I have just returned from a six - day hiking holiday along the bank of the River Mosel in Germany. The journey was not intended for research for a novel. It was merely a way of escaping from my home. I had been stuck there since the lock-down began.
The Mosel flows through a narrow valley with steep sides. Every morning I would climb to the top of the gorge, then walk along the trail - the Moselsteig - before descending to a village at the end of the day. I was lucky with the weather. It only rained twice, after the day's walk had ended. Unfortunately the restaurant manager, worrying about the Covid-19 precautions, had asked us to dine outside.
The biggest setback came on the first day, before the hike began. I got off the train, chose a restaurant, switched on my phone, and read my emails. The first one informed me that Eurostar had cancelled my return journey. At first, I assumed that Eurostar had closed down completely. Would I have to take the ferry home? Then I realised that only one train had been cancelled. So I used my phone to book a seat on the first train the next day. Unfortunately, that meant I had to arrange an extra night's stay in a hotel.
The other setback is that I now have to endure 14 days quarantine.
Now that I am safely home, I shall pick up my writing. I have to arrange the publication of another book, the first in my 'Magicians' series. The first step is to find a cover artist.
