Triple Digits in April

On Tuesday, April 29th, the mercury soared to 105 degrees in San Angelo. That's pretty hot for the end of April. I certainly hope that does not mean we are going to have a really hot summer.

Earlier on Tuesday, we ventured down the street to our Sam's Wholesale Club for their early morning senior time. From 7 to 9 on Tuesdays and Thursdays, geezers can shop with other geezers. This was the first time we had been in a store since March 24th, and I have to admit we felt a bit wicked. But it was a pleasant experience. There weren't that many people in the store and, since the aisles are rather wide, we never felt compromised in any way. To top it off, we found just about everything we wanted or needed. We're already planning our next trip.

Up to this point, we've not been able to find any facial masks, so we've been wearing homemade items. First, we made a couple of masks from some of the bandanas we've used over the years when we hike. We found online sites instructing how to fashion them into workable masks. Then a fellow RCW resident gave us a couple of masks that she and her group of volunteers had made. These are much better than what we made. Thanks, Geneva!

Today (Wednesday), we made an even bigger score. Another neighbor called to say that the city has come into a good supply and is giving them to residents, so we drove down to the give away zone in the parking lot of the local football field, and we picked up 2 masks. Thanks, Dick and Connie, for the tip! On the way home, we stopped by the office of RCW and picked up 2 more that the Rio Concho community is providing to residents. So, we now have a good supply.

We don't wear masks often because we don't actually get out much. Most of our shopping has been curbside, so we only put our masks on then when one of the employees approaches us for some reason. But now that we are starting to go into Sam's and possibly other stores, we'll be using them more.

Over the years, I've read a number of books on hiking the Appalachian Trail (See "The Big 3 Hiking Trails of the Continental U.S.A."). Many of the authors comment on one of the side affects of hiking that 2,100+ mile trail. It seems that when you spend 5 months -- more or less -- on the trail walking roughly at a speed of 2 miles an hour or so, you become a bit overwhelmed when you return to "normal" life off the trail. Suddenly thrust back into a world of speeding cars, these former hikers -- used to the seclusion and quiet of trail life -- suddenly feel out of their element.

For the past month or more, Donna and I have not ventured out much. Most of our curbside grocery shopping has been at the H.E.B. that is less than a mile from the gate to our community. We last filled the car with gas on March 24. Since that time, we've used less than a quarter tank.

When we got out earlier today to pick up the masks, we had to travel a bit farther than normal. Like hikers coming off the trail, we were a bit overwhelmed at how many people were on the streets and how fast they were zipping around.

I need to find a good trail to live on, I think.

Stay safe out there!