Hibernation - Day 3

I am envious of those who live in houses these days.  In the condo apartment we're pretty well 

stuck (I suppose we could venture out in the dead of night if we promised not to touch anything)

since the hallways, elevators, lobby and parking garage are off limits.

Nevertheless, we have accomplished some stuff.

• the kitchen cupboards are getting reorganized (needed to do that to accommodate the
• bottles of rye we picked up on our three return trips from Florida)
• Mardi just gave me a hair trim (that's why I have been letting her beat me at cards - 
• to keep her in a magnanimous mood)
• I've ordered a new van from fishing friend Chris Hughes (well, new to me - it's a 2019 
• Grand Caravan GT that had been an Enterprise rental, loaded with all the toys).  Will have 
• to wait until early April to consummate that deal.
• caught up on all the mail (including my RRIF disaster)
• finished a book on the Blue Jays

I keep telling myself that, if I could stay in a hospital bed for six weeks without even being able to 

sit up, I can survive this too.  But I feel sorry for Mardi who will be stuck with being kept inside with 

me for four more days after her 14 are completed.  I'll have to be extra nice.

The ironic thing is that both of us are probably free of the virus.  Our real danger will occur when 

we're let back out into the world.

Will impart more exciting news as the time passes.

Have a good day!

Bud.

Barry Kopysh		23 Mar 2020, 15:08 (5 days ago)
Good thing you stocked up on rye at the border. May not be available after tomorrow. Lcbo's  lined up around the block already. hmmm... does that tell us anythin

Bud Craig <bud.craig1@gmail.com>	23 Mar 2020, 15:16 (5 days ago)
to Barry, Gary, Mardi, Matt, David, Roger, Judy, Barbara, Jo-Ann, Kathryn, Maurice, Ron

At David's suggestion I bought my bottle of rye for this past trip home at Walmart so I 

wouldn't have to stop at the border.  Half the shelves were bare there.  Had to take Crown

Royal since there was no Canadian Club. 

In the meantime, other folks were buying up toilet paper.  Depends on your taste I guess.

If you run out of rye, let me know.  I'll toss you a bottle from the balcony!  Price to be 

negotiated.

Home, But Not Alone

Had a very poor night's sleep but got an early start.  Breakfast was similar to my experience yesterday - some careful dancing to make sure that the social distancing was realized.  My early observation is that this seems to make people more caring and courteous - maybe some good will come of this scourge.

Headed out after breakfast, but ten minutes later realized that I had forgotten to empty the fridge. (I know that I don't need to bare my soul regarding my ineptitude, but it does add to the story😏).  So I returned to the motel figuring the loss of a half hour would be more than made up by the time saved in not having to buy meals, and that would be if any restaurants were still open.  Was on my way for good by 7:50 a.m.

Traffic was surprisingly sparse all day and caused no delays, but road work certainly did.  Lost a half hour near Winston-Salem and a few minutes at a half dozen other construction sites.

At about 2 p.m. I was feeling a bit groggy so I put my head back for about 20 minutes at a rest area.  Was good for the rest of the day!

Once I made the turn at Erie I knew I had it made.  And I rang the bell (my key and fob were with Mardi to replace hers that went to her office manager so she could pick up the mail) at 9 p.m. exactly.

Ten minutes later, my lady had poured my rye and coke.  Life is good!

And I won a game of Skip-Bo before settling down to pen this epic post.  The world is unfolding (in unit #401) as it should.  But I have a feeling that life is never going to be quite the same, comfortable experience we are used to.  Won't know much for at least 14 days, the time of my isolation.

The following picture was taken by Mardi a couple of days ago.  No egrets or herons yet, but beautiful just the same.  Certainly glad to be home!

Note for Matt:  I fueled up in North Carolina at $1.99 per gallon.  Fifteen minutes later I crossed into Virginia and saw a sign for $1.63.  But don't pass too far by.  You're into West Virginia before you know it and their price was $2.33.  Safe travels for you and Calvin.

This will likely be my last post for this adventure.  Thanks for riding along folks!

The Party's Over

Packed up this morning and loaded the van.  While I was doing that, Calvin and Matt were preparing a care package for me - sandwiches, crackers, apple and drinks.  Thanks guys!  I only need to stop for bathroom breaks and gas now.

Said our (sad) goodbyes at 10:20 and I was on my way.  Made stops at 12:20, 3:15 and 6:10 before settling in Richburg, South Carolina, between Columbia and Charlotte after 7 p.m.

Traffic was fairly heavy, but that was not a problem in Florida or most of Georgia where I-95 is at least three lanes each way.  However, when you get to South Carolina, I-95 is only two lanes each way and the bottleneck stretched back 3 kilometres from the border.  Stop and go for those 3 and another five, but even then it was slow all the way to I-26 (140 kilometres!)

Nevertheless, I'm within striking distance of home (11.5 hours of driving left, traffic notwithstanding).  We'll see what tomorrow brings.

South Carolina has all of its digital highway signs saying:
               Save Lives Now
                  Stay Home
                 COVID - 19

It was interesting at the rest areas.  People were trying not to be too obvious, but most were doing a little dance to keep their distance.

