I dislike cold and winter. Here is winter at home in pic above.
This summer of 2021 I’ve been asked by many friends, followers, and family if I went on my winter travels earlier this year during COVID pandemic.
Yes I did. I didn’t write during my travels this year as I thought it was in poor taste to write about driving around the country while others stayed home with Government warnings of COVID-19. Not to mention if I was to say how much fun I was having.
Ok. So, how did I come about leaving. I was home alone as my wife had spent 9 months last year in San Diego watching our granddaughters, who were at home from school due to COVID and son and daughter-in-law had to work. My wife came home for the holidays (2020) and was going back to San Diego in January for the same reason and there I was. Had worked hard to get my new z2021 Tacoma truck and camper ready to go. I was waiting to be vaccinated by the state and they kept changing when I could get my shot further out.
Tic, Tic as time went by and I knew that if I didn’t go I probably would be waiting a long time, especially with up to 4 weeks between shots. It was Friday February 5th in the AM. I decided to just go. I knew I only needed food, water and gas on my travels. All of those were easy as food I carried over 2 weeks of it. Water I carried extra for 2 weeks. Gas was at the pump and with mask and sanitizer I could do it!
I rushed all day and at 6 PM I drove south, seeing a break in the weather if I could just stay along the east coast. Down I95 I went to the last rest area on the “Jersey” Turnpike where I slept for the night.
I woke up at 4 AM and drove past MD son’s house and finically stopped on the western side of Atlanta for the night. Cold weather was pushing south and east so I needed to put lots of miles on to get ahead of it. On I20 now I drove over the mountains of west GA and got some rain as slush. Then I got through Birmingham before dawn. On to the area of Big Water Texas for the night
The open highway brings me joy
I was talking to my good friend Susan who had her shot already as was scheduled for the second. It was in the 70’s in TX while just north in OK where she lives it was below freezing. This was the prelude of the biggest ice storm in memory in TX.
Arizona near sunset - have to love the colors
This next drive was not planned and should not be attempted. I drove from around Big Water TX to Ajo, AZ. This is a 1100 mile drive in one day. I’ve done over 1000 miles in a day before but it was not planned either. I was planning to stop in Tucson but I was talking to another good friend Joanne and she was in Ajo and I plotted the extra time and distance and decided to meet here there as I was in communication with family in San Diego and they wanted me to try for my vaccine in San Diego on the afternoon of Tuesday the 9th. AJo gave me a shorter drive on my 4th day.
Behind me, Susan got her second vaccine shot and got out of OK as it was freezing under her tires. More behind is my friend Bryce who drove through TX during the ice event and I don’t know how he did it. The carnage on the highway was great with so many cars and trucks off the road.
At my son’s in CA driveway surfing
I made it to San Diego by noon Tuesday.and went to get my shot at Petco Park, but they wouldn’t give it to me as I was not a resident. My family was more upset than I was. My son’s in-laws saw that CVS had shots and were only following Federal guidelines. Yup, over 65 only and got my first shot in San Diego on 2/12
Boondocking on BLM land
Stayed for the weekend and headed to AZ to meet up socially distancing with friends. My Travels then started. Yes I would return to San Diego on March 12th for my second shot.
So this is how I started my travels fir the winter of 2021. Looking back I shouldn’t have waited the month of January. At home I had the same risk as on the road. Getting food and gas. I’m compulsive about wearing a mask and sanitizing my hands and things. Sitting in the desert distanced from friends was better than the cold solitude of home.
I ended up having a great time and made it home safely in May 1. I will share some of my travels this year and things I’ve done to the camper/truck. I do plan on traveling again in 2022.
By the way there were plenty of others that were on the road this past winter. Not as many as usual.
Happy travels
Brent
macaloney@hotmail.com
