I wanted Shanna, not Rona!

Back on the road again, but things are not going quite as I'd hoped. Do they ever?

Dougal keeping cool on a Hebridean Beach

As I write, parts of the UK are baking in temperatures that could, for the first time ever, exceed 40 degrees Celsius. That’s insanely hot. 

Other parts of the UK, such as the Outer Hebrides, are set to remain well below 20 degrees Celsius, as they have done every day so far in this rather poor summer as regards the weather. I wonder if the islands will be welcoming Climate Refugees in the near future?

But I’m not there. I’m here.

Eurostar at London St Pancras, bound for Paris

I’m currently sat on board a Eurostar train speeding its way from London to Paris, en route to my next motorhome trip from Germany. In Paris I take a TGV to Stuttgart, from where I take a couple of regional trains down to see my friends at Dethleffs. 

Yes, the next trip will be in a Dethleffs Motorhome - this time a Dethleffs Trend i7057 A-Class Motorhome. I can’t wait to get behind the wheel and take off on the next adventure.

While the plan was always to take the train from London to Germany, getting to London has been…interesting. 

Originally I was intending to drive South, drop off the Compass Caravan at Kimberley Darlington, spend the weekend with my Mum, leave Dougal there, then pick up the new caravan on the way home. 

However, as we have all come to learn, Life is What Happens When You’ve Made Other Plans, and a few days before I was due to leave I came down with the dreaded Covid. 

A Brush with Rona

Of course, I couldn’t get the ‘Sneeze Twice and it’s Over’ version of Covid, oh no.

I had to go and get the full-fat top-tier deluxe version of Covid with knobs on, spending three days in bed and only leaving my pit to eat, drink, exercise Dougal, or change the sopping wet bed clothes. Trying to edit a video was a fruitless task, as the shivers would set in quickly, pushing the simple task of hitting the right key on the keyboard out of reach. It was a grim experience and I don’t recommend it. 

My brush with The Rona (as the cool kids would say) meant that my plans went out of the window. I spent over a week at home to isolate and recover before braving the trip by train from Glasgow on what turned out to be the hottest days of the year; the days when we were advised not to travel if we could help it. 

What joy! The three hour trip from Glasgow to Warrington took seven hours (via Edinburgh, just don’t ask), and the two hour trip from Warrington to London took six hours with the added entertainment of a train transfer at Rugby. However, instead of feeling stressed, I just felt immensely grateful that the good people who work for the UK’s railway companies were doing everything physically possible to keep the trains moving given the difficult circumstances. 

A Pendolino gently baking at London Euston

Dougal is safely ensconced with his buddies in Uist, and I’m glad not to be subjecting him to the heat and the stresses of travel. 

Despite the persistent post-corona cough, I’m incredibly excited to be travelling again, and can’t wait to explore some beautiful roads with the Dethleffs Trend.

Shanna was supposed to be coming with me but guess what? She went and caught Covid a few days ago. I’m sure that when she sufficiently recovers, she’ll be sharing her own experience in her Newsletter Life: Examined. We’re gutted that she won’t be joining me, but the lovely Sophia will be coming along for a couple of days with her camera. I look forward to your company too - I hope you’ll be able to join me. 

In the meantime, stay cool and stay hydrated, and whatever you do, try your best to avoid a visit from Rona. She’s not the nicest of visitors to endure. 

If there is one thing I miss about my old job, it’s the people. I love these guys <3

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