We've received questions from some of you who are wondering how we're getting along with everything that's going on in the world right now.
I can say that we're doing just fine. Because we're travelling in a self-contained trailer, we're pretty much in a bubble. Arizona has fewer cases of the virus, and NO cases have been reported in the two biggest counties in the state. We are in one of them. Our campground is not crowded at all, and we have lots of space between ourselves and the next RV.
Most restaurants and bars are still open. The schools are closed in the state. When we play tourist, we find most shops are open. And the tourist towns still have a lot of tourists in them.
Right before we left Saddle Mountain, we noticed that the grocery stores were more crowded than usual. So I think the runs on the stores in Buckeye and Phoenix were beginning then.
Because we're in the trailer, we can't stock up on groceries. We have to buy them when we need them. We went grocery shopping in Cottonwood during the afternoon a couple of days ago. We were blown away at the change in the panic level from just a week ago. The only milk available was the lactose-free milk. There were absolutely no eggs to be had. Not a single potato left in the produce bin, and no bread on the shelves. Needless to say, the paper products were also gone. We couldn't even buy hamburger. The butcher told H that he had sold out during the first two hours the store was open! Not because there were so many who needed it, but because a few customers were buying 50-pound lots of it. I personally think the store should have put a stop to that.
We made do with what was available. But my shock turned into anger as I kept running into elderly people who didn't know how to maneuver this new reality. One woman in particular, who could have been my mother, just looked frightened. I'm still mad at myself for not stopping to see if I could help her in any way.
The news stations are asking people to stop their hoarding and to think of others. It would be good if the hoarders had an attack of conscience and would donate their stockpile to those who need it. But I'm not holding my breath. Crises always seem to show the true character of a person.
We are leaving here soon, and will probably head back south to Saddle Mountain for few days before we point the trailer towards Oregon. Saddle Mountain is in Maricopa County which has the highest count of people with the virus. BUT we'll be set up in the desert away from most everyone. AND we will have laundry done and groceries purchased before we get there. So no need to go into town.
We realize things are changing fast. They are starting to close campgrounds. We may be in for an interesting trip home. However, we are keeping ourselves as safe as possible, washing our hands often, and trying to keep the prescribed social distance between ourselves and everyone else. We are taking this whole thing seriously and resisting the urge to be cavalier about the situation. We are keeping an eye on the news in both Oregon and Arizona.
We are happy in our little bubble and sorry for all our friends and family who are having to deal with all the craziness around them.
I can say that we're doing just fine. Because we're travelling in a self-contained trailer, we're pretty much in a bubble. Arizona has fewer cases of the virus, and NO cases have been reported in the two biggest counties in the state. We are in one of them. Our campground is not crowded at all, and we have lots of space between ourselves and the next RV.
Most restaurants and bars are still open. The schools are closed in the state. When we play tourist, we find most shops are open. And the tourist towns still have a lot of tourists in them.
Right before we left Saddle Mountain, we noticed that the grocery stores were more crowded than usual. So I think the runs on the stores in Buckeye and Phoenix were beginning then.
Because we're in the trailer, we can't stock up on groceries. We have to buy them when we need them. We went grocery shopping in Cottonwood during the afternoon a couple of days ago. We were blown away at the change in the panic level from just a week ago. The only milk available was the lactose-free milk. There were absolutely no eggs to be had. Not a single potato left in the produce bin, and no bread on the shelves. Needless to say, the paper products were also gone. We couldn't even buy hamburger. The butcher told H that he had sold out during the first two hours the store was open! Not because there were so many who needed it, but because a few customers were buying 50-pound lots of it. I personally think the store should have put a stop to that.
We made do with what was available. But my shock turned into anger as I kept running into elderly people who didn't know how to maneuver this new reality. One woman in particular, who could have been my mother, just looked frightened. I'm still mad at myself for not stopping to see if I could help her in any way.
The news stations are asking people to stop their hoarding and to think of others. It would be good if the hoarders had an attack of conscience and would donate their stockpile to those who need it. But I'm not holding my breath. Crises always seem to show the true character of a person.
We are leaving here soon, and will probably head back south to Saddle Mountain for few days before we point the trailer towards Oregon. Saddle Mountain is in Maricopa County which has the highest count of people with the virus. BUT we'll be set up in the desert away from most everyone. AND we will have laundry done and groceries purchased before we get there. So no need to go into town.
We realize things are changing fast. They are starting to close campgrounds. We may be in for an interesting trip home. However, we are keeping ourselves as safe as possible, washing our hands often, and trying to keep the prescribed social distance between ourselves and everyone else. We are taking this whole thing seriously and resisting the urge to be cavalier about the situation. We are keeping an eye on the news in both Oregon and Arizona.
We are happy in our little bubble and sorry for all our friends and family who are having to deal with all the craziness around them.
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