I’m kind of skipping around a little in my posts, I haven’t talked yet about our trip north, to PA and NJ. I’m working on it. The post before this one ends when I was heading to PA, with Bill joining me after a few days. This one picks up after we return to TX.
Greg & Cori picked us up at the airport. This was mid-March and things were starting to lock down due to COVID19. We had considered driving a rental car back instead of flying but ultimately decided to bite the bullet and complete our travel in 6 1/2 hours versus driving 1700 miles. Driving that distance would have meant 4 long days in a car, 3 nights in 3 different hotels and having to eat many meals out. Airports (we left out of PHL and had a change of planes in ATL) were very quiet, a complete change from the short couple of weeks before. The two planes we were on were at least half empty, in opposition to the overbooked planes on flights north on our way up. Another consideration, although not in the forefront, was the drop off fee for returning the car to TX instead of PHL airport would have been $600. CRAZY!
One thing I don’t want to forget to mention – we had sanitizing wipes with us, as did almost all others and we wiped down everything before we touched it. People were so courteous while we did this on the planes before we took our seats. People just waited patiently. It was quite extraordinary. Since the planes were not full, we had a whole row to ourselves on both flights, which gave us some peace of mind. It was easy to not be near anyone in the airports.
The following day, a list in hand, we headed out to get what we could to restock our food supply, as well as any cleaning/disinfectant supplies we could find. There were empty shelves like I have never seen, both in HEB and Walmart. It was eerie to say the least. There was no paper towels, no TP, no eggs or milk, very little cheese and meat.
Before we knew it, things we were planning to do, most notably the RV Dreams Spring Educational Rally, were canceled. We had two installs planned during that time that would now have to be rescheduled. A quick visit to see David & Sharon was canceled due to the closure of the COE Campground where we would have stayed. Our visit to see Red & Pam was also canceled. We were sad about it but it couldn’t be helped. Safety first.
We thought about and discussed our options. Greg & Cori had said we could stay as long as we wanted/needed to, which was incredibly generous of them. Lee & Tracy had already decided to hunker down there to wait out the virus. While it was extremely tempting, we ultimately decided to get to our summer destination before we (possibly) couldn’t. We knew there was a chance Hickory Hollow might not open due to restrictions, but I had talked to the owner and they said if they were allowed to open, they would open. We had a backup plan of staying on our daughter’s driveway.
So after Bill completed his last install, 2 1/2 weeks after returning from our trip north, we packed up and headed out. It was one of the most difficult “see-you-laters” we’ve ever experienced. We were so comfortable and safe and happy with our tribe, sharing meals, sharing concerns and fears, enjoying game nights. It would have been so easy to stay, much easier than pulling out of the driveway that morning. We definitely felt like we were heading out into the great unknown. We had been fairly sheltered for the previous few weeks. Anxieties were running high.
It was difficult to go because we were leaving the safety and comradery of the Center for Mental Wellness, but ultimately it was the right choice for our family. We both felt very strongly that if this virus started to get really bad and if driving across the country became difficult or impossible, we just wanted to be near our kids, it was as simple as that.
Some of you may feel that we were wrong to move on, instead of staying where we were, and not drive around the country. You may believe we didn’t take the “Stay Home” and “Shelter in Place” orders seriously. We did not make the decision lightly. Unlike if we had driven the rental car from NJ to TX, with multiple opportunities for exposure, this drive was completely different. We brought home with us. We didn’t need to see anyone. We had our own food and kitchen with us, no need to eat out. We had our own bed and bath with us, no need for a hotel. The only thing we needed any contact with was at the pumps, to fill-up, which we had gloves and wipes for. If it’s possible and practical for you to stay put – by all means that’s what you should do. Bill and I made our decision based on our family’s specific needs and the fact that we felt we could travel safely, without exposing ourselves or anyone else.
Short story of our drive was: (+/-) 1900 miles and 6 days of driving later, we pulled into the Elks in Ephrata PA. Along the way, we stayed at Walmarts, a Bass Pro, an Elk Lodge. As I wrote about in my post, 1350 Miles in 5 Days, we were in reposition mode. We did consider doing an install on the way but ultimately continued on. The days were long and exhausting, but the trip was, thankfully, uneventful.
The first destination stop was to help our son, to make sure he was ok and had all he needed. He doesn’t have a car, so curbside pickup was not an option for him, and he can only carry so much from the store at a time, making more trips necessary. That did not make me happy and caused me a lot of concern, that he would be exposing himself to the public more often than he should. Since there wasn’t a curbside pickup date available for 2 weeks, we masked up and was at Walmart when they opened. We divided and conquered and he will be good on groceries, etc. for quite a while. (Thanks again to my friend, Denise B, for sending Billy a couple of awesome homemade masks!)
Feeling confident that our son was good to go for a while, we moved the last 180 miles and arrived at our summer home. Thankfully, it was determined that campgrounds in PA are essential, at least for seasonals. In order to feel fully safe, we self quarantined for 2 weeks before seeing our daughter and granddaughter.
