Virus door openings

[MyronL]

Why not post the latest openings you know about here? Given the discussion topic it seems appropriate, and at the very least, for sure timely.

[escape artist]

Originally Posted by MyronL

Why not post the latest openings you know about here? Given the discussion topic it seems appropriate, and at the very least, for sure timely.

Hi: MyronL... I know that face... Why it's Doc Martin. The "Grumpyest" Dr. in the world!!! My Dr. and he must have been class mates!!! Alf
escape artist N.S. of Lake Erie

[MyronL]

Love you Alf, Port Wenn forever.

OK I will start: Taken today off an ABQ tv station...

"Just in time for the hot weekend ahead, New Mexico is opening some of its state parks. However, there are special guidelines in place to avoid spreading COVID-19. Starting May 1, 2020, the state is opening eight of its 35 state parks and is hoping to eventually reopen all of them.

“It’s going to be a trial and error so to speak about…this soft opening with these eight parks,” Christina Cordova, Public Relations Coordinator with New Mexico State Parks, said. “Will kind of help us work out any kinks that we have and making sure we can fully manage a safe environment for our visitors and our staff.”

"The eight parks opening first are Cimarron Canyon, Ute Lake, Brantley Lake,
Sumner Lake, Caballo Lake, Cerrillos Hills, Storrie Lake and Villanueva.

"The biggest factor in deciding which park would open first was staffing."

Have heard zero about overnight camping in NM other than it ain't happening.

[Hollybee]

We're plannig to take delivery in AZ next month and then visit relatives for a few days b4 camping our way home from AZ area. Lake Havasu, Scottsdale, Sedona, Homolovi Park.and points east...Hoping most stuff will be opening by then. Will keep ya posted as to what we find.
We HAD previous reservations at Ute Lake but had to cancel them bks of the lockdowns when we cancelled out April departure to Sumas. Is Ute Lake worth a stop?

[MyronL]

Ute Lake campground is huge, very flat (no trees) and looks to be neatly maintained, but it is currently closed, even for day use, as everything seems to be currently in NM. The lake is huge. I have never stayed there, but if I could, I would. At the moment your best bet is the private campgrounds, like in Santa Rosa, or Tucomcari, or even better; in Amarillo, TX where I think everything is open.

[Hollybee]

Originally Posted by MyronL

Ute Lake campground is huge, very flat (no trees) and looks to be neatly maintained, but it is currently closed, even for day use, as everything seems to be currently in NM. The lake is huge. I have never stayed there, but if I could, I would. At the moment your best bet is the private campgrounds, like in Santa Rosa, or Tucomcari, or even better; in Amarillo, TX where I think everything is open.

Yup..we're gonna stop at Santa Rosa and a couple casinos too after we go thru Sedona. Melissa ..today..got us a delivery date of June 8th at Lead Dog MS/RV in Lake Havasu, AZ
IMHO I bet that is where their rumored upcoming USA facility will be located..maybe.
Getting anxious all over again. We're not making reservations this time..just got a buncha addresses and phone numbers to call ahead for the next day or so on the way back. WE will have our room tagging along this time ;-)aaaahhhh.

[MyronL]

Up from Sedona at Flagstaff onto I-40 going east we've overnighted at the Winslow WalMart. If that doesn't appeal, check out Homolovi State Park (exit past Winslow onto route 87n)-- an excellently kept secret. Dinner then in town at the La Posada Hotel is highly recommended. (Assuming they're open, of course.)

Further east into NM on I-40 about 30 miles past ALBQ at the Edgewood exit is another friendly and popular WalMart overnite stop.

[Curious Mike]

The Crater Of Diamonds state park in Arkansas is reopening today with restrictions. Limit of 500 people per day allowed in the search field with a strong recommendation to buy your tickets online before going to the park to avoid disappointment. Anyone over the age of 10 must wear a mask indoors and maintain 12 feet social distancing anywhere inside or out.

[EdColorado]

The door might be opening but not without controversy.

From the WSJ.


“Americans are tiptoeing—or in some cases sprinting—their way back into a public sphere reshaped by the coronavirus. Scenes playing out across the country show that reopening will be fitful, divisive, and in some ways far more difficult than closing it down.
Tensions are intensifying between those celebrating the end of shutdowns and those fearful of the virus’s re-emergence, between those driven by economic desperation and those eager to resume a semblance of normalcy. As restrictions eventually fall in large cities including New York, Chicago and Los Angeles, those dichotomies are likely to become more acute.“

An article in today’s local rag said that thousands are descending on the mountain towns for this long weekend. Most from CO; some driving in from out-of-State. Campgrounds are full. Police and park rangers are enforcing parking and camping rules closely.

