Traveling During COVID-19
We were scheduled to be in Maine on May 1, 2020 and then as we all know in mid-March everything changed. We were comfortable at our resort in Florida and ultimately decided we would stay there for the summer if necessary - we were safe, content, and isolated with minimal risk.
When everything shutdown, we stayed home as much as possible. Tracy didn’t leave the coach, except for an occasional drive, for about 1 1/2 months. I did all the shopping and suited up with mask and gloves for the grocery store. We took a drive through Walt Disney World and it was apocalyptic. It felt like Jesus had come back and we got left.
We finally agreed to a target date of June 15 to arrive in Maine, knowing we would have to quarantine 14 days after arriving.
One of the benefits to traveling during this time was the price of diesel. Leaving Orlando, we found fuel 35% less than the price it was just one year ago.
We planned our route west through Texas (#1 son/DIL, grandkids), then north through Arkansas (#2 son and Tracy’s dad), then the best route to Maine.
We had no trouble once Texas opened their state parks, and stayed at a brand new campground in Arkansas. But from there, the route planning was dictated by Covid-19.
We found nowhere to stay in Ohio due to their required quarantine, so instead planned a southerly route on I-64 through Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, West Virginia and Pennsylvania.
Most every campground was playing it safe, asking patrons to wear masks and using sanitized pens or no-contact reservations. West Virginia was like a different world, with no one masking up and no social distancing evident. Our Pennsylvania campground was completely non-contact.
From Pennsylvania to Maine was a challenge. We couldn’t stay anywhere else in Maine because of the required quarantine. New Hampshire canceled our reservation due to quarantine. We didn’t want to stop in New York or Connecticut, so our option ended up being northern Massachusetts. There, everyone was wearing masks, social distancing was required (we waited about 30 minutes to get in Walmart) and people seemed respectful of the rules.
Fuel prices ranged from $1.75/gallon in Springdale, Arkansas to $2.65/gallon in Lebanon, Pennsylvania. Last year we paid about $4.00/gallon in California and between $3.00 and $3.20/gallon everywhere else.
In Maine, we pulled in to the campground and it was like a HAZMAT site. No entrance to the office and all transactions were through plastic sheeting with masks required. We had stocked up on two weeks of groceries so we wouldn’t have to go to a store. We pulled in to our assigned site and then started two weeks of sitting, cleaning, sitting some more, walking, kayaking, sitting, cleaning and repeat. It was really quite peaceful!
June was very very slow in Bar Harbor. Streets, sidewalks and shops were empty or closed. July started a little busier with the Independence Day holiday, then slowed back down until about the third week. More and more tourists kept coming and August was very busy. We had a few days where almost 250 of our bikes were rented out. But interestingly, people seemed to be very respectful of distancing and 80-90% compliance with wearing a mask.
Now it’s the end of September and we’re preparing our trip south. And once again, we’re finding it difficult to make reservations the further north we are. Most New England campgrounds close on October 1st, and trying to make a reservation in Ohio I was greeted with, “We’re not taking any transient travelers due to Covid.” Still.
So… we will do our best and stay as safe as possible, and might even find ourselves overnighting at a Walmart or Pilot Truck Stop along the way. Blessed are the flexible, for they will not be bent out of shape.