We have relaxed, for the most part. We used curbside pickup for orders at Giant Eagle (grocery store) and SuperWalmart. We are in a safe and comfortable location. Our campground opened the laundry room so we could do laundry. We were the first to use it this season, so we felt safe doing so. The rest of the summer they will be making appointments, so only one person is in the room at a time and they will clean in between. We’ve been taking walks and watching a lot of TV. We have a list of projects that we will be working on. Time will tell how much our summer plans, including a trip to NJ (a.k.a. the BEACH) and our install schedule, will be affected. As I said before, safety first.
Bill and I wish each of you health, safety and happiness. We trust each of you will make the best decisions you can for your family. We wish you safe travels, or safety where you are.
Lastly, and I do ask this at the end of each post, but reach out in the comments below and let us know where you are, how you are holding up during these trying times. What are you doing to help deal with the isolation? Do you have a story or tip you’d like to share? One of the radio stations I listened on the way up ended each segment saying something like “We are all in this together, alone.” It sounded odd at first, but it is really so true. Reaching out and sharing our experiences helps us to not feel so alone and isolated.
Previous Post: Work and Play in TX
Next Up: Unexpected Trip to PA
Bill and I would like to thank all our loyal readers! We appreciate each one of you! If you are a new reader, we’d like to invite you to sign up to receive an email with each new post. You can find the “follow blog via email” button to the side and below. Thanks so much!
We also invite you to check out our Stuff You Need Page and use our Amazon Affiliate link. You can also click “search here”. You can still use your Amazon Prime. You can choose to purchase one of our pre-picked items and/or anything else you need from Amazon. Thanks so much!
Did you know we have Facebook and Instagram pages? Its fun to follow us there!
Please let us know you are out there by commenting below! We LOVE hearing from our readers!
Glad you made it to your destination. We are safe in Davenport, FL.
Glad to hear you are safe! Thanks for checking in!
Glad y’all are safe! We live in Mississippi, about 15 miles from Memphis. Sheltering in place as we have been told. Miss seeing my family but hopefully this too shall pass! We live on several acres and can get out and walk and hike without breaking any rules or seeing anyone. God bless y’all .
Thanks Barbara! Glad you are safe and thanks for checking in!
I love following you guys. I’m glad you’re ok and in a safe spot. I’ve been reading it’s been hard to get places to stay. Keep on posting!
Thanks Dee! Hope all is well with you and Jim!
Glad you made it to PA and all tucked in. We are staying an extra month in South Carolina before heading back to Colorado. 1500 miles will take us a week but we will be fine. Lots of reading walking and bike riding through the countryside while staying distant. Take care.
Thanks for checking in Deb! We are trying to get in some walking but it’s been nasty weather, cold and damp! Be safe on your travels westward!
You make a good point that you are ‘Sheltering-at-Home’, it’s just that your home is mobile and you control what is brought in.
We’ve been under Stay/Shelter sine our return from Mexico, just a weekly trip for groceries, until this week when some parks are opening. Store shelves are looking better, but in San Diego there is a flour shortage! Guess flour is the new currency now that TP is available.
STAY SAFE!
We don’t buy floor very often so I have no idea if it’s in shortage here or not! Now I’m curious! Some TP is around, but we like a specific one that breaks down quickly and is also comfortable – Scott’s Comfort (orangish packaging). You guys stay safe! Thanks for checking in!
Glad you had safe travels! I realize that you both had some tough decisions to make. We decided to stay in Arizona near Sedona for a while. The first three campgrounds we contacted would not let us in. We are grateful for a place to hunker down.
Be safe…
Glad you found a place to hang out! Sedona is beautiful! Just hope it doesn’t get too hot too soon! You guys stay safe too! Thanks for checking in!
It is going to be hot. We were asked to leave Organ Pipe Cactus NM when the campground was shut down so we were hoping north of Phoenix would be cooler. It is but it is going to be in the upper 90s next week! Unfortunately we have discovered some repairs that must be done so we need to stay put to wait on parts, etc.
Take care…
Good luck with your repair – hope it’s nothing serious!
Kelly,
We don’t do anything half-way. I discovered that both the black (yikes!) and the galley tank are leaking! I believe that I have fixed the black but the galley tank is going to have to be replaced. I will have to have someplace in Phoenix fix that one.
Sorry for your troubles!
Glad you’re all settled in. We’re still Monterey, CA and will stay until we’re allowed to move about. At least we cd. See our new grandson while we’re here. We’ll visit family when we are allowed then we’ll boondock for a month to see how it all settles out. Don’t want to be at restaurants etc until we see how it goes.
Spending time with the little one is so awesome! Time flies – they change so quickly! It will be a LONG time until we feel comfortable eating out again, but we’ve been brave and ordered pizza for pickup. Wiped down the box before bringing it in. Then burnt the box! Stay safe and snuggle the little one!
