefully asleep).
But that very discomfort is also one of the reasons travel is ultimately such a rich experience.
The very act of going out of our comfort zone is what allows us to appreciate what we have. Without it we become lax, soft, perhaps even downright grouchy. We lose perspective of what’s important and become oblivious to what’s around us. Travel is like a reset point that re-balances our brains and takes us back to the core of things. Or perhaps that’s just what it feels like to me?
Then of course there’s the connection of it all.
Travel allows you to appreciate how diverse the world is, and yet how little really divides us. I remember taking a philosophy class at University many years ago where the home assignment was to write an essay about how to break down barriers of hate between people. I thought the answer was bleeding obvious. Just travel a bit, spend a year in another country, get out and meet the world! It doesn’t take much to realize the differences between us are not nearly as large as they seem.
Finally there’s nature, the most incredible wonder of it all.
In the grand scheme of things we’re just a big ball of rock and water floating on a molten core, but it’s taken over 4 billion years to get here. And in that time we’ve transformed from cosmic dust to primordial goo, and seen the miracle of life produce millions (perhaps even trillions?) of different species. When you travel you get to experience all that and see it for yourself, and truly absorb what an amazing planet we live on.
So yes travel is uncomfortable, but that’s the price you pay for its grand reward. The discomfort is the yang to the yin of discovery, the weight on the balance that allows both to exist. And when we stop traveling, or pause for several months it’s the memory of all that which makes it possible to truly appreciate what we have right in front of us.
Crazy deep I know, but that’s how I feel….
Why Now?
It’s been a looong time coming, this trip of ours.
COVID changed everything for us, as it did for many. We stopped traveling in large part because of the Pandemic, and we haven’t really traveled since. We kept waiting for the numbers to drop, only to see them rise again. We kept waiting for restrictions to ease, only to see lockdowns enacted again. Then of course we waited for the vaccine. All that planning/not-planning, having hopes raised and then squashed again has been utterly exhausting, and it’s only reinforced the easy decision to stay home.
But this month all the loose bits wrapped up and things suddenly came into focus.
We are both finally fully vaxxed (yeahhhhh!), COVID is taking a brief respite (at least for now in Europe) with case & ICU numbers both dramatically down, and travel is finally “green” and unrestricted across all of EU, even into Denmark (wheeeee)! It’s a temporary freedom that is unlikely to last especially as the Delta variant (and whatever variant comes after) takes hold, so if there’s a time to go it really is NOW!
Plus of course there’s all the other reasons. The heat of summer is about sizzle in SW France, so going North is going to be a real relief. We’ll get to see my homeland, which brings up all kinds of warm fuzzies for me. Plus we’ll be able to see friends and family that we haven’t seen in years.
Oh and that travel bug of mine will finally, blissfully get fed.
What’s The Plan?
If you haven’t guessed by now (which I’m sure you have) our goal this summer is Scandinavia. We’ve got fixed plans for Denmark and Sweden, and then we’ll see how we get on from there.
As usual we’ve planned shortish drives, no more than 4 hours per day, taking a leisurely week to get to Denmark after which we’ll putz around for a while before heading over the bridge to Sweden to stay for a longer period with my sister.
We’ve also decided to do proper campground stops rather than Aires or free-camping, at least for the first few legs. Between possible heat waves and the inevitable discomfort we’re going to feel when we first start out we want to be as relaxed as possible with access to electricity (i.e. air-conditioning), water and warm showers while we ease into travel mode.
Lastly we’ll start our travels mid-week to avoid the infamous “black days*” of French vacation travel as we go around the big metropolitan areas. We know we can’t avoid summer vacationers entirely, but we’re going to do our darndest to avoid being stuck in traffic with them.
That’s really all we’ve planned for now!
Everything else will depend on how we’re feeling, especially our dear old Polly girl. When we’re done, no matter when that happens, we’ll just head on home.
*”Red & Black Days” -> In case you ever need it, Bison Fute is THE site for French traffic, and French traffic predictions. Want to know when and where to avoid the roads? Just check the site!
How’s It Going So Far?
Well that’s really for another post.
I can tell you this much. We’ve already come a ways, and the road has not been smooth. We’ve had obstacles, including an almost-turnaround moment. And despite an excel checklist of over 100 packing items we’ve managed to forget something, as we always do. Last trip it was spoons, this time it was blankets. How could we forget blankets???
