COVID-19 & it's effects on my journey and the West 03/23/20

March 23, 2020

COVID-19 & it's effects on my journey and the West 03/23/20

Monday 23rd's camping spot

Hello to all! I just wanted to send out an update on my current status. To be honest I wasn’t sure if I wanted to even communicate this…due to…I’m sick and tired of hearing about it. But, after a few days and a few events I decided I wanted to share a little bit of my current truth. On Friday March 20th I made the difficult decision to end my workamping job early and get on the road to a safe zone. Until Friday I had pretty much attempted to ignore the coronavirus or COVID-19. I actually down played it in the beginning and went on with my normal life. Which consisted of waking up, walking dogs, feeding dogs, workamping, rollerblading, walking dogs, eating, and sleeping. Nothing to crazy but yes I was still attempting to make future plans at hotels, with friends, and go out to restaurants. As each day passed it became more and more apparent that COVID-19 was not going to go away and it was definitely going to effect my life. Which at this point has sucked for all of us and I feel safe in saying that it has affected almost everyone now. I think my major wake up call was when my mother called me and begged me to get on the road. My family is still in Kentucky and the important part is they are all together. I am the only piece that is not there. And I am sure she feels like she can control more if I am there with her. She expressed that she specifically wanted me to get out of Oregon as it is sandwiched between Washington state and California who had both put ‘shelter in place’ rules in effect.

My last morning in Oregon!

I sat down, looked at the dogs, and put some thought into it. I only had 14 more days in Oregon and only worked 5 more days. Chibi’s (my 10 year old Great Dane) health has been rapidly declining, Charlie (my 4 year old Great Dane) has been acting out and getting antsy from sitting in the RV for months, and the weather has sucked. Not to mention the ‘fun’ of workamping in this particular park had been declining for the past 2 months. I was no longer enjoying what I was doing and frankly was tired of sitting in one spot and coming home to a teenye tiny house that smelled like old, sick dog. (That would be Chibi.) It seems like when I am moving every 3 days, the dogs spend more time outside, and I usually travel in warmer places. So, all in all I was ready to get on the road. I made the decision to communicate my travel plans to my boss and inform them I was leaving early due to the virus. I admitted that part of my fear was that Oregon would be the next state to shut down and I felt like it would be harder to get out. Or find resources and supplies along the way out. Hey…don’t judge, 6 months ago we didn’t think any of this would happen! So the government shutting down the roads to non-essential travel or pleasure travel isn’t far fetched. For the most part my bosses and Oregon friends understood. I think leaving the fairly new friends I had met in the park and state were hardest to leave. I truly do hope that our paths cross again. I was very lucky to have the small circle of friends that I bonded with there. I hiked with them, cooked with them, drank with them, and worked with them. I will never forget these special souls.

My Co-pilot

After I made my decision and communicated my leave date to all the necessary parties I got on the road. Sunday March 22nd I took off around 9:00 AM. It was a rough start that day considering Chibi had already pooped on herself and Charlie and head butted me right in the nose but we made it. During the trip Chibi peed her self twice in the first day. I haven’t really updated you all on her but here goes the short version. About 2 weeks ago she started coughing and gagging, took her to the vet, and they diagnosed her with a heart murmur and heart failure. Basically her heart has peaked and its struggling to pump the blood out of the heart which is what causes her to lose her breath and have difficulty breathing which then triggers the coughing. So, the doctor placed her on two medicines which is 6 pills a day and about $100 for a 3 month supply. The main side effects of the medicine are they make her pee…a lot! Like have you ever seen an elephant pee? Yeah, it’s like a baby elephant. But, she is also losing her hips and back end so by the time she realizes she has to pee, she can’t get her legs to work, so she just pees while she lays down and then waits for me to come help her get up. Yes, it is very frustrating and it seems that as soon as I clean the couch and complete the laundry she has another accident…but I love her. I will clean up after her, make her comfortable, and love her until she is ready.

Night 1 campsite. We were the only visitors. 5,000 elevation and 30 degrees in the corner of California

Chibi's morning exercise

On the first day I drove a little over 340 miles to Susanville, CA. I spent the night in a privately owned RV park for $30 that sat on the edge of a beautiful lake and mountain scene. The park say a 5,000 ft elevation so there was plenty of snow and 30 degree weather . Which didn’t bother the three of us because we were also the only people a the RV park and it felt like in the town! The girls got to run around in the snow, eat outside, and relax by the lake. It was nice to relax and not have to worry about other dogs or people. We slept okay and got on the road around 10:00 the next morning. (I’m obviously not an early riser.) Well, I am an early riser but my mornings last for like three hours. Lol

2nd morning, us leaving the RV park. See the beautiful mountains in the background?

The second day (which is today) I drove 344 miles to a town called Tonopah, CA, It is tiny and consist of a casino, a pizza joint, a hotel, 2 gas stations, and some BLM land. Along my journey it feels like everything has been closed. It doesn’t matter if I’ve been in Oregon, California, or Neveda. It is the same story everywhere. I thought the smaller towns would be in better shape than the big cities but that has proven to be wrong. I visited the local Dollar General after I set up a mile away. It was empty! No bread, water, toiletries, canned food, meat, soup, fresh food, cleaning supplies, or dog food. I had to settle for powdered donuts and Limon chips. The casino was closed…like the machines were literally turned off and unplugged. The one restaurant wouldn’t let you come inside, you had to order your food on the phone and then pick it up. After speaking to a few locals they said that residents from Las Vegas and Reno had been driving hours to get to Tonopah, buying all their supplies, and then leaving. I feel like I have been in the Twilight Zone for 3 days now!

This was a pit stop for us. We stop every 2 hours for Chibi. We don't mind it!

I wanted to share that information so you know you are not alone. Every city, state, and resident is going through this and we are going through this together.

I guess I should let you know my near future plans. Which my family knows about. I have decided to go south of Phoenix, AZ. If you know me and my past year of travel you know I have a soft spot in my heart for AZ. I had actually left Sedona, AZ for this workamping job and here I am driving al the way back 5 months later! Just so everyone knows I have a partner in Arizona and he currently has a pretty sweet set up there. He is also a full time nomad and works on the road. He is stationed with family in Casa Grande. His family has a large home with plenty of space for 2 RV’s, a large fenced in back yard with a in ground pool, and WARM AND SUNNY weather! I can’t wait to get there and the girls are so excited. I’ve told them all about it, Charlie is specifically excited about the pool! She loves to swim. Ha! It’ll be good to have a large and private outdoor area for all of us to just relax in especially after all the gloom and rain we have had in Oregon for the past 5 months.

I am unsure how long I will stay in Arizona. It really depends on how bad this virus gets. I am thinking a little over two weeks. Considering I am two weeks ahead of schedule. Because, as much as I am excited to get to warm and pleasant weather I also just really miss my family and my tribe. If I have to be isolated I don’t think there would be a better place to be!

Our campsite in Nevada. BLM land.

To my family - I love you and miss you so much. Thank you for giving me this time to stay safe in Arizona with someone I trust. I will return home to you sooner, rather than later. You are my heart, my spirit, my strength!

To my friends - Friends all over the country! Thank you for continuing to check on me and send me positive vibes. From my long term Kentucky friends to my nomad friends, I am thinking of all of you and can’t wait for our paths to cross again!