Good time to travel or not March 16, 2020, 08:17:33 pm I’m wondering if this Corona hysteria might be a window of opportunity to travel especially to national parks which I’ve given up on and the Moab area which has become a zoo. Do you think it will thin out the crowds or are a lot of people thinking like me and it will be as crowded as ever. 1 Likes
Re: Good time to travel or not Reply #1 – March 16, 2020, 09:33:42 pm I think the roads are likely to have light traffic in general, great for bicycling and motorcycling in the back country.We are already planning a Lazy Daze trip for the end of the month to the desert...YMMV 2 Likes
Re: Good time to travel or not Reply #2 – March 17, 2020, 08:33:02 am Quote from: Blueox25 - March 16, 2020, 09:33:42 pmI think the roads are likely to have light traffic in general, great for bicycling and motorcycling in the back country.We are already planning a Lazy Daze trip for the end of the month to the desert...YMMVDefinitely a good time to drive. Traffic is noticeably lighter . I’m unsure how this will effect national parks though. Definitely will be less to no Europeans and Asians but supposedly that’s only 10% of visitors. I have been watching Moab campgrounds and there seems to be lots of cancellations in the short term time frame which is encouraging.I also have to think old people with underlying conditions will be staying home which should thin the herd but possibly young families will fill that gap since kids seem unaffected by the virus.
Re: Good time to travel or not Reply #3 – March 17, 2020, 08:36:35 am And gas prices low. We had a two week trip planned for months starting the end of this month. So far still a go. 1 Likes
Re: Good time to travel or not Reply #4 – March 17, 2020, 08:49:29 am Quote from: StevenJill - March 17, 2020, 08:36:35 amAnd gas prices low. We had a two week trip planned for months starting the end of this month. So far still a go.Gas prices are definitely saying travel!
Re: Good time to travel or not Reply #5 – March 17, 2020, 09:13:54 am I’d check before traveling a distance. Parks, Casinos and other venues are being closed on a daily basis. The health department’s in our states want us to stay at home and self isolate to help control the spread of the virus. 5 Likes
Re: Good time to travel or not Reply #6 – March 17, 2020, 09:32:24 am Don't want to be that guy but ..... in States were you pump your own gas either use disposable gloves or antibacterial spray. BTW the spray/gel should wet ALL surfaces of your hands and DRY before you touch anything. <smile> We should of been doing this in the past.glen 2 Likes
Re: Good time to travel or not Reply #7 – March 17, 2020, 09:46:38 am "And gas prices low." $1.69 in Hattiesburg, MS this morning on our way home from Florida.With regard to being a good time for trips...I'm glad we're a few hours from home I think one important consideration may be being in a place you may be compelled to remain in at some point. That's a funky little hillside farm out in the country for us. Time to get the garden going!Bill
Re: Good time to travel or not Reply #8 – March 17, 2020, 09:48:46 am Quote from: colddog - March 17, 2020, 09:32:24 amDon't want to be that guy but ..... in States were you pump your own gas either use disposable gloves or antibacterial spray. BTW the spray/gel should wet ALL surfaces of your hands and DRY before you touch anything. <smile> We should of been doing this in the past.glenI've always used hand sanitizer when out in the world and especially after pumping gas. Friends roll their eyes but I haven't had a cold or flu in ten years.
Re: Good time to travel or not Reply #9 – March 17, 2020, 09:53:43 am Quote from: krmugn - March 17, 2020, 09:46:38 am"And gas prices low." $1.69 in Hattiesburg, MS this morning on our way home from Florida.With regard to being a good time for trips...I'm glad we're a few hours from home I think one important consideration may be being in a place you may be compelled to remain in at some point. That's a funky little hillside farm out in the country for us. Time to get the garden going!BillYeah my wife says stay home and garden while I'm thinking this could be a window of opportunity to go places that are generally overcrowded that might not be now. Hate to miss an opportunity but homes nice too. Maybe I'll put a sign up by the no trespassing sign on the gate at the bottom of our road. No food or toilet paper up here. Keep out. 1 Likes
Re: Good time to travel or not Reply #10 – March 17, 2020, 01:11:08 pm Good to hear from you Sawyer.My only concern would be that half-way there, they close the National Parks. Still leaves lots of places that would otherwise be crowded. Got an email from my doctor that advised staying at home, but she said that included the motorhome Self isolation in the great outdoors isn't far from what many of us strive for...joel 2 Likes
Re: Good time to travel or not Reply #11 – March 17, 2020, 01:30:33 pm We took a six month LD trip to Alaska in 2009, a recession year. Those were favorable conditions for travel. Fewer fellow travelers, lower gas prices, less crowded camping, etc.But this is a bit different I think. Some sources say large numbers of Americans will contract the illness caused by this virus before we're done, perhaps a majority. If you're out and about vs at home your risk of infection goes up. And rural areas which currently lag in exposure to this virus are likely to catch up. We've seen it spreading essentially everywhere.I'd give some thought to where I want to be when I get sick, especially if over 65. Home near your doctor and circumstances you understand? Or in some rural backwater with few medical facilities and where you'll be an outsider?There is also the risk of being trapped somewhere in a situation where travel is controlled or prohibited. State borders seem a likely control point as well as the boundaries of metro areas.And RV parks may become crowded or full as some public parks close, such as in New Mexico now. And it is hard to predict how agencies such as the BLM and Forest Service might restrict dispersed camping. Their ability to patrol will likely diminish with reduced labor resources, so they might close various areas where one might otherwise camp.So, lots of uncertainty it seems to me. Right now our plan is to make some excursions in our LD to nearby destinations in our home state of Nevada where we can still be isolated from others, to get a break from all this, but generally within a day of home, so that we can return if ill or if other problems materialize.Whatever we all do I think it should be done in a way that doesn't add to the burden on public resources, many of which are being diverted in one way or another to deal with this problem. 9 Likes
Re: Good time to travel or not Reply #12 – March 17, 2020, 01:34:15 pm Terry makes some good points. To each his own but we are hunkering down! 1 Likes
Re: Good time to travel or not Reply #13 – March 17, 2020, 01:49:28 pm About two weeks ago I decided to get some supplies laid in before it all got raided.Glad I did, I'm stocked up as best I can be and am in self isolation for the foreseeable future.I travel with a friend who has a big class A diesel pusher with a lot of storage.We have 20 seven gallon water jugs that we fill with spring water for drinking. That will keep us in water for at least 6 months.My biggest issue is propane. My 96 FL doesn't have the room for an Xtenda tank, at least easily. So my measly 10 gallon tank doesn't go very far. I am going to look at getting one installed at whatever cost, so I can at least double my range.We will be going up to the high country in AZ within the next few weeks to hunker down. A little early, but We'd rather be there when we know the roads are still open to travel.Stay safe everyone.
