My feelings run parallel to yours Paul. I’m grateful to be in a position, physically and financially, to cope with the pandemic without undue stress.

Keep your iPhone handy so you can call me whenever you’re trapped under the motorcycle.

Usually, you can free the locked seat with a long, flat butter knife or a steel ruler. I hope you get it free.

Yes, the mood in the world is different. At least where I live. Things seem much slower. The rush and chaos of daily life is muted a bit. The pandemic has, at least for a little while, made the world step more carefully. With that slowing and not being so intellectually and emotionally distracted by working and spending may it explains why the country seems to have exploded at policing policies that had been around for a long, long time. God forbid should the public suddenly have the wool pulled off their eyes.

I suspect all of us will be faced with a situation where our idea of being safe is in stark contrast to the people and places in which we find ourselves. I will continue to wear a mask inside any business I find myself in regardless of what others are doing. And I can see myself eating outdoors if I can find a spot that isn’t too crowded.

I hope you and Bill continue to find time and space to enjoy a ride and a beer. Be well and be safe.

Maybe not locked down forever, but perhaps a change in the way we interact in the world. I read a survey this morning of 500 epidemiologists and a majority thought it would be a year or more and perhaps never before we could shake hands with strangers or hug.

Maybe we’ll end up bowing to each other or raise a hand like Spock on Star Trek. After all, it’s the thought that counts!

What you describe sounds entirely feasible and safe. Not sure if some of the 250 motorcycle HOG rides would be possible unless they never stop anywhere. But the ones I’ve witnessed have people and machines really packed in tight when they stop for food or a drink.

I hope you can continue to ride and find new places to explore. I was wondering, are you applying your architectural skills when you daydream about virus-safe cafes and restaurants? Seems any new construction today would consider the possibility of future outbreaks of who knows what and how good design might make it easier to manage. Right now it seems moving tables and hanging plastic is the high tech solution for 2020. Oh, and tape on the floor.

Thanks for stopping in to comment. Hopefully one day I’ll get to ride your way.

We meet at a gas station where we can go inside individually and pick up something to eat and drink. We can also stop along the way and get take out food when it works.

Then we ride to one of the local parks that have outside tables and benches where we can stay appropriately apart.

It has been a good change for me. We have been to parks that we previously rode past. And the parks are quite nice. Some are along the river or in a forest. One was a historic park in the small town of Macclenny.

This weekend’s ride got postponed when we had 4 inches of rain on Sunday.

But they will be resuming this week.