Hi All

What with the C19 situation taking a downturn (hoping it stays that way) and the option to now enter EU (im coming from UK) it has become quite a challenge in planning a trip, i want to explore from Norway--> Gibralta and onwards with the intention of going through EU toward ASIA, the route is not planned yet.
Actually i wont plan too much for the route as i prefer to be flexible with my trip and as the situation is still not 100% clear, i feel its best to adapt to anything that may occur in the future months.


Is anyone else in this same boat at the moment and how are you trying to figure this out?

Well, I was in much the same situation as you back at the end of February 2020, when the COVID-19 problem was in its infancy and everyone thought it was a "China & Italy" problem.

I left Canada & flew to Tunisia on March 4th. WHO declared a pandemic 10 days later, and Tunisia imposed a 14 day quarantine requirement on newly arrived visitors. I checked into a hotel to complete that quarantine, but by the time I had finished, very strict "stay at home" requirements were being imposed everywhere, including in Tunisia, and all international transportation had shut down.

I spent another 3 weeks confined to a hotel (after my first hotel had closed - I was the last guest remaining), and managed by very good luck to catch the one and only repatriation flight that was ever operated from Tunisia to Canada. My motorcycle is still in Tunisia.

So, speaking from the "voice of experience" on this matter: If you have doubts, stay put where you are. The United Kingdom is large enough and interesting enough to allow you to spend several months (at least) exploring it. If you want to push your luck, you could perhaps travel to the EC, but keep in mind that if the infection rate from this virus starts to rise again - even in local areas that you might, by unfortunate coincidence, find yourself in - you could easily wind up quarantined and not able to leave a hotel, or leave a community, let alone return to the UK.

Many people, myself included, think that there will be a "second wave" of infection later on this year. Look at what is happening in the USA - the Americans decided that they wanted the epidemic to be over, so they loosened up restrictions, and all hell is breaking loose in the American south and west. Look also at the flare-ups that have taken place in the meat-packing industry in Germany, and the large-scale quarantines that have been imposed just in the last few days in response to these isolated flare-ups.

I suggest that you plan to tour in your own country until at least the end of 2020, unless you have deep pockets (to cover expenses if you get quarantined somewhere) and an awful lot of patience (to put up with being quarantined for an unknown duration).

I've been there, done that, and it's no fun.

Michael

PS: Keep in mind that you might not be made to feel welcome in other countries when it is apparent to the locals that you are "from somewhere else" and are touring around. If you stay in the UK, you likely won't face that problem.

I've been assuming since Easter that I am not leaving British Columbia this year, and perhaps not even Vancouver Island. Luckily BC is begin enough that there's plenty to see here. International travel? Maybe next spring.

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Bruce Clarke - 2020 Yamaha XV250

Sorry to hear about that.. good that you are back and safe now though..


I had actually planned to leave the similar sort of time in the year, firstly to explore UK/Scotland/Ireland but i postponed it for a while waiting for spring then..... c19 We do have lots of nice places here, more than i ever knew so i am excited for that.

I am currently trying to follow the updates in EU but they are sometimes unclear, many people are already travelling to EU and mention of no concerns, and the other side the complete opposite!

At the moment, i am going to leave it for a while but still with a positive outlook that it may be possible in the coming months.. my patience is being tested clearly at the moment! haha

It's a brave person or a foolish one that makes any firm plans for the next 12 months I think.

As i mentioned, flexibility is for me.

I think all of us would like things to return to ‘normal’ ASAP, but I worry that it’s not going to happen soon. Many Governments are trying to balance the difficulties of protecting citizens whilst keeping economies running, helping people to keep their jobs. Sadly, not all will manage this. How and when to open up societies is the real challenge. Some countries seem to opening up too soon from a safety point of view.

Whilst I understand the need to protect economies, the 60k plus deaths here in the UK (using official figures, not the Gov ones) suggests that not all choices made have been the right ones. It’s extremely difficult, and I’m glad I’m not in charge! It does, however, lead to the likelihood that many countries will have a second wave. Even Germany, who seem to have made excellent choices, are getting regional outbreaks.

Because of this likelihood, personally I’ve put off all travel until 2021. As has already been said, getting stuck somewhere that initially seems amazing but after months would wear thin, especially if you longed to be ‘home’ with loved ones.

Unlike those in Bournemouth recently, I think safety is of paramount importance. The world will be there next year (putting aside climate change conversations!), and I’m looking forward to travelling with fewer restrictions.

You could also travel in the UK quite widely. If you’re looking for destinations, I hear Durham’s a nice place to visit . . .

