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29.05.2020:
Today I would like to tell you what it is like to be out and about in a mobile home during the Corona period. I will update the article in between because something changes quickly.
We have been on the road for almost 2 weeks now, you may hardly believe it, but we haven't really come that far. Now there is also the problem that we also have several public holidays during this time. It's hard to believe, but you get the feeling that everyone who has a motorhome is on the move. Because the borders - whether abroad or inland - are not all open, the spaces naturally fill up. And through the holidays it gets fuller again, because everyone uses the long weekend and also stops and doesn't drive any further. So we do that too, so that you have a place at all and don't have to spend hours looking for one.
In addition, in the Corona period, no matter where you are, you should have a minimum distance of 4 meters to the next mobile home. In places that do not have any given parcels, it is difficult when there are so many mobile homes on the road. There can also be discussions. At the same time, we often noticed that the public order office was coming to inspect them. We haven't seen that before.
The first days on our trip all sanitary facilities were closed in the squares. So anyway, only those who could stand independently could drive. In the meantime, the toilets have already been opened in some federal states, but with the restriction that they can only be used with your own toilet paper and disinfectant. The showers are not supposed to open until mid-June and it probably depends on how the operators manage to disinfect them.
It's good that I sewed a shower curtain with magnets at the beginning of the year. We can attach it from the outside with the rear doors open and thus turn our bathroom into an open-air shower. In fact, it works flawlessly too! However, you have to look where you stand and of course you are not allowed to use normal shower soap or shampoo. Since we have been dealing with this topic for a long time, we only offer biodegradable soaps.
14.06.2020
Now another 2 weeks have passed and the places are open in the entire state. Depending on the region, the places are full or not. Sometimes you can't even extend the awning because the next one has come so close that you have 1.5 meters to sit with a chair in front of the door. Keeping a distance between the motorhomes is not always noticeable.
However, it is almost everywhere that you have to fill out a slip of paper stating your name, address, telephone number and time of stay. If a corona case occurs during this time, they would inform you. It's the same as in gastronomy. So far we've been lucky and no one has called us.
Otherwise you don't notice much that it is Corona time. When shopping, it is clear that everyone wears a mouth and nose mask and keeps their distance. Nobody comes into the store if they have just forgotten their mask. In the squares, when you talk to people, you keep your distance. But otherwise it's like without Corona.
The sanitary facilities are also reopened almost everywhere. If there isn't any in the area, there is an indoor or outdoor pool somewhere where you can take a shower. Many of them have been opened since June 13th. The physical well-being is now taken care of again. At a distance, of course, and with a mask when entering the bathroom.
We are now curious to see what things and rules like this look like abroad. In just under 2 weeks we will drive north via the east and make our experiences. Whether you have to fill out a slip of paper then ??? We will see.
01.07.2020
We are now just before the Polish border. The last 2 weeks you hardly noticed anything about Corona. Sure, you still have to wear a mask when shopping or when registering. Even if you want to go into the sanitary building, only with a mask. But that's about it. People talk to you without a mask, at a distance, but not 1.5 m. Nobody wears anything on the beaches and there is not always a distance of 1.5 m.
Some sanitary facilities have a note with a code of conduct on the door. Among other things, one of them said that the area that was used must be cleaned and disinfected. Cleaning is also clear, especially the showers. But how should you disinfect the area? I don't know anyone who carries surface disinfectants with them. And you won't get very far with hand disinfection. If the operator makes something available in the sanitary area, that wouldn't be a problem either, just disinfecting the area in use. But that is not the case either. So such rules are not well thought out either.
Sebastian said that in Poland there are the same restrictions as in Germany. However, where a mask and gloves are required, everything will be provided. Since we're going to be driving through Poland in the next few days, I'm curious to see if that's really the case. Then at least you don't always have to make sure that you have everything with you.
08.08.2020
More than 1 month has now passed since I last wrote something about it. And we're already in Finland. Well then I have a little something to tell.
Poles still had rules such as face mask when shopping, everyone had a shopping cart and keeping their distance. Hand disinfectants were available in every shop you entered. But mask and gloves were not provided. However, if you have been to the coastal cities and walked to or along the promenade, nobody wears masks anymore and keeps the required distance. Sometimes it was so crowded that you were almost bumped into it.
In the Baltic states, no one noticed anything more about Corona. Occasionally someone has been seen with a mask, but there was no longer any obligation. Here, however, the distance was maintained as a matter of course. Only in wholesale markets was it hardly possible to adhere to them.
In Riga we had to measure a fever once when we wanted to enter a restaurant. And the staff also wore protective masks. But that was the only time so far that we had to do something like this.
