It was three a.m., and I used to be standing on the sink in a motel room lavatory, attempting to be quiet whereas I ate some milk-drenched cereal, with a fork.
Why, you would possibly ask, was I doing that? That’s what son Brian, my barely cranky touring companion, wished to know.
“As a result of I used to be hungry? I didn’t need to wake you,” I replied. “I’m consuming my leftover stuff from the motel’s breakfast as a result of I couldn’t sleep,” as a result of my digestive system was being unpleasant.
Finally we each went again to sleep, him out of exhaustion and me as a result of, because of the soothing snack, my tummy had lastly forgiven me for the really horrible dinner we’d endured eight hours earlier.
Sure, we have been on trip throughout the coronavirus pandemic.
Have you ever been out of San Luis Obispo County since COVID-19 precautions turned a required lifestyle?
Earlier than we took brief journeys to the Monterey Bay and Solvang areas in late February and mid-March, respectively, we hadn’t traveled in years. The truth is, these have been the primary getaways we had skilled since my husband, Richard, had a significant stroke greater than seven years in the past.
Richard couldn’t journey lengthy distances after that. Since Brian and I have been Richard’s caregivers, we couldn’t journey both.
Nor did we need to. Our lives and our hearts have been at dwelling.
Nonetheless, as a part of our grieving course of after Richard’s dying in December, Brian and I have been adapting to the lonely “new irregular” within the Tanner family.
Grief could be very carrying, and ultimately we realized that we actually wanted to present our lives and feelings a breather, a timeout and a recent perspective.
Consultants inform us that journey planning is nice for psychological well being, and so is journey itself.
So I researched COVID-19 precautions for journey, and we deliberate accordingly. Then we took a large leap of religion and hit the highway.
Sure, we left the county, however we stayed on familiar Central Coast turf for each of our mini-vacations.
We steadfastly noticed all of the COVID-19 pointers besides one: Keep dwelling.
We figured, if we have been very cautious, we may journey safely and nonetheless not contribute to a doable enhance in coronavirus instances.
We’d simply take our well-learned pandemic habits with us to a unique location.
We modified our common way of life barely, however for some time, we received to dwell it elsewhere.
Suggestions for touring safely throughout COVID-19
So how do you journey safely throughout a pandemic? Listed below are some suggestions we adopted.
Similar to once we’re dwelling in Cambria, we didn’t mingle. We didn’t keep in crowds, and even wade into them. We didn’t social gathering. We didn’t hang around across the motel’s hearth pit at evening, or on the seaside, the pier or a busy pool throughout the day. We didn’t go to an airport, get on a airplane or experience a bus.
We did our sightseeing from our van, and cozily ate our takeout meals there or again within the motel room.
If a takeout line was too lengthy or not socially distanced, we went someplace else. If we really ate sitting down at a restaurant, it needed to be exterior.
We took walks in uncrowded, out of doors areas, or under no circumstances.
As common, we wore face masks when round different folks, religiously noticed social distancing, immersed ourselves in hand sanitizer at each flip and practiced all these different precautions we’ve both performed for years, discovered throughout the pandemic or made up alongside the best way.
We used disinfecting room spray and wipes wherever it appeared sensible, together with within the motel room.
I received actually good at utilizing my elbow to press the elevator’s buttons.
Ready for the elevator to reach, we shortly discovered to face again a minimum of six ft from the door to present any departing occupants loads of area.
Likewise, once we have been on the elevator, we stood within the far again nook, in case any person else got here in. If there have been already too many individuals within the elevator, we waited for the subsequent automotive.
And people inevitable stops at public restrooms or gasoline stations? They have been no completely different in Monterey than they’d have been throughout errand runs in San Luis Obispo or Paso Robles.
The identical habits apply anyplace, on dwelling turf or away: Social distance, put on masks, wash fingers lengthy and effectively, and, if obligatory, use sanitizing wipes.
Classes have been discovered, together with the truth that I don’t suppose I’ll eat cereal in a motel lavatory once more, regardless of how cranky my tummy is. That was only one step too far into the touring twilight zone.
Sorry, Brian. If my chewing wakes you, we’ll simply play playing cards.
Journey guidelines change for vaccinated folks
As of April 2, federal well being officers say that Americans who are fully vaccinated can journey “at low threat to themselves,” each inside america and internationally.
Nonetheless, they have to proceed to take the precautions we did on our journeys — together with carrying masks in public, avoiding crowds, sustaining social distancing and washing fingers often.
Kathe Tanner has been writing in regards to the folks and locations of SLO County’s North Coast since 1981, first as a columnist after which additionally as a reporter. Her profession has included stints as a bakery proprietor, public relations director, radio host, path information and jewellery designer. She has been a resident of Cambria for greater than 4 many years, and if it’s taking place on the town, Kathe is aware of about it.
Supply: www.sanluisobispo.com
