Next Trip - Where? When? Why?

Question from Pat: What is your next destination & why?

Question From Kevin: Where will your next trip take you?

Question from Wendy: Where is the wind taking you next?

As you can see, this is a popular question. Until March 2020, my answer was assured. That fall, I would walk in Scotland with a friend then spend a month writing in southern France. I had bought tickets and secured accommodations. As COVID spread, I remained stubbornly hopeful, but finally cancelled in June, becoming one of thousands of Canadians owed money by Air Canada and West Jet. Air Canada eventually provided a refund. West Jet just gave me a credit to use within twenty-four months. That time is running out. Pat and I had also started planning to walk the 2000-kilometre Via Fancigena from Canterbury to Rome in summer/fall 2021.

During the spring of 2021, we gave up that hope but remained positive that 2022 would see us off on our adventure.

A few weeks ago, I bought airline tickets to Gatwick for flights leaving in late July and returning in November. Pat – wise Pat – decided to hold off buying her tickets for a couple more weeks. I remain confident that COVID travel restrictions will lift, but I did not pay attention to Putin. A week after I bought those tickets, he invaded Ukraine. Now, while Ukrainians defend their homeland, Europe and the world teeter on the edge of an abyss. Pat and I see our dream fading once again.

I had imagined us walking to raise funds for MSF like we did when we walked the Via Egnatia. We walk for pleasure, to meet people, to delve into what makes a place tick, to improve our understanding of different ideas, but walking as a means of raising funds for a worthy cause adds another focal point. We’ve used that focus to keep going on tough days. In our late sixties, our well-used joints are beginning to hint that they might soon protest a 2000-kilometre endeavour. How much longer will such a walk be a realistic undertaking for us?

It may not be COVID that puts the kibosh on a 2022 walk through Europe, but will travel there be reasonable this year? Even if the war doesn’t spill past Ukraine’s borders, will Europe suffer fuel, food and accommodation shortages? Will tourists cause unnecessary burdens on strained resources?

What do we do when personal desires conflict with social and moral responsibilities?

As Canadians, we enjoy privilege with our education opportunities, excellent health care, strong social services, a high standard of living, more personal space and fresh water than most people in the world. We’re known as a generous nation. I believe part of that generosity requires making moral choices, even when they might be inconvenient.

My next trip? I know where I want to go, but I don’t know when it will be appropriate. While endeavouring to make a responsible decision, I hope West Jet will give me another credit. More important – I dream of a world where we can all walk across borders in peace to greet each other as friends.