NFT: Summer Vacation

Hersey is a great town for tourism and the kids. We wrnt there last autumn and had no complaints. The amusement park/rides wasn't open, we were aware, but the tours were great and the indoor pool/slides was a hit with us. Would go back.

We did one trip to lake george already this summer, stayed at a lake about 5 miles from LG village so it was easy to stay distant. That trip was a smash hit although we missed the 2 other families we usually go away with. They did Disney earlier this year so a financial break was needed, not covid related.

Tomorrow we leave for Lyme, Connecticut. Another lake house. Mother in law is joining us so she can entertain my daughter when my wife and I need a break ;)---and I can do some serious fishing/drinking.

All in all this summer has felt pretty normal all things considered.

Cant wait for autumn.....yikes.

Camping, Backpacking in Dolly Sods and Kayaking on the Cheat River. Might be a little wet.

go to the Parkside Hotel?

looking forward to getting away for 5 days or so

but two weekends ago went camping at Lake Otis in the Berkshires in Western, MA and it was great, not much COVID evidence at all. Some places people wore masks (workers mostly), but for the most part people were able to appropriately social distance so masks we unnecessary and on the lake no one had masks on.

Last weekend I went to a golf tournament in New Hampshire and it's like COVID never existed. No masks, no social distancing. I was in a bar (multiple bars actually). Never thought I'd see the inside of a bar again (Massachusetts has closed bars until a vaccine). I ate breakfast at a diner, ate after golf at a restaurant.

Nice change of pace to revisit the "old normal"

And unrelated I got my airline ticket fee refunded from a family trip to Europe in April that we had to cancel. I wasn't counting on that since my tickets were clearly non-refundable.

...my family cancelled our beach house in Fenwick Delaware, primarily due to concerns with getting there and services once on location, though 12 people from 3 states sharing a house was certainly part of that decisions. Rest areas on highways, grocery stores near the house were the bigger worry. The beach in Fenwick is never crowded, that wasn't the concern. But if one of us caught it - again 12 in one house - others definitely would.

To me, taking a family of 10 to an amusement park and then sharing a hotel suite is reckless. I'm sorry, but the precautions my family and friends take - hospital workers, healthcare personnel among them - I feel like we're shoveling it against a tide of people insistent on life going on, filling restaurants, bars and I can't even believe I'm saying *amusement parks*.

America now posting it's worst CoVid numbers since this thing started. 155,000 dead. But hey. SUPERDOOPERLOOPER!!!

In comment 14941592 x meadowlander said:

Quote:

...my family cancelled our beach house in Fenwick Delaware, primarily due to concerns with getting there and services once on location, though 12 people from 3 states sharing a house was certainly part of that decisions. Rest areas on highways, grocery stores near the house were the bigger worry. The beach in Fenwick is never crowded, that wasn't the concern. But if one of us caught it - again 12 in one house - others definitely would. To me, taking a family of 10 to an amusement park and then sharing a hotel suite is reckless. I'm sorry, but the precautions my family and friends take - hospital workers, healthcare personnel among them - I feel like we're shoveling it against a tide of people insistent on life going on, filling restaurants, bars and I can't even believe I'm saying *amusement parks*. America now posting it's worst CoVid numbers since this thing started. 155,000 dead. But hey. SUPERDOOPERLOOPER!!!

Cool story bro.

you are free to do as you wish (subject to local laws).

If you're not around other people you can't get it from them. Pretty simple.

You can control who you are exposed to, whether you wear a mask or not, whether you social distance or not, whether you go out in public or not, whether you go to an amusement park or not (if they're open).

Should be interesting to see 👀

need to explain myself but I will now add that this was not a decision made lightly. In fact it may have been made for us as I said the park did not even get the ok to open until June 30th. We had several discussions among ourselves as well as with the park and resort management to find out what safe guards were in place. We had a plan among ourselves to stay as safe as possible as well. It was after this we decided to go ahead with it. I for one am very glad we did. My family (2 sons,spouses and 4 grand daughters) had a blast.

In comment 14941596 pjcas18 said:

Quote:

you are free to do as you wish (subject to local laws). If you're not around other people you can't get it from them. Pretty simple. You can control who you are exposed to, whether you wear a mask or not, whether you social distance or not, whether you go out in public or not, whether you go to an amusement park or not (if they're open).

Just as long as you're in a Lowe's shopping for mulch and paint - you're OK.

Just as long as you're buying beef jerky and fingering the same, unwashed checkout screen as hundreds of others at a Walmart Supercenter in Secaucus - you're OK.

Mask up!

In comment 14941614 Bubba said:

Quote:

need to explain myself but I will now add that this was not a decision made lightly. In fact it may have been made for us as I said the park did not even get the ok to open until June 30th. We had several discussions among ourselves as well as with the park and resort management to find out what safe guards were in place. We had a plan among ourselves to stay as safe as possible as well. It was after this we decided to go ahead with it. I for one am very glad we did. My family (2 sons,spouses and 4 grand daughters) had a blast.

You don’t need to explain yourself. You took all the proper precautions. He is just another mouth breathing coronashamer. Glad you had a great time.

a few weekends ago and we’re headed to another rental on Candlewood Lake next weekend. I hesitated but our family has been pretty careful about unnecessary interactions, and those in the family who are not we’re distancing from.