Re: Good time to travel or not Reply #14 – March 17, 2020, 01:57:43 pm The week before the Morro Bay GTG we were in Death Valley. Conspicuous in their absence were the hordes of Chinese tourists we have seen in past trips. The visitor center was sparsely populated and the only languages I heard were English, French, and German.In addition, there were vacant camp sites each day, even though the park said FULL.Harold
Re: Good time to travel or not Reply #15 – March 17, 2020, 02:06:32 pm I hope all of my neighbors stay home today and off the roads. I, on the other hand, plan to practice social distancing by enjoying our open mountain roads on the motorcycle. As long as I can avoid a performance award by our local law enforcement, I won't get close to another person and limit the spread of the virus.When life gives you lemons, enjoy the lemonade. Live your days responsibly and as well as possible.Harold 3 Likes
Re: Good time to travel or not Reply #16 – March 17, 2020, 02:18:31 pm Guessing it would be a good idea to check with your destination before traveling.I believe New Mexico has closed their State Park system, so others may follow?Happy Travels,Kit
Re: Good time to travel or not Reply #17 – March 17, 2020, 05:13:44 pm Quote from: joel wiley - March 17, 2020, 01:11:08 pmGood to hear from you Sawyer.My only concern would be that half-way there, they close the National Parks. Still leaves lots of places that would otherwise be crowded. Got an email from my doctor that advised staying at home, but she said that included the motorhome Self isolation in the great outdoors isn't far from what many of us strive for...joelYeah my position is OK really. My youngest brother is a fireman in California and he’s quarantined due to exposure to several people who came down with the bug. He’s stuck in a house with a yard for quite a while which is getting very boring very fast. He says two firefighters under fifty are on ventilator. Serious stuff.
Re: Good time to travel or not Reply #18 – March 17, 2020, 05:19:40 pm Stocked up for a few weeks today. Guess we will decide about a vacation after that. Wait and see if things calm down or get worse 2 Likes
Re: Good time to travel or not Reply #19 – March 17, 2020, 07:13:32 pm Just saw that Yosemite has closed all facilities, but the park itself remains open. Definitely double check on status before you head out.
Re: Good time to travel or not Reply #20 – March 17, 2020, 08:57:28 pm Sawyer, you need tracks for your side by side.Jon
Re: Good time to travel or not Reply #21 – March 17, 2020, 09:46:39 pm As the virus crisis continues to unfold and become more serious, it's natural for us to want to post information regarding staying safe and virus free. This would include travel warnings and recreational area closings. Feel free to post such information as it relates to the theme of our portal, which is Lazy Daze and RV-related topics. With this in mind, please try to be selective and don't overload the thread with repetitive data and links.That said, please do not post graphic, intimate details of friends', families', relatives', acquaintances' virus experiences. Save those private reports for your personal social media contacts.Chris 6 Likes
Re: Good time to travel or not Reply #22 – March 18, 2020, 08:20:24 am Quote from: JonS - March 17, 2020, 08:57:28 pmSawyer, you need tracks for your side by side.JonI have tracks and had them on but it was spring and the snow had melted off sufficiently to put the wheels back on. Then we had a late season mid March storm with a foot of snow and high winds that created three ft snow drifts across the road. At that point it was a decision to put the tracks back on for one or two trips or spend the day opening the road up with a three point PTO snowblower on my tractor. I opted for option number 2 and my back is still sore from being twisted around looking over my shoulder traveling in reverse and blowing out three miles of road. 1 Likes
Re: Good time to travel or not Reply #23 – March 18, 2020, 08:28:36 am Quote from: Kit - March 17, 2020, 07:13:32 pmJust saw that Yosemite has closed all facilities, but the park itself remains open. Definitely double check on status before you head out.Don't know but I'll bet Zion has closed or will close its shuttles up the valley which will vastly reduce crowds on those trails. Last year we went there and rode bicycles up the road which was beautiful but you had to stop every time a shuttle came by which was a bit annoying and the trails were rediculously crowded.Edit: Just found this.Zion National Park suspends shuttles due to coronavirus | Las Vegas Review-Jo...
Re: Good time to travel or not Reply #24 – March 18, 2020, 08:29:23 am Quote from: Lazy Bones 2 - March 17, 2020, 09:13:54 amI’d check before traveling a distance. Parks, Casinos and other venues are being closed on a daily basis. The health department’s in our states want us to stay at home and self isolate to help control the spread of the virus. Yes. My work may put recind my vacation.