I rolled in the driveway a few hours later than I expected but still early enough for dinner and into a form of self-quarantine.
It was quite a trip. The week before I left my riding buddy Drew Hoffman passed away from complications related to Covid-19. I was taking the Wuhan Virus seriously and the death of a friend made it all the more so.
I had been taking the virus and the recommendations from the CDC seriously from the start and doing my part to contain the spread. I also work in an essential industry (as determined by the Governor) which is real estate. I had a property under contract and inspections were completed the weekend before I left with the closing for the end of May. If I waited I would be coming back in June which would be prime time in what will be an even shorter season in New England.
I always keep hand sanitizer on my bike, part of riding a motorcycle is being ready for the occasional road side repair so I carry some nitrile gloves in my tool kit and purell in the tankbag.
According to the CDC the best defense against the virus is to wash your hands frequently, don’t touch your face, cover your mouth when you cough and maintain physical distance. Most of these are easy to follow but America did gasp when in one of the press conferences to announce this the speaker licked her fingers to separate the pages of her speech.
I came up with my own policies.
First I love riding with my visor up which also means that I get facial itches and such. With this in mind I decided I would never touch anything off the bike with my gloves on. I would remove them to get gas and wipe my hands with the Purell before putting them on. I also had a mask which I would use when I took my helmet off. My trips into a gas station were limited to the restroom and the purchase of water if necessary. I was filling my water bladder every morning at the hotel in an effort to reduce counter encounters.
In the hotels I would put my gear on the bell cart which would stay in the room with me overnight. I’d use the corner of the key for the elevator buttons and wash my hands immediately upon entering the room. Dinner would be delivered to my door and I never left my room.
Food was what I expected. Every decent mom n pop place I saw was closed, some were offering take out but that was the exception. McDonalds and the chains were all open for drive through only, no entry, no bathroom. I bought a big bag of jerky and some granola bars for emergency rations.
Dinner was easy, phone in the order and wait an hour or so.
Should I go for a ride?
This is a tough question.
It was suggested that given the opportunity I should “enjoy” Colorado. I was told by a friend that if it was him, he’d spend a few days riding the west.
I couldn’t do that.
When I decided to do this ride the only reason was I had a bike in California I want in Connecticut this summer and this was the window of time to get it done. I also wanted to see America in shutdown. I looked at this ride as a once in a lifetime opportunity to take a look at history first hand. I wasn’t looking for or considering it would be “fun.” I was worried about getting arrested for violating some “executive order.”
I had read the ongoing debate about weather motorcyclists should even be riding locally because of the perceived risk to first responders, emergency rooms and such. My answer to that is if you decide to ride based on the perceived availability of emergency medical services perhaps you shouldn’t be riding at all. My Emergency Room experience Monday prior indicated this was not the issue folks were making it out to be and a visit to an ER in Poplar Bluff, MO for an ear issue confirmed it. In the age of Covid the folks that treat the ER like their primary care physician are staying home. It’s amazing how relaxed an Emergency Room is when they’re only treating Emergencies.
When I go for a big ride the highlights are the people I meet and the places I visit. I love going to small towns and spending my money on food, accommodations and souvenirs with the locals.
None of that took place on this ride and will not until the small businesses are allowed to re-open. The shock to the over 33,000,000 Americans forced into unemployment is real especially in the small towns. There’s nowhere for me to spend any money other than the Taco Bell, the Walmart or the Dollar General so other than providing the entertainment of being the alien riding by there’s nothing my presence can offer.
This ride was unique and I will remember it and be ready to talk about it for the rest of my life. From a selfish point of view it was fantastic. No traffic, cheapest gas in 15 years, discounted hotel rooms and local restaurants fighting to bring me their best meal. If not for the death of my friend Drew, the 60,000 others and the 33,000,000 recently unemployed it was a great trip.
My ride had a purpose, as slim as it was. Without this I would have been just spinning my wheels for no good reason other than me, myself and I and for me that’s not a good enough. I expect this will be my big ride of 2020.
The final numbers:
Distance: 3,944 Miles
Elapsed Time: 7 days 13:41:20 Moving Time 2 days 21:28:46 (69:28:21)
Average speed (moving) 56.8 mph
Elevation -30 to 10,520