THE TRIP THAT NEVER WAS - Spring 2020

The trip that never was  ...

On February 12, we made our way to Baltimore in order to finally deliver our van for the upcoming ACL cargo shipment to Hamburg.



This second Europe Van trip was meant to bring us from Hamburg to Berlin, then Dresden, Prague, Vienna, Zagreb, Croatia, Italy, France and then Antwerp for the return shipment of the van to North America. Originally, we wanted the van to be shipped back to Baltimore but this proved to be impossible due to US Customs regulations. Ok then Halifax it would be.



On February 13, it is still a bit vague as to when the ship Atlantic Star will be leaving Baltimore. Pride International (the forwarder) claims that we are still on for Feb.19 and advised not to trust the ACL website that claims that departure will be significantly later, listing it now as Feb.23. Whatever … we are in Baltimore and cannot bring the car back to Canada and down again a couple days later! Processing the car took more time than last time, due to a backlog of traffic in the harbour as a result of a long weekend holiday. By noontime, we manage to leave our KIA van at the harbour…hoping to see her in a few weeks in Hamburg, Germany.

In the end, the Atlantic Star leaves Baltimore on February 24^th … and its arrival in Hamburg keeps being delayed due to scheduling changes.  At first, we thought that we would have to be in Hamburg during the second week of March but a number of delays (the ship went to South Hampton, then Antwerp and then Hamburg instead of first to Hamburg and then Antwerp). So, we booked a flight with Air Canada (Economy Standard fare) through London with final destination in Hamburg departing Toronto on March 15^th.  In addition, we booked a hotel in Hamburg with the possibility to change/cancel our reservation …a bit more expensive but with the cargo having had so many delays, we felt it was better to do so.



Now, since mid-January, we were reading about a viral epidemic in China, at that time not being worried that this would ever reach Europe or North America, or, at least, to impact on our trip.



With time, however, we realize that it would be come a world wide issue. Initially, the virus was brought to northern Italy by an individual who had been working in China. By the end of February, we are thinking of removing northern Italy from our itinerary … and thought that Istria would be a nice place to be!

Beginning of March, we realize that this damn virus is spreading fast and wide, but cancelling our trip was still not on the table.  We felt lucky that with the mobility of the van we would be able to travel around any infected zones.  Unlike what we hear about horror stories of passengers being stuck on cruise ship passengers with no way to escape!





In the second week of March, the virus spreads more and more throughout Europe.  On March 8^th, the news are disturbing.   Italy is no longer on the list.  While we thought of returning to Spain and Portugal (via Germany or Switzerland), we now hear that the number of cases in the area of Madrid is doubling. By March 11-12th, we are rethinking our itinerary: could we stay in Germany as long as the epidemic lasts? We get in touch with Heiner’s brother and with friends, all of whom do not seem to be worried about the virus and its spread and welcome us to stay or parked in their backyards.  

Friday March 13^th, we hear about museums closing down in Berlin. We try to reason that even if such public places are closed, we are camping and just want to be in the outdoors.



But just in case, Heiner phones Seabridge in order to explore our possibilities: can we ship the van back?  Can we store it …?   We learn that the van could stay on the cargo ship and be shipped back to Halifax … Should we?  We are frazzled. 



We think this over during our morning walk. When we come back home, around 11am, we learn that the Canadian Health Agency now advises all Canadians from leaving the country for non-essential reasons. Oups !!! …This detail is relevant and Marleyne phones Medipac (our out-of-country travel insurance). Up to know, our insurance was covering us as long as we did not go to Italy or China, but this new proclamation from the Canadian Health Agency makes a difference: Medipac confirms that as a result of this announcement we will not be covered should one of us contract the virus outside the country.



We come to realize that our trip cannot take place. We are shattered.  We contact Seabridge and are recalling the van.



As I am writing this, it is March 28^th and almost entire world is in self-isolation and confined home. All borders are closed. Travel by airplanes, boats, campers is almost impossible. We are trying to keep safe, staying home as much as possible, skyping and communicating with friends and family. The world has dramatically changed within 2 weeks!



And the van? It is currently on the Atlantic Star, on-route to Halifax, where it is scheduled to arrive on April 4. We will not be there for pick-up as provincial borders are closed between Quebec and New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.  Will see how things work out.



That is the end of our trip, one which never was!