The next few months will be very interesting times.  It hits close to home - David tells me that he has had a significant percentage of his Easter Lily crop cancelled.  Expensive compost!

Will report again tomorrow night.

Sayonara

Headed for Lake Wales Country Club this morning for what turned out to be our final game in Florida for this year.  Weather was hot (over 30 C), humid and no breeze.

I covered all the bases today, scoring every number from a birdie 2 to a double bogie 10, finishing up with 103.  Amazingly, I survived four golf days in a row without my game totally collapsing!

And, although I didn't wear it, they had found the back brace I lost here in my previous game, so I'm ready for the Ontario golf scene.

The Sand Hill Cranes were parading their kids.  This mother appears to have a broken wing.  Perhaps a stray golf shot?

This is a nice spot.

We were more than half way home when Calvin realized that he had left his glasses on the cart.  We got back to the course 5 minutes before the pro shop closed and he retrieved them.

Nevertheless, we got home in time for Chef Mateo's spaghetti and meat balls.

Excellent as usual!

A few games of Euchre then ensued.  Calvin and I went down to defeat 3 games to 1.

And finally, the author in his studio.

The Happy Gang is breaking up.  Tomorrow morning I pack and start the journey home.  Calvin and Matt will likely leave the next day (they have to stay and eat Matt's chili).  Fred will head to his sister's for an undetermined time - Lil is not coming down as had been planned since she would have to go into the 14 day self isolate upon her return before she could go back to work.

All good things must come to an end it seems.  But, I plan to continue to report each night until I am back in Ontario with my sweetie.

Royal St. Cloud

Heard back from Mardi today.  Her flight was delayed, and by the time she and Maureen got home it was 2:30 a.m.  But no complications, so that was good.

The boys headed to Royal St. Cloud which is one of the best maintained courses we play.  

Despite a 10 (two lost balls) and a 9 (two more lost balls) I managed a 102.  Somewhere in there is some potential!

The Sand Hill Cranes were parading their young family additions today.

Fun to watch!

At the 8th hole on each of Royal St. Cloud's three nines there is a phone booth where you can call the clubhouse and order lunch.

Fred packed a lunch for each of us today so we didn't need to avail ourselves of this service.

From the golf course we headed to Miller's Ale House so Matt could savour the Monday night special of Baby Back Ribs.  The rest of us made other choices.  For example, I got 6 pieces of fish with chips for $8.99 (three pieces came home with us for tomorrow's snack) which allowed me enough money left over to buy a Mimosa. 

The startling thing is, that even though Miller's was busier than most restaurants on their best night, the parking lot had lots of openings at 5 p.m.  Unheard of!!!

And when several of the 50 or so TV's showed a news item about coronavirus the volume was turned up.  Also unheard of!!!

The golf course at Orange Lake has issued an advisory about all the ways that they are trying to maintain sanitary conditions on the courses.  Things are certainly changing rapidly!

But, I'm going to reference an item that Jill Parker, aka Helga, shared with us.  It helps to maintain a positive attitude.

Getting outdoors - not cancelled
Music - not cancelled
Family - not cancelled
Reading - not cancelled
Singing - not cancelled
Laughing - not cancelled
Hope - not cancelled

Let's embrace what we have.

Certainly, here in Davenport we have embraced getting outdoors and laughing!

Tomorrow we don our green shirts and head to Lake Wales for St. Patrick's Day golf.  That should also be good for some laughs.

Home Alone

Matt's back was still bothering him and Maureen needed to pack so the other four of us headed to Swiss Fairways.  This time we managed to knock down a water skier!

But he wasn't hurt too badly because he was able to plow water shortly after.

We do have fun on this course!

Well, some of us do.  Mardi beat me by 3 holes and 8 strokes today.  Boy am I glad she's gone home for two weeks!  Calvin and Fred are much easier to handle and Matt's bad back may keep him under control as well.

After golf and a shower (temperature was over 30 C today with no breeze) Matt drove me and the ladies to the Tampa Airport.  Haven't heard yet whether they have reached Hamilton Airport or what rigmarole they had to go through.

Watching the CHCH news it appears that things are just going to get tighter at the border as the coronavirus continues to gain momentum.

Tomorrow we head to Royal St. Cloud for golf.  And it's Monday night so Miller's baby back ribs special is on the menu.

The Boys Have Arrived

Mardi and I played Sanctuary Ridge with Fred, while Matt and Maureen went to pick Calvin up at the airport.

It was very hot, but we hung in like the troopers we are.

Sanctuary Ridge is beautiful as you can see, but the course conditions leave a lot to be desired.

We headed home to find Calvin on the pool deck.

....and we enjoyed the pool before dinner - Italian Lovers Pizza.

I suppose that I should divulge the fact that I beat Mardi by one hole, but she had taken one stroke less.  Could it be because of the hole where I took five shots to get out of two bunkers?

We're all tired tonight due to the heat, although that's what made the pool more inviting.  So it's off to bed early.

Tomorrow Mardi and I, Calvin and Fred, take on Swiss Fairways, while Matt rests his back and Maureen does her packing (does that sound fair?).  Then it's off to Tampa to send the ladies home to Hamilton.