But we’ve also started to feel that travel groove, and I think it’s about to get rather good, or at least I hope it will. I’m a little bit excited, a little bit nervous and I still have a bunch of questions. Will we enjoy travel as much as before, or will we just be pining for home? Will Scandinavia be as lovely as I remember, or will it be just a nostalgic dream? Is Polly going to do OK, or will she be too stressed in her old age?
I guess we’re about to find out….
It is so good that you three are back on the road.
Or travel plans are jello-ish right now. It appears that I will need shoulder surgery within the next few months. We have plans for being in Tucson for Thanksgiving and Christmas, at the same time we want to travel to Whitehorse YT next summer. Total recovery time for the shoulder is about 6 months. So one or the other of these trips will not happen. To choose between two equally desirable adventures, we will see.
Oh wow…really sorry to hear about the surgery! I hope you get at least one good adventure and that recovery is swift.
Nina
Your travel philosophy mirrors ours. We came to Canada in March 2020, just before the borders closed. Month by month, we watched to see when we might return to the US and start travelling again. After 15 months (and a rather pleasant time living in our trailer through a southern Ontario winter) and getting fully vaxxed, we transitioned back to the US (Maine for the next two months).
Our travel pace is slow and we’re reserving campgrounds months ahead to reduce some of the uncertainty of living in a post-Covid world. We’re paying much more attention now to the places we travel, spending less time in the Covid hotspots and areas now dealing with the effects of climate change (fires out west, for example). It seems there are so many things to think about now that were less important 5 years ago.
This past year has taught us to think in new ways as fulltimers and made us appreciate the nimbleness we have. Adaptability is key for us.
Looking forward to reading more about your travels!
So glad to hear you are getting “out there” too. It’s complicated in this COVID world, and like you said fires and heat are an added factor (something I never really thought about before). Good travels to you!
Nina
Travel must be in the wind. We found ourselves in the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone. It felt marvelous. Happy Trails to those venturing out.
Oh how wonderful! Two of our fav places. We especially enjoyed the Tetons.
Nina
So excited to track your travels again. You inspired me to plan a trip to the Balloon Fiesta in Albuquerque when I retired, glad we did it once, wonderful memories. We also ferried our camper to Orcas Island and have had many trips up and down the Oregon Coast because of your inspiration.
We spent 3 weeks last summer traveling up the Pacific Coast to the Olympic Peninsula, and missed being evacuated from our home due to fire. We planned ahead and stayed away from people and felt very safe on the road. Planning ahead was necessary because you couldn’t stay at any of the State and Federal campgrounds without having reservations. We continue to have all our travel plans booked far in advance for that reason. We’re going back to Santa Fe in September on our way to Big Bend.
Living in Sonoma County we also couldn’t be in a more beautiful spot, but the road just calls!
Sounds like you’ve had some amazing adventures. I’m so glad we’ve managed to inspire you along the way. Continued good travels to you!
Nina
Yes, yes, and yes! …for all the reasons you cited! Seeing you guys traveling again is one of the most “normal” things I have witnessed in a while.
I am curious, though, why the “strike-through” font over the words, “even in Denmark?” It appears to be green on the map. Hoping that status hasn’t changed.
Wishing you all green lights!
Oh that strike through is odd! It’s supposed to be a link to the Danish COVID rules (which are green now). It’s prob the link acting up. I’ll remove it in the AM. Thanks for that!
Nina
WHEW!! I am relieved to hear it was a glitch, and that you didn’t have to backtrack already!
Wishing you guys happy trails.. and wishing we could transport over there to join up. We’ll be hitting the road soon ourselves and try to sneak in some exploration before things possibly get worse here COVID wise this fall. It’s got all those mix of emotions after settling comfortably at ‘home’ for this past year. But we’ve got the itch.. and by golly we’re going to scratch it!
So glad to hear you guys will be getting out again soon! It is hard to move when home is so comfortable. And yeah, wish I could wisk you over here too.
Nina
Have fun, be safe and may Polly have as much fun as she always did!
Enjoyed your blog for many years. Former full timers now with camper van and house.
Question. How does road to Trona Pinnacles compare to Chaco Canyon road. We have been to Chaco.
It all depends if they’ve graded the road. We went when it hadn’t been graded in a while so it was very bumpy!! But it’s not a steep or narrow road like Chaco. If you’ve been to Chaco you’ll have no problem at Trona.
Nina
Can’t wait to read about your travels in Europe. We will be heading to Seattle in a couple of weeks to visit our son. Haven’t seen him in a year and a half. Can’t wait, but we are flying and I am not too sure about flying right now-hope everything goes well.
