I love to travel and have always wanted to be a travel writer. I have often shared my tales via social media and friends seem to enjoy my various adventures and my mishaps along the way. I was so fortunate last year to meet Iowa writer Lyn Vandebrake who did many travel writing stories, as well as other wonderful books. She was sharing with me some tips and mentoring me, but sadly she was called home, or as she so elegantly put it, she was changing her address, after a short battle with cancer. I still miss her smile and positive attitude. She was a sweet lady and I would be fortunate to walk in her footsteps.
One of my favorite ways to travel long distance, as you may know, is by train. While not the most glamorous or comfortable trains in the world, Amtrak has taken me on many trips across the country. I’ve gone to Arizona, New York City, Chicago, Texas, Virginia, and stops in between. I am not a flyer, so no airplane stories to tell of, but everyone flies, so I’m giving you a new perspective on travel. I had thought to expand my train travel adventures but time and Covid will tell.
I also love to travel by car. My dream traveling experience would be to own one of those small RV’s that you either drive or that attaches to your vehicle. I’ve recently seen a few that I would love to own but I am not married to a camping, adventuring kind of guy, and I don’t think the $1200 stimulus check is going to go that far. So for now, or I should say in the future, cars and trains it is.
This year, with all of this Covid 19 pandemic and travel bans it frankly makes my dream of becoming a travel writer almost non-existent. I wonder if I can draw unemployment for being an out of work “wanna be” travel writer? I’ll look into that. For now, I guess I’ll have to keep you up to date on my C-19 short travel adventures to search locally for things like toilet paper and food. Here is what my new travel journal may look like.
Sunday April 5, 2020 Palm Sunday
Normally I would be in church today celebrating Palm Sunday, not watching it online, but nothing is normal during Covid 19 lock down. Instead I am celebrating the fact that I got a slot in the morning to go pick up my groceries at the big chain store grocer because they are the main curbside delivery grocer in my area, and they had most of the grocery items I needed, like cupcakes.
I had to make a quick run into another store nearby to get my creamer because they don’t carry it at this other grocer. Not many people were there and not many wearing a mask but me. Bummer. I tried really hard not to wander up and down each aisle and was mostly successful. I ended up buying more than just the creamer.
Living with a picky eater in the house is always fun times, but now trying to grocery shop online is especially hard for me because I am a very visual person. Normally I wander each row in the store and let foods jump out at me. Now I have to go down a list and try to figure out what we may need. My list seems to have a lot of beans, frozen veggies (for me) and chili fixings. Orange juice, lemonade and chocolate milk round out the list. Later when I unpack my bags it always feels like I made a huge mistake but I can’t put my finger on it. Too many chips and candy? Too many side items? I never know what to cook either. Somehow we always end up eating loose hamburger.
The next and only other place I stopped was at my local dog food store that also brings your order out for you. They have to special order my dog food because Jazzy is also a picky eater, but it works out for all of us. I like the employees at this store too, a nice bunch. I miss seeing them and Jazzy misses going inside to visit. Kutter prefers to stay on his napping spot in the car, I don’t blame him.
After completing my mission for the week I headed home, unpacked everything, got dinner going (lunch for you city folk) and went and took my “post going to town” shower to remove any latent virus germs that may be hiding out on me. Why can’t those virus germs glow bright green so we could see them? Safe back at home for another two weeks.
Tuesday April 14, 2020
Not my usual trip into town day, but the dogs ran out of dog food this morning and I am almost out of tea, so have to make an emergency extra trip to town. I put in my online order for the dog food and called my favorite tea shop. They would set my tea order inside the back door in the little hallway for me. This is why I love small businesses. Always willing to go that extra mile.
Dropped some money off at the bank on my way, no one takes cash now for fear of virus germs, and its for my online grocery ordering later today. I also had to stop at the local gas station for gas. Donned my winter gloves to pump gas and dumped a gallon of hand sanitizer on my hands afterward. I almost choked on the fumes from the hand sanitizer. Reminder to self, roll down a window before applying next time.
Both stops a success, did not need to wear my mask as I was not around anyone either time. Back home safely, did my whole change clothes, shower like a crazy person routine, life in isolation back in full force.
Thursday April 16, 2020
Time to do my two week grocery run. I had gotten a slot for a noon pick up which was great! You have to be online at 5:00 a.m. in order to secure most daytime pickup times. It’s just the new normal for now.
I had a couple of masks along with me for options because I was going to have to go inside the one grocer where I get my creamer and the other grocery store where I buy meat from. We have beef in the freezer, but I like to get chicken there and needed pork sausage in case I wanted to make us a pizza.
Sitting in the parking lot I was trying on various masks to see which one was going to work the best. I seriously applaud anyone who can wear masks all day, every day. I have a form fitting mask from about four years ago, it’s a dust mask, it was probably one Jay had, anyway I found it in a drawer so thought it would be great to use. Its an R-95 if anyone is curious. The problem is, I can’t breathe in it. I don’t know if its the fact that I have a deviated septum, or that I wear glasses, that my face is too “round” or that I am just uncoordinated at most things, but I thought I was going to pass out in the short time I was in the store!
By the way, just a side note here, but does anyone else find yourself giving people a nice big old smile while you have your mask on? I still do it and then think, that was silly, they can’t see most of my face! Old habits I guess.
The next store I decided to go with my homemade bandanna style mask. I couldn’t breathe in that one either! I didn’t have the homemade surgical style mask along that someone gave us, but I suspect that will have the same results. My glasses also kept fogging up and I had to fight the urge to rip the mask off my face so I could breathe! I’m trying to do my part in protecting others, but it was hard. For me a mask is perhaps another deterrent for me going into any stores, along with the whole virus/death thing. It’s forcing me to be even better at isolating myself.
Groceries all picked up, two more bags of dog food picked up, time to head home. I had to make a stop at my local gas station because we needed bread, and Jay only likes their bread. I know, but it’s what I live with.
I pulled my face mask on and went in and grabbed two loaves and got a bag of my favorite chips for me, no sense in risking danger if you can’t get some bonus food out of the deal. I walked over and stood about five feet behind the next person in the line.
While standing there looking like a homeless bank robber, I noticed that the third person in front of me was a high school class mate of mine. We were all keeping a good five feet in between us so I hoped he wouldn’t turn and look in my direction. Not only could I not breathe, my glasses were fogging over and I had not chosen wisely in what to wear to town that day, hoping not to run into anyone I knew. Why bother when I was only picking up things with a quick dash into the other store. Then there is that whole awkward muffled talking through a mask thing I was also hoping to avoid.
I don’t think he noticed as the line crept forward, I kept staying back as far as possible, and I believe I made it out without anyone recognizing me. I might add I was also the only person in there that was wearing a mask.
Safe back at home, I went through the new covid routine, put away groceries, wipe some things down, toss clothes and mask into laundry, shower for an hour, pray I didn’t catch the virus and take a nap due to emotional stress.
This is my new normal for my travel writing career, not very exciting, I know. I am trying to make the best of it, plus I may need this as proof for the whole unemployment thing. At this point in time I don’t know when I’ll actually get to take a trip in a car again, let alone get on a train. In the meantime I’m waiting for my check from the government to buy a new hammock pad for my stand, because I have my priorities.
Until next time…
Stay home, stay safe!
Toni