Escaping the desert heat and 11 weeks of stay-at-home it felt truly liberating tracking a northern course in my faithful Eurovan. Traffic into the white mountains of Arizona appeared normal, noting numerous campers traveling in both directions. With many campgrounds closed we were fortunate to have reserved a site at Fool’s Hollow State Park in Showlow. Masks seemed option at the campground, camp sites and people were well distanced and restrooms bleached and spotless.
Day two was a long drive through the Navajo reservation where only the main highways are open due to the high incidence of covid-19. The reservation has the highest per capita rate of covid-19 in the US. Everyone on the reservation wore masks.
Stopped in Delores, CO for a picnic lunch along the Delores river. Again, restrooms were spotless and smelled of bleach. Carrying a spray bottle with isopropanol alcohol to sanitize hands after every interface with gas stations, restrooms or grocery stores.
Next it was into the Rocky Mountains for spectacular and cool scenery.
Landed at Orvis hot springs in Ridgeway, CO for a relaxing dip in several warm pools before reaching Hotchkiss, CO, social distancing observed.
We will spend several days in Hotchkiss, CO camping with our friends John, Neil and Fiona (our camp bubble), cycling, hiking and winery hopping. Masks optional in this area also with about half the population wearing them in stores, wineries and eateries. All employees are masked and it is easy to social distance in these small communities of Hotchkiss and Paonia.
Just learned that the bighorn fire in Tucson in only 10% contained and my casita is in “set status”. Go is evacuate now. 2020 becomes more surreal each day.
