We're planning a trip. I know it sounds crazy. Public restrooms are the big issue, but I know it's highly unlikely to get CoVid while wearing a mask and goggles and spending less than 5 minutes in a place.
Then, we'll stay at an old school motel, that has separate ventilation for each room (we'll disinfect the ventilation equipment, plus we're bringing our own). The grounds are spacious, with trailheads immediately adjacent. Motel has CoVid measures in place - everyone is masked.
We'll disinfect the room, leave for a while, and then feel safe enough. I think. We may change our minds last minute if rates go up at our destination. It'll be a car trip, no public transport. We will need to gas up once in each direction. I've researched gas stations that have been reviewed by hundreds on Google - and am choosing the ones rated highest for cleanliness.
Half a mile away from the motel, away from any other civilization, is a lovely restaurant with widely spaced tables and it allows dogs - they even bring the dogs water bowls and treats. We will wear our masks when interacting with the server in any way.
But, it's still a month away and a lot can happen in a month...we are hoping to see a forest, feel some cool, less smoke-filled air...it's both hot and smokey where we are and very few places locally we'd feel safe dining out.
I just made a trip. I live in rural California and I needed to go to Santa Clara County, where my mom lives in a memory care facility and where we have a storage unit for her things.
I received a notice at the beginning of September that the storage facility was about to undertake renovations and everyone had until the end of the month to vacate their units. I thought the timing was crazy given not only COVID but the fires which were creating horrible air quality in the Bay Area as well as all over the state.
I pondered abandoning the few items left in her unit, but I wasn't 100% sure that nothing important was there. Plus I hadn't visited mom since LAST autumn.
So I went. It's an 8-hour drive for me.
I get fuel at a membership-only cardlock program, so I know just where the stations are along the way, and I use a disposable glove to touch the keypads and the pump handle and lever. One of the fueling stations has a restroom I used, but I would have used a highway rest area restroom if needed. That wouldn't worry me much because of hand-washing, plus I carry hand sanitizer as well as clorox wipes. I also used a public restroom at a community park.
I stayed at a motel just at the edge of the Bay Area, in a town that is a bit off the busy freeways (Martinez for those of you familiar). I have friends who live there, who had offered me to stay with them, but I opted for the motel, using them as my emergency backup in case the motel didn't feel safe. I didn't feel too uncomfortable at the motel. I wiped down a few surfaces and contact spots when I arrived, and didn't let housekeeping in (I was there two nights).
The A/C was direct to the outside, which I was glad for, and hadn't even thought about when making my plans. I almost opted for a fancy hotel close to my destination, since they are currently offering affordable rates, but abandoned that idea due to travel logistics. I probably would have been in a ducted AC situation there, so I'm thankful I didn't go there.
I stayed the night in the motel, then in the morning I drove an hour or so into Santa Clara County, did my storage cleanout (which required a trip into Home Depot for a wrench when I realized I needed to take a table apart to make it fit in the vehicle -- kicked myself for not bringing more tools!), got lunch at a bagel place and ate in my car (I brought lots of food, not knowing what I would find open nor how comfortable I would be -- again, I found that with masks and avoiding busy places, I felt ok).
Then I was able to have a "window visit" with my mom -- that was nice! I stood outside the window, she was seated inside, we chatted and I was able to show her photos on the ipad.
Then I headed back up to Martinez, spent the second night (making a microwave meal in my motel room) and drove home the next day.
I'm still deciding how much I need to "quarantine" myself now, just in case. I'll skip this morning's farmer's market, where I would usually shop, but I do have to go to work on Tuesday. I asked my boss in advance if she wanted me to avoid work after my trip, or to get tested, but she said that wasn't necessary.
My community is in general very defiant and noncompliant, sadly. But we are also very naturally socially distanced, being a low density rural community with no long lines at the grocery store, etc. So we have only a few cases so far. Those of us who do take it seriously can easily avoid the occasional crowds by doing things like grocery shopping at 8am instead of in the afternoon.
I saw a funny sign yesterday, along the lines of "We can't survive on 1/3 capacity, so unless you can drink 3 beers instead of one, please go somewhere else".
(It was humour-based, I just can't recall the exact wording.)
Years ago I passed a diner in a remote area, miles away from anywhere. Their marquis sign said "Eat Here Or We Both Starve"
