Back in October/early November, things with covid started looking up and we started thinking about what we could do in 2022. We had ruled out a season in Bansko as they still had the borders shut to UK residents. Then suddenly their rules changed and our Bulgarian bosses (the lovely Bobbi & Lubo ) suggested we take a month’s leave and go and teach for a month. That’s not really a relaxing way to spend all your annual leave and so we started dreaming about going back to Canada.
Maybe we could complete the CSIA Level 2 Ski ? A plan was hatched. I was very fortunate that my work agreed a 6 week sabbatical in Jan /Feb and Pete’s contract ended before that so we contacted The Winter Sports Company and planning commenced. We couldn’t return to Sun Peaks as their course was already full, but we could go to Panorama, also in BC. Then our friend, Omicron, came to visit the UK and Isle of Man and our planning was thrown into the air. Should we book? What happens if borders close? What insurance cover could we get? How much for covid cover!?! Etc etc.
After much deliberation we decided that there was no guarantees but if was worth a try so we booked. For a while Omicron looked threatening to our plans but in December we got our booster jabs and news stories started to settle down again. To get into Canada we needed to be vaccinated, have a negative PCR test within 72 hours of your flight, have an isolation plan submitted and be prepared to be selected at immigration for another test and a possibility of having to follow your isolation plan.
So while we were quietly looking forward to our trip, it was with some nervousness and we didn’t allow ourselves to get excited- just incase things changed. Two weeks before our departure date we put ourselves into self-isolation only meeting others to do outdoor activities or Zoom get togethers. It was amazing how many people asked us to send photos from Canada. People just excited that someone…. anyone… was going off to go somewhere different. And then we nervously waited……….
We booked PCR tests on the Island and the booking times meant we had a test at 8am and drove straight to the airport just in time for our flight to London. With so few flights to London we had a nervous 2 day wait trying to avoid catching covid.
Times have certainly changed when travelling. Airports are really empty and we even found the Gatwick South Terminal had pretty much closed. Only the train station was open. No nice lunch in Giraffe, as I’d planned, just a butty in a freezing airport while we waited for our pre-booked car. We didnt want to risk public transport.
Next – avoid catching covid for two days in London. We had booked accommodation about 15 minutes drive from Heathrow in Uxbridge. It was on a canalside so we thought we could just go out on walks while we waited. It turned out our accommodation was literally on the canal – a floating room (1 of 3 together).
You could feel a little movement of the water and hear neighbours getting up and down the steps onto the “barge” (oh and also the water pumps when people flushed the loo) but it was a great place to watch the world go by on the opposite tow path. Also a stunning location for a couple of flat morning runs.
We were absolutely ecstatic when we received two emails saying we were both negative. That avoided 10 days of isolation somewhere in the UK as we would wouldn’t have been allowed to fly to Canada or back to the IOM. Step 1 complete.
Next we had to submit all our proof of vaccinations and tests with our isolation plan for approval. That was accepted. Step 2 complete.
Now just chill. We walked miles along the canals and apart from once crossing the M25 once you wouldn’t have known we were in Central London. We went and enjoyed a walk around Little Britain Lake where there were swans, cormorants, geese, herons, ducks. Just lovely.
So the time came for our flight to Calgary. We checked in at Heathrow and had to show apps and emails and covid passes etc. Step 3 complete.
You’d be really stuck if you lost your mobile phone these days! It used to be passport, tickets and credit card were the most important items to make sure you had with you. Now it’s mobile phone and charger (for online tickets, card payments, proof of covid docs)!
Heathrow Terminal 2 was also very quiet and once we got checked in, the time seemed to fly.
Suddenly we were one of the last to board the plane (in true Clague style) and, with no time for them to check our covid proofs again, we were waved through. Step 4 complete.
We were able to choose to sit in the middle of the plane away from any other passengers and then we had the joy of 8 hours of wearing a mask. Still trying not to catch covid, the hand sanitiser flowed more than the drinks and soon we were at immigration. Having all used the same touch screens hmmm.. we made our way to the immigration staff who asked us two questions and to see our QR code from our Arrivecan app. In return, we were handed forms to take to the covid testing facility – doh, we had failed Step 5!
We had the most weird tests “a shallow test” where they swab the end of both nostrils. And were free to go to our accommodation and await an email.
We had missed the resort bus so had to wait an hour and a half in a deserted and, mostly closed, Calgary Airport We took a bus to Banff and then Rik, owner of WSC, picked us up. We arrived in Panorama at 4am UK time and flopped into bed.
We woke and opened our curtains to see the slopes.
So near and yet so far. Almost within reaching distance but we were confined to our room until our results came though.
And then ……… the emails arrived ….. 2 negative results – woo hoo, we were free to go and explore!
