2020 showed so much promise for travel and adventure and then, like everyone else on the planet, our plans were derailed by COVID-19. As one neighbor put it, “our wings have been clipped.” And while we wait out the stay-at-home orders and nationwide closures, we are dreaming of our next road trip.
After leaving Austin earlier than planned on March 18 we headed towards home via Waco, Midland, TX, and Las Cruces, NM.
It was a much faster trip coming home…about five days. On the way back to Arizona we witnessed increasing shutdowns of rest areas, stores, and restaurants. Empty grocery store shelves caused even greater discombobulation. Every day brought a scary new reality. Many of those new realities seem to be sticking around for awhile.
For the last month we’ve been glad to be off the road and in the safety of our little townhome in Prescott, AZ. It’s not a bad place to be if you have to be grounded! 
Throughout April we’ve stayed very close to home, venturing out just to go to the grocery store or to get exercise. We can hike the trails right from the house, and we enjoy some of the country’s best mountain bike trails.
Our little community has grown closer during this time. Ever since stay-at-home order was issued, we have been gathering (with appropriate social distance) in the parking lot at 4:00 p.m every day for happy hour. 
It’s BYOB and chair and it only lasts an hour but it’s a been a great way to stay connected and support one another. We’ve even celebrated birthdays while following the recommended guidelines for safety! It’s been a great time to be in Prescott with beautiful weather and lots of outside time.
Later this week I’m headed in to have surgery on my foot in hopes that four years of pain while hiking and walking will be addressed. Now that elective surgeries are being done in Arizona, I jumped on the opportunity to get my issues addressed while we are grounded at home. I plan to do a few blog posts here to report on this next adventure.
Here’s hoping you and yours are healthy and safe!
Of course, when you are traveling you have to be flexible. You never know what’s on the road ahead, but none of us had this on our radar. We decided to continue on to Austin and use this as an opportunity to just be Austinites. Little did we know that Austin, and the rest of the world, was going to change dramatically during our time here.
In the first few days here we biked around the popular Lady Bird Lake, which has a 13 mile trail that encircles the lake at the center of the city. Taking us through downtown, Zilker Park, a lengthy boardwalk, and other highlights, we biked the trail several times. We did a little city exploring, too.
Like most people, we’ve spent quite a bit of time following the developments of the pandemic and with each day our game plan has changed. The signs of the times are all over Austin, just as they are across the world. Shelves emptied, events cancelled, and even the gym at our RV Resort has been closed until further notice. Today the bars and restaurants were shut down and we stood in line to get into the grocery store. We are grateful to be feeling fine with the ability to practice social distancing in our little home away from home.
We’ve been looking for opportunities to practice social distancing while still making the most of our time here. One day we visited an area called the Veloway, a city-managed, bike only path. 
The three mile loop had plenty of hills and curves challenged us for awhile. We were able to get some exercise, see a new place, and not be in contact with other people. Another day we hit 
Lined with camps, parks, and homes, the road looked like the place to be when the weather turns warmer. We’d love to come back.
He was set on redemption and the Run the Alamo race was his opportunity. After a few months of no races, lots of training, rest, and my pasta dinner the night before, he was well prepared. And HE WON!!
We’re now in Austin for what was supposed to be the big event: South by Southwest (SXSW). The event has been cancelled, along with the Chris Stapleton concert for which we had purchased tickets. We’ll post another blog related to this craziness.
Marnie and Steve Travel 