There's an old Simpsons quip some of you might remember where Lisa tells Homer that the Chinese use the same word for crisis and opportunity. Some quick Googling will tell you that statement is largely false. In any case, it goes without saying that we are currently in a state of worldwide crisis as we deal with the Coronavirus outbreak, but in spite of that, there are opportunities...
In accordance with the Ohio Department of Health Director's order to stay at home that was enacted on Sunday afternoon, my employer has graciously granted me at least a week of paid leave. That's actually a little depressing, because we were just getting started with outdoor work after several months indoors. Still, I'm thankful to have an employer that not only cares about the safety of its employees and customers alike, but that also cares about the well-being of its employees to offer paid leave during this crisis.
Three days in, I've made the most of the "extra" time that's been afforded to me. Days have begun by sharing yoga with my girlfriend and daughter, in addition to sharing more meals and activities together throughout the day. For me personally, on day 1, I finished the 2nd coat of paint on what will become an office in our home. On day 2, I mowed the lawn and did some cleanup around the house. And today (day 3), I took advantage of some beautiful weather to get in a nice 14-mile ride this morning:
Part of the order has encouraged outdoor activity, albeit with the caveat that social distancing precautions are taken. As you can see from the picture above, I didn't have much trouble staying more than 6 feet away from anyone. There's good and bad news that comes with that. On the one hand, sun and fresh air is actually beneficial to low-risk individuals, so it's kind of a shame to see these ideal conditions being underutilized. However, less people out and about means less risk of potential infection, so there's that.
Before I go any further, I will mention that I am only venturing out to do things like this because I'm a middle-aged man in good health, and although I have made it a point to get outside for at least a little bit every day, I do still limit my interactions with humans outside my own home. Case in point, after spending about an hour outside (mostly alone), I will probably stay inside the rest of the day other than maybe heading out onto my porch to enjoy an afternoon beer. I don't want anyone to get the idea that I'm going out there thinking I'm invincible and not a potential carrier, and I also don't want anyone to think that what I do is good for them to do in their situation. I encourage everyone to use their best judgement and take all necessary precautions, and for the love of science, WASH YOUR HANDS.
Anyway, beyond just getting some exercise and sunshine, I did need to stop at the grocery store on the way home, so I tried a new cargo setup on the bike today. This was inspired by a random dude I saw on the trail during one of my lunch rides about a month ago:
It looks pretty nifty, if I do say so myself. Reflective panniers and a bright orange crate create high visibility, and lots of storage space to boot. More on that later.
As I mentioned above, outdoor activity has been encouraged in some respects. One area in which it's not encouraged is at playgrounds, which have all been temporarily closed here in Ohio. It makes sense, as they're definitely a haven for all sorts of germs. Still, this creates an eerie scene when you happen upon one in the middle of a beautiful day:
Furthermore, I rode past the High School and it felt very much the same when I neared the sports complex:
In the midst of all of this, I really do feel bad for the kids who are missing out on their senior athletic seasons, or all of the festivities and enjoyment that comes with being a senior in high school. I'm sure they're not all that upset about missing class time, but the friends and extracurricular activities...
Anywho, I did some meandering through some neighborhoods that I regularly work in but hadn't yet had time to explore, and I found a few new trails and other places within riding distance that I'll definitely have to revisit (including a Metro Park!). I eventually reached my only true destination about an hour later:
I didn't take any pics inside, but things were civil among patrons and workers, and I found all the groceries I was looking to buy today. It was encouraging. I'll be the eternal optimist here: everything is going to be OK. I'm sure I'm not alone in feeling depressed because of the events of late. It's completely understandable. If we can all find some positivity, do a thing (or things) we love at least once a day, and above all else be supportive of one another, I do believe that we will all be OK.
As for the new setup, there are about 40 pounds of groceries in there, plus bike tools and water. I had plenty of room for more actually, and the old boy handled the heavy lifting nicely despite having been out of action for a little while.
I do have some routine maintenance I'm going to perform hopefully later this week, but that's going to be reserved for another rainy day. I'm thinking of making it part of "shop class" with Faith, being that we're learning from home nowadays. We will all hopefully be heading back to the "office" before too long, so I'm going to continue to make the most of this opportunity. I would encourage you all to do the same, and to do so safely.
