Iceland Gambit

The story goes back to August 2019, at least. By then we had resolved to sell Le Duc, our European camper (we did) and change our mode of travel to apartments and B&Bs and hotels and such. Mostly cities. The spring of 2020 was to have been London and the fall Berlin/Prague/Vienna and such. But then the plague came along, and after a couple months in southeast Asia, we got back to the States, to live in California in our American camper. By the winter of 2021, vaccines were being rolled out, we got ours, and we felt optimistic enough to book an apartment in London for the late spring/early summer. Through the first half of 2021 we kept close watch on the UK's COVID and immigration policies, hoping that Boris and company would eventually recognize the efficacy of vaccines or the progress made in the US, converting it from amber to green status. And we kept moving the rental dates on the apartment as those hopes rose and fell. The early June British announcements were disappointing, again, but by then Iceland had announced that it was open to any fully vaccinated individuals. And Britland had already granted Iceland green status. Stringing those two pearls together, we arrived at our Iceland Gambit. Get to Iceland, spend 10+ days there (getting tested on arrival but not having to quarantine), then, having gotten tested again, on departure, flying to London, getting tested once more, on arrival, and then being free to roam. Our roaming would include a trip to Edinburgh to collect personal items we had left in Le Duc, a bit more touring in the South and West, and then our long-awaited London apartment. By June 4th, the decision was taken, and Vicki had made all the flight, rental, hotel, car, testing, and other arrangements.

Spoiler: it all worked, as planned, though not without a few panic-inducing twists and turns and surprises and a good bit of stress. Plus we got to see Iceland.

Hiking on Geldingadalsgos; yes, that's lava 20 feet away