We have been staying at home, and our daughter in law has been doing the big grocery shops for us. We have not seen our youngest and his fiancé in two months, since she is a RN and works taking care of Covid patients at the hospital. We are grateful for video messaging…thank goodness we can still walk around the community, go across the street to visit the beach (it just re-opened from 7-10 am for walking only) and bicycle ride, we are hoping to get back up to the N. Georgia mountains next month to use the RV, but for now, we are just trying to pray for everyone, and hoping this virus ends soon.
Modern technology is awesome! Glad you and Mario are ok! I’d love to be across the street from the beach! Hope your daughter-in-law (to be) stays healthy! You guys stay safe!
Our decision on where to stay was complicated by Dale’s emergency dental situation that we eventually were able to deal with by using dentists in 2 different cities. For now we’re booking one month stays with one travel day in between. Went from AZ to Southern Utah, our move next weekend will take us to Southern Idaho for a month and then June – August will be in northern Idaho in one location. Not a great year to travel extensively.
We’ve been self-isolating, using grocery pickups services and finding trails or bike paths that are not crowded to get some exercise. We chose not to go from AZ to North Idaho in one 3 or 4 day journey, that was an option but driving the passes in the Rocky Mountains in Montana in early April was just not something we felt comfortable so we decided one month stays with a slow migration north was our best option. Not the choice everyone would have made, but what feels right for us.
Glad you are doing ok in this crazy world we are in. Everyone has to make their best decisions for their situation. Thanks for checking in! Stay safe out there!
Hey Kelly. So glad you and Bill are doing well and safe. Like you said so much has changed over the past six weeks. Hopefully we can get together at some point. I was so looking forward to the rally and seeing you and Bill. Take care and be safe.
We will catch up one of these days! Glad you are in a safe place! Hugs!
Your travel involved a place to go. I don’t think anyone would fault you that you made the right decision! We are still stuck in Florida because we have no place to go. Looks like our summer job in New York won’t pan out so who knows how long we will be here. We are very comfortable (except for the heat & humidity) here at the Elks Lodge and they have been great to let us stay. I’m glad you are close to your children and grandchild(ren)!
Didn’t you struggle last year about renewing your seasonal or not? Boy, did you make a great decision! Take care and give Callie some love from me. Sue (and Brian & Ruby)
Sorry to hear about your summer job – while it sucks to not have a job lined up – it’s the right thing for them to not open while this virus is still so bad. Glad you have a safe place to be. We had renewed the site before we left last year – they were happy to have us back! Hopefully they open to transients May 1 and we can do installs. Callie sends a big “meow!” to all! Hugs! ♥️
Those were some long days but I bet it is nice to be with your kids!
Very long days! But worth it!
Glad you both are safe and well. For us, we continue our preps to go FT and the house is pretty empty now but we aren’t ready to list it yet and with way things are now we are both hopeful and fearful about the market for resale homes. We aren’t ready to start FTing until we have contract in hand. So the good is we can continue to earn money and sock it away and our pensions will also rise every month of delay. We are getting the rig out storage this week to load in all our RV specific gear we have collected, charge the batteries, dewinterize it and take some measurements for our bedroom mods to work in a crafting/hobby center where the front closet currently exists. Our floorplan works well for this concept.
COVID is real consideration for us with our RN daughter currently staying with us until she moves into her new apartment. She is working long hours and is in a local hotspot environment. Combined with our personal risk factors we are extra vigilant. Cindi has made many masks for us and it’s awesome that she has the skill, sewing machine and the supplies on hand to manufacture them for us and family members.
Stay well, hope to see you no the road… hopefully sooner rather than later.
Thanks for checking in Brian! Sorry this virus is messing with your plans! Starting with the cancellation of the rally! We had been looking forward to meeting you guys! It sounds like you are making the best of it!
Must be a scary thing – your daughter heading out to work everyday! How awesome though that Cindi is making masks! Who would have thought sewing would become a big thing again! I am grateful for my friend who made some and sent a couple to my son!
Best wishes to you as you continue to prepare for your new life. Stay safe! I’ll have good thoughts for your daughter who is out on the front lines – please pass along our thanks for her service! Nurses are not getting the recognition they deserve! Hugs! ♥️
I’m sure it was tempting to stay at that beautiful spot in the Texas hill country – but I know how the draw of family is much stronger! Glad you had an uneventful, if lengthy driving, return to PA, and are safely settled for the duration. Funny how the new world is all about wipes and masks and curbside pickups. All over the world we’re suddenly living with brand new habits.
We continue to stay away from others with the exception of Ezra and his parents staying with us. Curbside pickup for groceries and takeout is the closest I’ve been to others in about six weeks. Bill has stayed home for those trips. The Jeep gets us out of the house to play alone in the desert. Landscaping and playing with Ezra keeps us plenty busy.
Stay safe and enjoy the family. Hugs to you and Bill!
As I said, we were torn but ultimately family won out – as they should, right? Glad you guys are safe and you have your grandson to play with! Freya is getting so big! I hate the world is about the wipes, etc but we have little choice if we want to stay safe, which is the priority! We’ve already decided to cancel our family Christmas in July at the beach – which I am very disappointed about. Can’t risk it though, even if NJ “opens” considering Michelle is pregnant. Hugs back!