Brexit Bollies and Options Galore

Rovinj - Croatia

 We arrived in Europe about eight weeks ago which means that we have already used up 2/3 of our allotted time in the Schengen Area - what a pain! We visited the Spanish and the French Pyrenees, the Briançon and Maurienne areas and Arco/Lake Garda in Italy.

And then - far too soon, it was time to exit Schengen - saving about 30 days of our entitlement in case we want to visit Kalymnos in the autumn, or if we need to head back to the UK.

So we got all our documents in order and rolled up to the Croatian border - where precisily nothing was checked, no passport stamps, no questions asked - all a bit of a surprise.

First impressions are favourable, everbody speaks English, the cost of living is cheap, the place is very civilised and there is some half-decent climbing. 

We have three months at our disposal, so we intend to explore the place from end to end climbing along the way.

After three months we can dip back into the Schengen area or head to another of the countries that are in the EU but not in Schegen - Hungary, Bulgaria and Cyprus. Or even visit the Balkan states.

So in many respects Brexit has been a sorry mess, but it has thrown up new options and tempted us to new places, which is the real positive to have come out of it - thanks Boris and your bunch of charlatans.

Wandering Eastwards

Aussois - high and cool

It is six weeks since we docked in Santander and we continue our slow ramble eastwards via the Pyrenees and then the Alps: so far we have visited Panticosa (Spain), the Ariege, Briançon, Puy St Vincent then Aussois and Avreiux in the Maurienne. Generally we have have managed to stay high and avoid the worst of the heat, Aussois (4,800') was especially good with chilly nights and great sleeping conditions throughout our stay.

Mont Blanc from the Col de Galibier

With it still being August everywhere is still very busy - but hopefully another week and the arrival of September should finally sort that out as everybody goes back to work and school.

Our onward plans including eventually heading to non-Schengen Croatia so as to extend our time in Europe - let's see how that goes.

Slumming it in Spain

Panticosa, Spanish Pyrenees

 When we headed back to the UK in mid-March, the 'plan' (if it can be called such) was to quarantine for 10 days, get our first jabs, wait twelve weeks for our second, wait two more weeks, then head off again - around four months in total. In the event, sixteen weeks after arriving we were on a boat heading back across Biscay to resume our travels where we left off!

We don't normally 'do' high summer in Europe as it is just too hot but needs must - we spent our first week at Panticosa in the Spanish Pyrenees, at just under 4000' the days were hot (30C) but at least the nights were lovely and cool at around 13C.

Onward plans include the Ariege, Briançon and the Maurienne, beyond that things are 'flexible'. Of course there is always the Elephant in the Room - our 90 day limit in the Schengen Area - but like Baldrick "we have a cunning plan".

Grand ont'Gower

Sherri taking in the ambiance at Watch House Slab

 So two weeks after getting our second jab - two and half weeks ahead of schedule we decide it was time to go somewhere - anywhere actually - the need to get away was driving us up the wall. A trip to Portugal, the only 'Green' destination in Europe had been pencilled in to use the last 17 days of our EU 90/180 allowance. Fortunately we didn't book anything as it turned back to Amber - had we gone we would had the choices of i) dash for home ii) quarantine at home or iii) stay put. 

Rhossili Beach - the best in the UK?

The stunning line of Scavenger VS 4c

So Plan B was a couple of weeks bolt clipping in South Wales using the recent Rockfax guide to sport climbing in the area. When we looked into it in more detail we decide we could cope with a couple of weeks on the Gower - where there is plenty of climbing, both sport and trad, great beaches and somewhere we could actually find some accommodation.

In the event is was a good call - not too much travelling, some excellent climbing, great weather and a nice pad just outside the 'Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty'.

Downsides? Everywhere was pretty damn busy - (though climbers were noticeable by there absence) - the minor roads on the Gower are regularly log-jammed with buses, lorries, campers and queues of car which makes for slow going. Also almost all the climbing areas are approached downhill which leaves a knackering walk out at the end of the day!

Oh - and I almost forgot the BIG news - June 1st/2nd we went over to Doncaster with Graham and Helen for a night in the Hilton Hotel at the racecourse and to 'tie the knot'. Engaged for 30+ years, we decided as we had a bit of time on out hands....... :-) A grand do!

UK Okay?

Another wander along Stanage

 I haven't Blogged for a month or so for the obvious reason that not much has been happening. The coldest April for sixty years gave way to the wettest May since records began - 130 years ago. With that being the case there was little incentive to travel away from the Peak, and not much enthusiasm for climbing locally either to be honest. We have kept busy with local walks and the odd day trip out to Derbyshire plus some long-overdue DIY on the flat but it has felt very much like we have been kicking our heels waiting for something to happen.

Sherri striding out.

Hordes on Stanage

Our second jab was brought forward by a couple of weeks which was great - we had to go to Chesterfield to get it done, but now we are only 10 days away from the best protection the vaccine can give. Foreign travel is still advised against - France and Germany have recently banned UK travellers because of the Indian Variant - so it still looks like we won't be rushing off anytime soon.

In other news we are getting married in a couple of days - we have been engaged for over thirty years - at least one positive thing to come out of the pandemic is that we have had a bit of time to get things sorted. We originally booked the date in the UK last summer, and had half a plan to try and get hitched in Gibraltar in the meantime but then all the borders closed, so it was back to Plan A.

A foreign honeymoon would be nice - 'anywhere away from here' in the words of Rag and Bone Man/Pinks' recent song.

Peak Performance

Nemes Sabe (HVS 5a) Bamford Edge

 After getting back to the UK we spent ten days in quarantine, had our Covid-19 injections at the Sheffield Arena (super efficient) and then had three weeks of avoiding people whilst out immunity built up. Then it was back to (distanced) socialising, a bit of climbing and working on the next edition of Eastern Grit, due out sometime in the next 12 months.

The weather in the UK has been pretty remarkable, after a couple of hot days, it has been consistently cold, with night frosts and clear blue days - the coldest April for 60 years according to the weather people. It will be six more weeks before we get our second injection and two weeks after that before we are good to go - we just have to wait and see what state the world will be in by the start of July - at least our 90 days outside the EU will be up and we can go somewhere nice :-)

Sitting and Waiting

Curbar Edge

The journey back to the UK was pretty uneventful, a steady ride across Spain, a long rough crossing of Biscay then a night-time sprint back to quarantine in Sheffield. We did our 10 days staying close to home, then the day after we were 'released' we drove over to the Sheffield Arena and got out first dose of the Oxford AstraZenica vaccine. Sherri had a stiff arm for a couple of days - I was right as rain. Eleven weeks until we get the booster, but our protection should be kicking in about now (10 days since we had the jab) and in another 10 we should be safe enough to get back to a bit more normality. Travel is not going to be possible for quite a while but already some countries have said they will welcome vaccinated travellers - Greece and Portugal for starters - that will do us!

Sheffield parks - heaving!

One of our best selling books, Eastern Grit, will probably sell out within the next 18 months so we would have needed to be back in the UK to crack on with refreshing it even without the virus. That has given us plenty of reasons to get our exercise out in the Peak - though always avoiding people, and it has to be said - it is pretty damn busy out there.

I can't recall the last time we spent an Easter in the UK but needs must!