Road Trippin’ in a Time of Corona Virus

Road Trippin’
with Steve McCarthy

So, how y’all holdin’ up? Staying at home? Washing your hands? Working on the Auld Crate for when this tragic madness ends? Us too. And with that much time on my hands, got me thinkin’. Dangerous. 

How do we veterans of the open road Road Trip in these dire times? Well gang, I have some ideas. 

Naturally, it is best to stay home except for the essentials. Not just so you don’t get the crud, but more importantly, so you don’t give it to others! The actual experts tell us that millions could be asymptomatic (meaning they don’t have the cough, fever, etc associated with the virus) and that means there’s a bunch of people who could be spreaders without knowing it. So, the need for precautions is vital. 

That being said, there are STILL ways to Road Trip, but caution must prevail. 

First, yes, it is legal in most areas to go out for a drive. Provided the following:
You are alone or have only people from your household with you.
You stay in your car except to get gas. I’ll cover those rules later.
You bring your own food and drink. Yes I know drive through burger places are open, but how much do you know about their sanitation? That’s what I thought. 
DO NOT USE PUBLIC RESTROOMS!! Now that is the real buzzkill. For most of us, that means an hour’s drive out and an hour’s drive home. Sure, guys can pee anywhere, but the ladies are not so inclined. And unless you bring a camp potty and want to haul your poo home...
Have masks, gloves, and wipes in abundance if, indeed, you MUST get out where there’s people. 

So, Drive to a nice place, park safely by the side of the road, have lunch, drive home. It has, in fact, been said by the CDC that it is OK to go for a drive IF you follow precautions. 

Getting Gas:
You are probably (HOPEFULLY) doing this anyway, but:
1) USE GLOVES OR PLASTIC BAGGIES TO COVER YOUR HANDS.
2) WEAR A MASK WHEN OUT OF THE CAR!
3) USE A WIPE TO CLEAN YOUR CREDIT/DEBIT CARD AFTER YOU USE IT. DO NOT PAY CASH!
4) WIPE DOOR HANDLES OFF BEFORE YOU GET IN.
5) DISPOSE OF GLOVES BEFORE YOU GET BACK IN THE CAR WHEN REMOVING GLOVES, ONLY TOUCH THE INSIDES AS YOU PEEL THEM OFF. 
6) WIPE DOWN YOUR HANDS ANYWAY. 
7) WIPE DOWN THE STEERING WHEEL. 
8)ONCE IN THE CAR, PUT THE MASK IN A BAGGIE AND SEAL IT UP. REMEMBER, IT’S YOUR GERMS THAT LINE THE THING. UNLESS THERE ARE PEOPLE NEAR YOU WHEN YOU’RE OUT OF THE CAR, THE POSSIBILITY OF OTHER’S GERMS IS LOW. 
9) AGAIN, DO NOT USE A PUBLIC RESTROOM. EVER. NEVER! 

Now, indeed there are alternatives to an actual short drive.
1) Dial up Google Maps, pick a neat place and use the street view to “drive” along the road. It’s actually kinda fun! Sit with your partner and play “I Spy” as you “drive” along. 
2) READ! Naturally, my New and Updated Road Trippin’ book  or the Road Trippin’ The Isles   are the obvious best choices. 
3) PLAN! Work up your dream Road Trip.Again, use Google Maps to plan out the ultimate Road Trip. Want to have fun? Plan a Lap of America Road Trip. San Ysidro to the Olympic Peninsula to Maine to the Florida Keys and home. Figure where you can stop. How many miles do you want to do in a day? Where do you want several rest days? How to plan that kind of mega trip is detailed in Road Trippin’ The Isles. 
4) Work on the Auld Crate. Get the old gal into tip top shape. Fix properly all those niggly irritants you just haven’t gotten around to. 

BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, STAY SAFE! USE COMMON SENSE, WASH YOUR HANDS AND STAY AWAY FROM PEOPLE!