I have been reading travel blogs for about 5 years now. I don’t think travel opens the mind. It amazes me how narrow minded some world travelers are. Like the saying goes “Where ever you go there you are”.
Maybe living in different areas for a period of a few years would open the mind a bit, but I’m not so sure.
You may have a point. I guess travelers by nature are open-minded (one goes with the other?) so perhaps it’s not the travel that is the answer, but the mind itself. Enjoy your trip to Seattle!
Nina
Enjoy! We have been so happy we’ve been able to travel here in the USA…. I hope your journey is amazing, and that Polly enjoys it just as much as she ever has. Godspeed and travel mercies for you!
Thank you so much Debbie!
Nina
It’s great to see you guys heading out again and I think your mentality of going now, before things potentially get screwed up again, makes a lot of sense. It’s been an endless roller coaster and there won’t be a more perfect time than right now. And if it all goes to hell, you can just go back home and it’s no big deal.
It doesn’t surprise me one bit that you’ve forgotten things, either. You never really had to worry about spoons or blankets when you were full time. Part timing is a whole different monster – especially when it’s been over a year since you went out. I’m sure it’s frustrating, but it’ll be a memorable (hilarious) story down the line.
I hope things smooth out and you guys have a great time. Happy Travels!!
Forgetting something is classic. I turned to Paul right as we left and said “I know we’ve forgotten something, I just hope it isn’t important!”. It could’ve been much worse than blankets lol.
Nina
Coucou enfin retour au voyage toujours plaisir à vous lire et si vous passer par le lot le même plaisir à vous accueillir en escale, n’hésitez pas à l’envoyer un courriel.
Bon voyage à vous trois
Love the fact you are on the road again. Looking forward to hearing about RV camping in Europe
I’m looking forward to every aspect of your journey this summer. I’ll be taking notes, and hopefully we will venture to Europe Sept, 2022 to rent a motorhome.
You and Kevin and Ruth have inspired me.
Does your unit have AC electric? I need it for my oxygen concentrator.
YES our AC has electric (all European motorhomes do). However if your oxygen concentrator only works on 110V, you’ll need a step-up transformer for European 220V. Also you’ll want to stay at campgrounds with hookups, as most EU motorhomes do not have an inverter. Most campgrounds have electric, so I don’t think you’ll find that to be an issue…you just need to plan for it. Alternatively if your equipment can run off 12V (say, the cigar lighter?) then you can use that option when you don’t have electric hookups.
Nina
Glad you are back on the road again with Paul and Polly….we are doing a 4 day road trip in Idaho soon…
Looking forward to follow along:
Hope you have a great trip from here. And on the way back, if you have time, go by Rømø, Skagen (bit out of the way :-). ), the west coast in general, maybe Ribe or Fanø. Really cool places to travel in Denmark, if you haven’t been there for a while. And of course Klampenborg! :-). Would love to see you guys!
The West coast is hopefully on our return travel plans. It’s on the list (and Klampenborg too of course!)
Nina
Bet Polly does well since she’s traveled her whole life It’ll be like riding a bicycle for her I hope.
Glad to learn you are on the road once again despite the challenges posed by the Pandemic. We now have a Promaster cargo van that we converted four years ago. We love it as we carry two kayaks and two bicycles on our camping trips into the Oregon mountains or coast. But this time we were planning a two month trip to Colorado where my wife will officiate a wedding of our first grandchild to get married in July. But, as you say, things have changed! When we looked at reservations available at Glacier NP, the Tetons, and Rocky Mountain NP, we were shocked to learn most camping sites were already reserved. Then, the numbers seemed like everyone in America has become a camper/RVer on the road this summer. So… we cut the trip down to one week by air and will travel in the off season. Too many wonderful places to camp in Oregon without the crowds. And, we have visited most NPs when RVing. The hassle factor has gone up hugely due to COVID. Times are changing!
From what I gather from friends and others RVing in the USA has gone nuts during the pandemic. Can’t believe how much it’s changed from just 10 years ago (I sound like an old lady lol!). I think off-season is the best way to go these days, as long as you have that flexibility.
Nina
Just read about the terrible rain and flooding in Germany. It looks like the areas hit were close to your rout. Are you guys okay? Love ya. Be safe!
We are OK, thank you! We managed to get through Germany right before the big rains…we were very lucky! We are up in Denmark now (blog’s a bit behind).
Nina