Escaping COVID: Our Next Move

Our regular readers will know that we retired at the end of 2019 to pursue our long held dream of full time travel. Unfortunately the obvious intervened and we were forced to abandon our trip after just 7 weeks of what should have been endless exploration. UK lockdown followed.

As the slight easing of restrictions started, we took full advantage of the so called travel corridors and have just returned from 5 weeks touring Croatia, which was more than fabulous. We’re now nearing the end of the 14-day quarantine which was imposed just a few days before our return from that trip. These 14 days have naturally felt pretty dull as we have not been permitted to leave the house in any circumstances – not even for exercise or food shopping.

However we’ve used the time wisely to plan our next adventure and, as long as the travel corridor doesn’t get closed in the meantime, we will be heading out shortly to spend a month in south west Turkey. We’ve been to Turkey before, but these will for the most part be new areas.

So, in a year which was meant to be full time travel, this is what we’ve managed so far:-

Days travelled –  Croatia 36, Asia 49, total 85.

Countries visited – 4 (Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Croatia).

Beds slept in –  Croatia 8, Asia 14, total 22.

Locations – Croatia 7, Asia 12, total 19. Bangkok, Kanchanaburi, Klong Nin (Koh Lanta), Chiang Mai, Nongtao, Chiang Rai, Pakbeng, Luang Prabang, Nong Khiaw, Hanoi , Halong Bay (Tuen Chau), Tam Coc; Split, Mukinje, Sibenik, Maslinica (Solta), Bol (Brac), Stari Grad (Hvar), Korcula.

Different beers – Croatia 6, Asia 12, total 18. Chang, Leo, Singha, Beerlao, Beerlao Gold, Beerlao Dark, Tiger, Beer Hanoi, Beer Saigon, Viet Ha, Halida, Bia Hoi; Pan, Ozujsko, Karlovacko, Staropramen (Czech), Heineken (sorry), Vukovarsko.

Mountains climbed – Croatia 1, Asia 8, total 9. 

Distance walked according to Fitbit – Croatia 271.94 miles, average 7.55 miles per day. Asia 321.98 miles, average 6.57 miles per day. Total 593.92 miles, average 6.99 miles per day.

Modes of transport used –  Croatia 4 new plus 14 in Asia, total 18.

Storms witnessed – Croatia 2, Asia 2, total 4.

Massages – 11 (all in Asia)…Michaela 6, Phil 5.

Bouts of ‘travel tummy’ – 3 (all in Asia)…Phil 2 Michaela 1.

So here we are, close to ending quarantine and getting proper excited about 30 days of Turkish food!