Switzerland

We were not exactly getting bored parked up outside the Unicat workshop, but there was an element of running out of interesting things to do. We had walked along the canal looking at the Coypu. We had walked down to the Rhine when it was in flood to see the inundated forests.

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

When it snowed, we lined all the Unicat trucks up and took a photo of them. I did an interview for the new Unicat web site that will be very embarrassing if it is ever used. We contemplated the project to mount an Airstream caravan on the back of a 6×6 – and wondered why. We fitted additional snow chain hooks onto Baloo and bought a second set of chains.

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Then the boss told us that he thought Switzerland was still open for business. Some of the ski areas were still running and, importantly, some of the campsites were open. The significance of the campsites is that, uniquely in Europe, it was legitimate to be driving around in a motor home. A few days planning later, we were ready. The idea was to visit campsites by ski lifts, stay a while at each and get a bit of skiing in.

Arriving at the Swiss border, we explained who we were and what we were doing. No problem at all. The border officials’ main concern was that we had paid the road tax on Baloo. I have an app for that.

First stop was Savogin, a pleasant little village where the campsite was a roped off section of the car park. According to Google maps, the car park is a lake in the summer. We could walk to the ski lift. There was a bakery and a cheese shop nearby. All good.

This time last year, many ski resorts were closed in the wake of ‘super spreading’ events. Through most of Europe, the ski areas are still closed. Switzerland is the exception. We now know that SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, spreads from an infected person to others through respiratory droplets and aerosols created when an infected person coughs, sneezes, sings, shouts, or talks. Setting ripe for transmission are:

• closed spaces
• crowded places
• close-contact settings and close-range conversations
• settings where there is singing, shouting or heavy breathing, for example, during exercise

The après-ski scene caused the big outbreaks. The bars, restaurants and, in particular, the night clubs packed with dancing, singing people all breathing the same air for hours at a time. Up on the slopes, the air is clean and fresh. It is easy to keep your distance. Some of the lifts present a minor risk but even so there is plenty of fresh air and the time spent on each lift is small. Use of masks may help.

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

The enlightened Swiss approach is to close bars, restaurant and clubs but keep the lifts open. This has been the case for many months now and has proven to be safe. So, we are not breaking any rules and still get to ski. The slopes are quiet. With much of Europe in various states of lock down not many people can travel. Some hotels are open but obviously, there is risk associated with this. We are very happy in our personal, mobile space, living a life of isolation where the only real contact we have with anyone is when we buy food.

We skied for a week in Savignon. It was very pleasant. Most of the lifts are draglifts. Very safe Covid-wise but tiring compared to the small rest you get on a chair lift. Our last day of skiing, Saturday, Diane took a tumble. We could not ski down the very last piste because they were preparing it for night skiing. Instead, we were directed down the sledging route. This is very narrow, just a couple of metres wide in places. Also very bumpy and icy. Diane mastered the most difficult bit like a pro but then got caught out a bit further down and sprained her knee. Getting off the mountain was a tricky combination of half carrying and half skiing. We took the direct route to the nearest village then banged on the door of the first house and asked if they would call us a taxi. The very nice people there got their own car out and took us back to Baloo. Given the Covid situation, I thought this was an act of exceptional compassion. Thank you nice people.

We moved onto Flims. The campsite was very friendly but had a bit of a problem with the size of Baloo. Eventually, we were put down the bottom of a road by the sports centre. This was a nice enough place but meant a long walk in ski boots to the lifts. Diane could not really walk very much in any event. There were a few sunny days so I got the bike out and enjoyed a couple of runs along the valley. This and some lovely walks in the woods with Cent were about it for Flims and a week later we moved on.

• 

• 

• 

• 

•