Alea jacta est

Over the last couple of weeks, we have gone through all the Corona motions. First, we thought China is far, far away and we ignored the threat thinking all will be good. But country after country has closed its borders, flights have been cancelled and it’s all become nightmarish day after day. In Oman coronavirus is not much of a topic at all – though tourists are no longer able to enter the country and only food stores are allowed to open – it’s just a bit quieter and there is plenty of toilet paper! We are not particularly worried about getting the virus, as social distancing is my middle name and we hardly encounter people anyhow. We had rented a house in a cool climbing area in Greece where we were planning to “’hole up” for a couple of months until this all blew over.  However, we recently found out that all  “not essential travel” into the EU has ben halted and hence we should stay away. So, we are back to Australia on Sunday. We are quite depressed about it all, because the last five months have been just awesome. The things we have seen, done, experienced, the smells and tastes of different cultures, the sweet pains of really hard days on the bike and the constant chatter on the bike, the people we have met. It was such a harmonious time and we will miss it. However, it is not the end of the world. We have still seven months left and after some days of desperation we have started to have some ideas. What about hiking the Larapinta trail and biking the Mawson trail and the Munda Biddi trail? I think we will be able to entertain ourselves for a few months in Australia. And hopefully we can take off again for some overseas cycling. Much to plan in 14 days of Quarantine.

But wait, I have forgotten to talk about the last week, which has been a total delight. Ellie’s brother Toby is with us and that is good, because Toby is fun and always good to have around and he brought a car!  So we have discovered even more of this ever so beautiful country Oman. Wadis with crystal clear water, high mountains, endless coastlines and empty landscapes with tiny, empty towns. Sometimes it is all a bit eery and I feel like being in something between a Gabriel Garcia Marquez story and the Cars That Ate Paris.

One thing at the end. We are truly humbled and quite emotional about all the nice emails and messages we have gotten from so many of you, offering us help or a place to stay, a pick up from the airport or whatever.  Thank you all, a lot, it means the world for us.

Not sure, if we will continue the blog.  “Sharks in Quarantine” sounds not very inspiring. Lots of love to all of you.