Staying at home (even if I'm not staying at home) is a good time to catch up. Over the past couple of weeks (or so), I've talked to George C, Bob L, Wayne G, Bill N, Facetimed with David & Vanda, Jeffrey & Sara & Kids, talked to Stef, Jason (and more). Sandy has made the rounds too. I don't know who-all she has talked to but I think that would include Sheryl, Joyce, Nancy, Sue, Kim, Kylie ... and of course she's been on some of the calls that I've initiated. None of that includes RUSA calls ... of which there have been several !
Other than grocery and sandbar trips, I've been at home. Oh yes ... and on the bike :). On the 21st, I went north for the first time in months and observed firsthand what the lockdown has done to Flagler, Ormond, Daytona. Flagler county has its beaches closed. Every walkway to the beach has a sign. On A1A as you approach the county, a policy car is parked on the northbound side with a sign "Beaches Closed". That distinguishes it from Volusia, where the beaches are open to walk, jog, swim, surf but not sit, sunbathe, picnic etc. Essentially they're allowing exercise. I guess that's ok, and our Volusia beaches aren't crowded. One of the reasons that they aren't crowded is that there's no place to park ! Beach vehicle ramps closed, parks and parkettes closed, you have to find street parking to get to the beach ... or be walking from your accommodation.
Speaking of accommodation - many large hotels are closed or obviously have a handful of guests but are displaying "no vacancy" signs. Some small places are open - a couple of Hamptons, Quality Inn - and are busy, but I didn't see any that were busy and full / no vacancy. Timeshares and condos have occupants, of course, but those are relatively quieter than usual. With all the restaurants, shops and amusements close, I'm guessing that people would rather spend their time at home, where they have more space, than cooped up in a small condo, beach notwithstanding. If they live further away than simply commuting from Orlando, they just aren't traveling.
I spotted an ACE Hardware with a big sign out front "We have hand sanitizer" -- I guess that's an indication that things might actually be quieting down or people don't have any more room on their shelves :). I've not seen a good use for hand sanitizer when soap and water will do the job.
They SYC came out with their dinner takeout plan yesterday, in effect Thursday through Saturday, pickup time slots from 4:00-5:30, 4 entries - a salad, salmon, steak and chicken. We don't usually eat that early; I guess that the salad would keep but the rest ... hmmm. They also have takeout beer (six pack) and wine (bottles). The alcohol prices aren't much different than grocery store prices. I'd like to patronize the club but not at the expense of having a good meal. So far our takeouts haven't been impressive - Thai wasn't as good as in the restaurant; Sushi was an incredibly long wait - perhaps we should just order pizza and be done with it ! Unfortunately BK or McD's don't make good burgers.
I didn't read the details but understand that a study of sorts was done on infections that they believe came from groups dining in a restaurant. It appeared that the previously infected and asymptomatic diners infected others based on the direction of the A/C flow. That makes sense but doesn't bode well for restaurant traffic. Where are we headed - individual, plexiglass enclosed dining tables with filtered air per station and food access slot ? We are a long, long way from digging ourselves out of this pandemic hole.
Well, I'm wandering. Cassie hasn't been to the sandbar in two days and that'll be the order of the day, today. Perhaps I'll do more mangrove trimming. As the tide shifts by roughly an hour each day, there wasn't enough water to take the skiff out yesterday once I was back from my ride. I've got several more trips before I've exhausted my supply of 2-cycle oil and have to go to Walmart or perhaps simply get my container refilled at the marina.
Onward !
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