Friday, April 10, 2020

Cycling and Shopping

Enjoying South Carolina's Back Roads

We started our nomadic lifestyle with the knowledge that it could change and we would have to stay put. Who knew this would be how it would play out even if it was only for a while. We are fortunate to live in a time when traveling all over the world could be done by regular people like us. I hope it has made us more open minded and accepting of other people.
 This stop along the way hasn't damped our desire to explore, but created an urgency and desire to see many more places.  I find myself looking for our next trip but who knows when that will be? 
Our daily activities now include online shopping. Got stocked up on the salsa that we loved in Louisiana along with a few other things. Well, maybe more than a few...

 Our online shopping and home delivery experience with instacart wasn't so great. Everyone seems to like the idea, leaving little to no times to sign up. We only got part of what we ordered and some cheese Tamatha (whoever she is?) had ordered found its way into our bags. $11 of Fontana cheese. We don't even like Fontana cheese.  Anthony, the new driver and shopper, was feeling anxious. I won't go into the details. But he didn't use social distancing. Aghhh! We let it slide. The charges were a little steep even without the extra item.

Mike found  the grocery stores pretty empty and fairly well stocked when they open at 9am. I guess they are all shopping for home delivery.
 Yoga in the mornings before it heats up.
 Cards and dominos in the afternoons when we turn on the air conditioner. Don't they know it is only April?
 More baking.
 We usually ride our bikes a couple of times a week. Now we are riding 22-25 miles with hills every other day since all of the hiking trails are closed and temps in the 70s F. I have broken out the Ibuprofen and my pants are a little looser. Hurray! I guess all of the baking isn't taking too bad of a toll on the waistline.

Cycling is our mental health treatment. Arriving home after going up and down the hills, I am ready to self isolate in my recliner.
 We stopped to watch these two Toms showing off for the ladies. They were a hoot as they scooted sideways towards each other. One trying to keep the other away from the girls.
We were considering moving to Virginia for our next month. Virginia is not allowing short term stays of less than two weeks. But if we agree to 2 weeks or more, we are in. I am not sure how that stops the virus from entering the state. Maybe less people passing through? So far, we are planning to stay put a while longer, at least until all of our packages arrive and we plan our escape to the west.
 These two horses always run to see us as we ride by but ignored me when I stopped for a picture. The countryside really is this beautiful on our two hour rides.
I am not sure how Mike got grease on his left leg.

The cycle club's parking lot is a couple of blocks from where our Springwood Campground. I have never seen a cycle club owned parking lot before complete with restroom and picnic table. The routes are well marked but we occasionally miss an arrow after a storm as the downed leaves and branches cover the painted arrows. 

 This horse came out to check us out. I wasn't sure if he wanted to go for a ride.

We hope everyone is stay well physically and mentally. What are you doing to keep yourself in a good place?

11 comments:

  1. Looks like you guys are having such great adventures during these trying times! We're still stuck at home in Phoenix.....awaiting our next job......hopefully starting May 1. Stay safe and healthy! John and Chris

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    1. Home is a good place right now. Our bikes keep us happy and ready to stay home. I hope we can get back to Buena Vista, Colorado May 20. That's the plan. I am sure you are ready to head to such a beautiful place.

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  2. i am SOOO jealous!!! San Diego is now under Mandatory Stay IN Home, must be masked and gloved to go outside for an 'essential' need. Your pictures and comments bring great hope to satisfy my wanderlust.
    Stay Safe and Lave sus Manos!

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    Replies
    1. We would be a mess if we couldn't get out. We rarely see anyone pass on our rides. Nos estamos los manos. Igualmente mi amigo.

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  3. This had no dimmed our travel wanderlust, this will be just a footnote in our travel memories. I would love to be walking by horses all the time, love them. It is way to early to be running an ac but we're doing it too. We are considering heading to IL next week, our COE is now ready for us to come in though they have no idea when they will open.
    Stay safe!!

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  4. I like the footnote perspective. We have had to use the ac a bit too. It will be great to be back at the COE with less people and more freedom.

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  5. We have two of the double pink bloomed cherry trees in our yard and I love them but wish they lasted longer.

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    1. I didn't know what kind of bloom they were but quite lovely

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  6. Ordering stuff online has become part of our daily life, too. I need to check out that salsa you like!

    I suspect someday we will all look back on this as another chapter in our lives, but I think we will be forever changed. For the better, I hope. Your photo of the horses is gorgeous!

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  7. The outcome should be interesting.

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