Every store in the Baltics provided disinfection. The campsites that we visited also only had disinfection and no other regulations.
The difficult thing is that when there are no more regulations, you become more carefree. Everyone behaves as usual without Corona.
In Finland there is no longer anything regarding regulations. Hand disinfection only in stores. Even at the ferry you weren't checked. There are only some countries where there is no entry ban. And of course, if you feel sick, it is better to go to the doctor earlier than later. But here in Finland the metropolitan area is in the big cities anyway. Otherwise you have a lonely space.
We'll see how that works in the next few countries. You can hear that the numbers are rising again at home. The other countries are not protected from that either.
26.08.2020
We are slowly realizing that we are really lucky with our journey or that we have progressed fast enough. Shortly after we arrived in Finland, the Baltic states reintroduced border controls. Especially for the Germans, since the numbers there have risen again. Coming from Sweden, the entry ban and 14 days of quarantine continue to apply, which will not change on the further journey.
We drove through Finland without noticing much of Corona. Only in Santa Claus Village, where the opening times of the shops were shorter due to Corona. Nobody was seen walking in a mask. Hand disinfection is everywhere and there is also a splash guard at cash registers or information. But that's about it.
Now in Finland we were mostly free and didn't look at so many cities or had contact with strangers. But when you were somewhere to do your shopping or to do your laundry, you didn't notice anything. Even at the vet there was nothing, not even a splash guard. The people themselves don't seem to think too much about it, because they address you on parking spaces without much distance.
So we drove through the country to the border with Norway. Again nothing at the border, no control. Anyone could have driven through it without any problems. In Norway the same as in Finland. No mask requirement, just hand disinfection and splash protection and keep your distance. Here, too, people are more carefree and chat to you without keeping a distance of 1 meter.
Well, and what I say, we have hardly been in Norway for two days when Finland decides to close the borders. They did that two days ago and Germans arriving here also have to be quarantined first. We got to know some who have 4 weeks vacation and who dash to the Nordkapp and back. They would not have the opportunity to go into quarantine for another 10-14 days.
And now, after 1 week in Norway, they are also considering closing the border and imposing quarantine for newcomers. Some, who we got to know on the way or know via Instagram, are now considering driving across the border quickly.
Sebastian and I have already said that if a quarantine should come for us, then we have the time for it. If we and the dog are taken care of, then we only have 10 days for our trip. But we don't have to go back to Germany as quickly as possible, as we have a lot more time for our trip than just 4 weeks.
We'll see what the next few weeks will bring us.
30.11.2020
I haven't written anything in a while and thought I'd update the report. We have been back home in Germany since mid-September. Unfortunately, our dog was injured and had to be operated on. The doctor recommended doing this at home as it would be a tedious process. So it was time to get home as quickly as possible. In 1 week we drove from high Norway via Sweden and Denmark to Germany.
As previously written, there was no problem with Corona in Norway. When we considered the route of our journey home, we came to the conclusion that we would drive through Sweden but not spend the night there. Sweden was a critical country all the time because of Corona and we didn't want to risk having to be quarantined in Germany if our mouse is to be operated on. So over the border, where there was again no control, and through Sweden. The trip was supposed to go over the bridges to Denmark, because we didn't want to leave our dog alone on the bus because of her injuries during a ferry trip.
Also at the border to Denmark again nothing and just through. In Denmark itself we stayed at a stretch of beach where pedestrians often ran with their dogs. Everyone kept their distance. Otherwise only refuel once, where apart from a distance only disinfection was offered, but there was no mask requirement.
Germany, you had everything right back here. The switch to wearing a mask again was not that easy. If you forgot it, you were reprimanded and had to turn back to get one. When we stayed the night on the way, several campers stood next to each other without keeping a great distance. So also a bit of arbitrariness.
We are now the 10th week at home and the last check-up for our mouse is due. And then??? Usually, if everything looks good, we wanted to go straight to the warm south. But Corona ... once again nothing will come of it. The borders are closed or there are lockdowns and curfews everywhere. The rules are also gradually becoming stricter as the numbers have risen sharply.
Then we thought a winter vacation in the north would be great too. Well, our dog is very sensitive to the cold and quickly catches a cold. In addition, we would have to retrofit the polar bear with a diesel heater, as gas heating alone would be too risky if this should fail. And we didn't want to hit the budget for this renovation, because a lot has been done on the polar bear in the past few weeks.
Well, what can I say, this year we will probably not travel any further and if so, then only within Germany. Let's see what the new year will bring us. Whether we then continue our tour or we will settle down again.