A good weekend to stay home.

[Iowa Dave]

We are so fortunate to be able to easily accommodate our family for an outside gathering this weekend. No worries about reservations, parking, crowding, firewood etc etc. I’m not jumping the gun on this one although in the past I’ve been known to open a few hunting seasons a little early.
Iowa Dave

[Curious Mike]

Originally Posted by EdColorado

A good weekend to stay home.

Years ago when I had my boat, I learned to stay home on Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends. But then, if you like to be entertained by stupid human behavior, then it's a good time to go.

[Iowa Dave]

Hi Mike
A very fine entertainment is a multiple lane boat ramp on a late Sunday or Memorial Day afternoon with a storm approaching, boaters trying to get out, slightly under the influence or cranky cause they are coming down. I went to a boat ramp and a fight broke out, just like a hockey match.
Iowa Dave

[HABBERDABBER]

I've gone to a local ramp on Lake Mendota to watch the evening circus. Saw a fellow, with drunken difficulty, get his boat on the trailer after numerous attempts and drive off....without attaching the boat bow hook to the trailer. Needless to say, crack, crunch and screeching sparks all about as the boat slid off the trailer and was dragged. He got a 10 out of 10 for his performance, in my book.


Also saw an elderly couple putting in their large boat with no dock lines available on the boat. The slight woman was struggling mightly to hold it to the dock. Even some $1 clothes line would have worked well. Too cheap? Too ignorant? I'll never know.

[EdColorado]

And nothing says Memorial Day like food poisoning from Auntie Lucie's too old potato salad.

[HABBERDABBER]

Yellow River State Forest near Harpers Ferry in NE Iowa opened partially 5/14 and we spent 3 nights there this week. 2 misty cloudy days, 1 bright sunny day and an opportunity to test out the propane water heater and furnace and solar panels. I've had the rig since last Sept. but been plugged in at parks. All worked well, beautiful Driftless creek valley landscape and maybe 10% occupied. I never got closer to another soul than five fathoms. The site posts were loaded with reservation slips for this weekend. Glad we missed the crowd. Pics attached taken with my drone.

[cpaharley2008]

Those roads look like they were once rr lines they way they go arrow straight....

[Iowa Dave]

This is a fairly narrow creek valley formed over thousands of years. High limestone bluffs on each side. This area was not affected by the last glacier and is geologically called a driftless area. Cold, spring fed creeks, hardwood forests, year around temperatures that allow trout to live and reproduce in the creeks, nesting bald eagles, and an extended stopover for northward migrating warblers who have, in hundreds if not thousands of years, evolved to go no farther and instead mate and raise their young in this “Little Switzerland” in the northeast corner of Iowa. Nice people too. Killed my first deer about 20 miles from here 55 years ago.
Camped here since 1970 with Rita.
Iowa Dave

[HABBERDABBER]

Originally Posted by cpaharley2008

Those roads look like they were once rr lines they way they go arrow straight....

Naw....they're just a loop road in the narrow Little Painted Creek valley that is nestled in good size hills and cliffs.

[MyronL]

Speaking yesterday with guardians of store entrances stopping people not wearing masks because it was store policy - they told me of enduring a torrent of serious verbal abuse from more people than they could count.

Can't help wondering why, everywhere, we see all these widely differing interpretations and rules for what to do and how to protect us and all citizens from the presence of ...a proven, deadly-dangerous enemy. Why is leadership so contradictory, so disjointed?

I think even if they sent a clear, united message of warning about this thing -- something solidly across-the-board consistent, logical, and firm, there will always be objections and complaints. The obtuse dude will abide.

I am so ready to roll, but... I dunno. Anyway - Great green grass out there! Love them boat stories....The drunk obtuse dude will ...abide.

[Curious Mike]

Originally Posted by MyronL

Anyway - Great green grass out there! Love them boat stories....

We always rented a slip in which to park the boat when we went to the lake. One afternoon a nice, expensive bass boat pulled into the slip next ours. The owner had forgot to install the plug before launching and already had several inches of water in his boat when he pulled into the slip. BTW - I have done the same exact thing a time or two except luckily I had a robust bilge pump that could just about keep up with incoming water while I found and installed the plug. Anyway, I can't remember the particulars as to why he and his buddy couldn't stay ahead of the incoming water but his boat sank to the bottom right then and there in about 6 feet of water.