Hi, appreciate the feedback and i do totally agree with you too, i believe there was an ease of the lock down to soon and once it was stated, a lot of people thought life was back to normal!

It has devastated lives throughout and clearly they are trying to revive the economy before it collapses but maybe the decision could/should have been delayed a bit longer?? will it now lead to a 2nd wave, well after the last week one would think so... I am also living on the coast and there was far too many people here and all signs would point that it would come again, hoping that it really doesn't.

I have been seeing many people now posting photos of their adventure on certain social media webpage.. and it seems there has been no conflict en-route (EU-SEA) and i have also asked them if they have had any concerns, but as it stands nothing..
I am curious as to the information about the travel corridors that will be imposed soon...

As it stands, and as mentioned a trip around the British Isles is first..I will take Durham in for sure, the area does look inviting!

I sounds great to be flexible. But with boarder closing and opening. State of emergency coming and going, stay inside requirements and... It is not up to the traveler. You are forced. And you have no idea what will happen tomorrow.

And do not forget. We Bike travelers can get infected. And end up in an emergency hospital in a foreign country.

Take care.

That is exactly what the problem is - the situation/problem & progress being made / setbacks being encountered is very fluid right now, and changes take place quite rapidly, often with significant reversals of progress appearing within a 3 day period.

I think it's going to be like that until at least the end of the year.

It's great to have a positive outlook, but don't be so positive that you "talk yourself into" a bad decision.

It might be reasonable to consider a trip from the UK over to the Netherlands or perhaps the northwest of France if the infection growth rate in those areas and in the UK is both stable and low enough to not present excessive risk. If you are in either of those areas and things start to go tits-up, you'll be able to make a dash for a ferry and get back to the UK within 12 hours of making a decision to return home. But if I were you, I sure wouldn't want to be more than half a day's riding away from a ferry ride (or Channel Tunnel trip) back home.

I'm also optimistic that "perhaps" I might be able to return to Tunisia sometime in late fall / early winter this year to pick up the bike I left behind, but that is very guarded optimism... things will have to be looking very good and very stable not only in Tunisia & Canada, but in all the places along the way that I might need to pass through (Italy, CH, France, etc.) if/when I elect to return to Canada.

Keep your powder dry... "This too shall pass".

Michael

Djays:

You might want to go carefully read this rather lengthy 3 page thread about what happened to travelers who were in Morocco when infections started to spread there: COVID-19 - Morocco Master Thread. It's a perfect narrative of what can happen when you are a long way from home and countries start imposing quarantines & closing borders.

Morocco is a pretty well-run country, and they are probably more sensitive than most countries towards keeping on the good side of tourists & travelers. Even so, you will see that quite a few forum members got trapped there - in fact, one forum member (a moderator) was trapped there for 4 months and just got home to the UK a day or two ago.

There are all sorts of active reports of other long-distance riders who are stuck in countries in Asia and South America today, with no idea at all of when they will be able to move on or go home.

In my industry (I'm a retired aircraft pilot), we had a saying: It's better to be on the ground wishing you were in the air than in the air wishing you were on the ground. I think you can take that same saying & adapt it to the postponement of your travel plans - it's better to be at home, wishing you were on the road, than on the road, wishing you were at home.

Michael

I'm not sure how how C19 rules apply for British travellers (and Swedish) entering EU countries, but travelling inside the EU countries on the continent seems to be absolutely no problem at all.



According to Slovenia's government information entries are restricted to a handfull of border posts, but last week I rode in and out Austria, Italy and Slovenia at different crossings and didn't see a single checkpoint.


So at least the EU shouldn't be a problem.

__________________
Only when we pause to wonder
do we go beyond the limits of our little lives.
(Rod McKuen)

Hi Michael

Thanks for the reply... yes we are seeing this currently in UK and there could also be a revert back to a local lock-down as certain cities are experiencing high numbers again..

As we speak i am working on a plan to do as mentioned now a UK tour, kind of resigned to the fact that all in all it may be the easiest solution for now, even though i am seeing more and more posts of people in EU travelling freely... but i too agree that being 'close to home' is a lot safer in the long run.
There seems to be now some corridors into EU that will be announced this week, and i am curious as to the effects after they have been abused by the masses.. This could make it even better then to travel in the UK, if they have all packed their speedos for the costa del sol.

Hopefully your plan will workout too and that you are able to return to Tunisia and EU, did you plan for a long trip?

Cheers!

Yes its what is making everything that more difficult to decide, but i think i have an idea.. as to what my trip will entail