2020 was planned to be a major travel year for us. As usual, it was partly driven by wanting to avoid all the shit show of an election. We had avoided all the presidential elections (we voted) since 2000. We were to leave on the first round in May with airplane tickets paid for, apartment deposits in place, and an excitement to go. Summer was holding the possibilities of another America scooter ride. Fall had me ridding from Marrakesh Morocco to Dakar Senegal across the Sahara (95% highway). Returning to Europe or South Africa until the election was done. That all came crashing down in March when the Covid-19 started its march across America. Like Sherman’s march to the sea, it spread a fire of virus across America. While our leaders stuck their heads in the sand, it spread bringing death and economic destruction. After the first 100,000 and the national leaders continued their march of ignorance and arrogance, at least some local leaders began to act. Too little too late.
So, this is a diary of these “war” years. I say “years” because, unlike the politician, I accept that my life will be changed for years to come. And, like all the wars the USA has been in since WWII we lost this one too.
MARCH 2020 When Covid came rolling into town we took it seriously. All our travel plans went out the window. We got all our money back accept the apartment in Paris. I told Jennifer that as long as she had my money I at least had a dream of coming back to Paris.
We took it seriously. Most of my volunteer jobs shut down and I stepped out of Meals on Wheels as Vicki was not comfortable with me doing it. To be honest, neither was I. We scrambled to buy masks and toilet paper like everyone else. We limited our visit’s to stores and still do. Life has changed.
Fortunately, I was able to continue yoga with Wendy via Zoom. The yoga, and just as important, Wendy’s great karma came through the computer to my yoga room. Vicki, who used to go to gym six days a week, was lost in a limbo. One day a spin bike showed up with the plethora of other boxes that now streamed to our front door from Amazon. We set it up in the garage and she began her routine again. Or at least part of it.
Months went by with dwindling hope that this virus would abate and let us free. I needed a scooter ride and Vicki needed some alone time. So, I saddled up and headed for Newberry, where Dave’s fifth wheel resides in the country on Larry’s quiet little piece of his heaven is. As no one used the RV but me I felt safe going there.
I cooked and packed my own food. I had all the necessary Covid fighting equipment, masks, sanitizers, wipes, etc. and hit the road. It was nice to be back in the saddle again and weather was nice. I had to stop once for gas and I will admit I was nervous at the pumps. I needed to pee but no way was I going inside. On a little side road that I travel there is an old cemetery hidden on a little dirt track way off the road. I rode up there to do my business (not on a grave) and look at the old head stones.
I made two trips to “camp David” and my friend Bill from Jacksonville, he staying in Larry’s place. There was no one there but the two of us and Kim who lives in her own RV sometimes. Our trips out into the covid reflected the politics of the area. Not a mask insight. We ate one meal at a small fishing village on an outdoor deck with no one else on it. In Trump landia there were signs saying “no solar power”. What the hell do they think. It’s going to steal the sunlight? Vicki was getting cabin fever so we rented a townhouse in Cedar Key on the water twice. She went up and spent some time to herself and I would ride the scooter up and hang out with her. Again in the covid denial zone we did not go out except to walk. There were no covid or masks protocols. However, they were so scared when the announcements of the virus were made they closed the town to any outsiders. But once the President said it was ok, they just opened the door and went back to normal life. I made one scooter trip to the Jacaranda in Avon Park on the scooter. It was great. There may have been three rooms occupied but the place is so big you passed them with great distance. The riding by myself was great. I traveled some roads and since I was going slow I got to see lots of wildlife. In fact, a hawk almost knocked me off the scooter. Below are links to the adventures in the Covid years.