Great to see Dodie looking so good! I can understand that you are eager to get on the road again. As Jacquie suggested, there is a lot of testing at present in Germany. I don't know actually how that affects the comparative statistics, though. The cases are expected to peak mid-February and by March things shouldn't feel too threatening. The hospitalization rate is not alarming which is a good indicator. Good luck finding flights and hotels that are reasonable. Something is going to work for sure.

Where will your next trip be, Ben, when it is able to happen? Are you trying to make any guesses about what the timing might be?

Europe is hot really hard right now. The good news, though, is that Austria has mandated vaccination now and it is possible Germany will follow suit. The Scandinavian countries have recently dropped all covid restrictions. I’m not sure where Italy is at right now.

Thanks Ann and Steve, I am impressed by Dodie too, not in the least because she is not letting this injury deter her from getting back out there. I have now scraped her off the highway three times (she has done me once) and could lose heart, except for her courage.

Steve

You are so impressive Dodie, I am excited to learn you have another trip planned! Way to go, looking forward to following your trip.

There's not much that can't be fixed with a cup of hot chocolate.

Such an encouraging post! It’s so wonderful to see that smile on Dotie’s face again. And I really like the looks of this outline for the two of you too, regardless of how soon you get to go. Thanks for keeping us posted.

Glad to hear Dodie is bicycling! Maybe the flight costs will go down by September. We really enjoyed Germany and Austria at that time of year.

I suspect that spike is because people can actually get tested in Germany, unlike here in BC.

Dear Steve and Dodie,
Oh NO! I just caught up on your journal and find you two once again in rehabilitation mode. Dodie, when I went down in 2020 and broke things I had nothing but wet pavement to blame! I don't remember anything from the time I turned on to the street to the part where my bike went out from under me and off down the road I bounced and broke my nose, my pelvis in three places, blunt force to my chest and a head injury. The head takes the longest to heal and now I can't tell if it's from the hit or just because I'm old! But I was back on my trainer in four weeks! Nothing keeps us warriors down for long! Hope you keep us posted on your progress.

Dodie went berserk the other day and started some knitting. It's surprising that this seemingly gentle activity puts a lot of strain on the shoulder. So then it hurt for a day. But now she is back at it, though more cautiously.

Dodie is also walking outside, using two trekking poles. And she can do other tricks, like putting on socks. I think a big landmark will be not so much using the bike trainer (which she can now already do) but riding on the road. We are predicting that for the end of March - early April.

Thanks so much for checking in!

You both have been on my mind and was so glad to see this update. I am not surprised that Dodie is asking to get on the trainer already… I have been reading Grampie blogs long enough to know you guys are made of stern stuff. Hoping all goes well the next few weeks with healing and strengthening and I will definitely be looking forward to the next Grampie adventure.

I guess that wasn't the merriest Christmas ever! Good that you could finally get to the physiotherapist and there is progress. Your bikes in Germany are waiting for you. And torten and kuchen!

Following your recovery and your getting back on your bicycle soon! You are an impressive lady. Here’s to a full recovery and 2022 in Europe !

Good news that she’s finally gotten to a therapist and has some exercises to focus on. We want to see a photo of her when she’s on the trainer!