My condescending uncle gave me some shit, like x meadowlander, but watching my kids play with their cousins was worth it. They’re loving the time together and it’s quintessential summer.

In comment 14941615 Route 9 said:

Quote:

In comment 14941596 pjcas18 said: Quote: you are free to do as you wish (subject to local laws). If you're not around other people you can't get it from them. Pretty simple. You can control who you are exposed to, whether you wear a mask or not, whether you social distance or not, whether you go out in public or not, whether you go to an amusement park or not (if they're open). Just as long as you're in a Lowe's shopping for mulch and paint - you're OK. Just as long as you're buying beef jerky and fingering the same, unwashed checkout screen as hundreds of others at a Walmart Supercenter in Secaucus - you're OK. Mask up!

My son quit his job in the indoor garden center at Lowes, Front St Binghamton back in April because he did not feel they were taking adequate protections against CoVid.

Within 3 weeks, they had multiple cases in house, including most of their shipping/receiving department.

Don't kid yourselves. Even shopping has risk, even in area's without major outbreaks.

...2 weeks ago, had a week camping at Wellesley Island NY up on the Thousand Islands, BUT - had our own camper. Brought all our own food and entertainment (Bikes, Kayak, Musical Gear, Games). Pee stope en-route were handled using the camper bathroom.

Once there, I had one contact in the camp office (1 individual, masked) and one at a small outdoor firewood selling business offsite (also masked).

Was a great week. Plenty of distance between sites there, great kayaking, great swimming.

Yes, it CAN be done, but geez it take a LOT of prep and planning!

...I mean, who could have predicted?!

"The CDC says nearly 600 people attended the camp. Of the 344 people whose test results were reviewed by the CDC, 260 (76%) were positive.

The report says the attack rate was 44% — and even higher for children aged 6-10 years (51%).

“These findings demonstrate that SARS-CoV-2 spread efficiently in a youth-centric overnight setting, resulting in high attack rates among persons in all age groups, despite efforts by camp officials to implement most recommended strategies to prevent transmission,” the report details."
260 kids and counselors infected with COVID-19 at Georgia summer camp - ( New Window )

but there are still plenty of good ones.

I don't see it so much as risk/reward as it is smart/stupid. We are going up to Cape Cod and renting a house that's been cleaned and with no one in it 3 days prior to our arrival. That basically erases any chance of surface contact exposure.

From there we are going to the beach and will eat outside when we go for meals. If one of us still gets it after wearing masks and staying to ourselves, then I guess we deserve it. I'm willing to do most things to keep us all safe but I'm not willing to just shelter in place until a vaccine.

In comment 14941591 pjcas18 said:

Quote:

but two weekends ago went camping at Lake Otis in the Berkshires in Western, MA and it was great, not much COVID evidence at all. Some places people wore masks (workers mostly), but for the most part people were able to appropriately social distance so masks we unnecessary and on the lake no one had masks on. Last weekend I went to a golf tournament in New Hampshire and it's like COVID never existed. No masks, no social distancing. I was in a bar (multiple bars actually). Never thought I'd see the inside of a bar again (Massachusetts has closed bars until a vaccine). I ate breakfast at a diner, ate after golf at a restaurant. Nice change of pace to revisit the "old normal" And unrelated I got my airline ticket fee refunded from a family trip to Europe in April that we had to cancel. I wasn't counting on that since my tickets were clearly non-refundable.

PJ - so you weren't concerned about not social distancing at the tournament or bars? Or is it because their isn't much COVID in New Hampshire (I'm not familiar w/ the stats there).

There are plenty of things we can all do responsibly with the proper common sense precautions. The number of risky behaviors the data show we should avoid is quite small compared to the things we can do safely while wearing a mask and distancing.

the first we stayed in a house and didn't get within 10 feet of anyone else other than food deliveries/pickups. It felt no riskier than anything we were doing at home. The other trip we had to stay in a hotel, which wasn't our first choice, but it was at 1/3 capacity and had direct access to a not too crowded beach. All the staff wore masks but not as many of the guests were as they should have been (we did including kids). We had our first few meals at restaurants (outdoors) since the pandemic began and I'd say that was probably the riskiest thing we did. It didn't seem overly risky but I'd also say that it probably isn't all that necessary or worth it. Delivery/pickup/making my own drinks is easy enough.

Another study came out a few days ago that like 75% of new cases discovered through contact tracing link back to bars, clubs, and restaurants. Keeping yourself outdoors, distanced, and wearing a mask can seemingly eliminate a pretty significant amount of risk and it's pretty manageable. Japan's 3 C's seem to the way to go.

shows exactly why we are spiking with new cases ALL OVER THE COUNTRY. How many shore parties or social gatherings infecting dozens who refuse to social distance or wear masks does it take b4 a lightbulb in people's heads gets thru to them. Very sad and very frustrating. Prayers to those we have lost from this terrible virus.

Taking the family to Maine in a few weeks. Private cabin on a lake where we can cook and lounge about without anyone else too close around us. We won’t being going out to eat or shop or doing much of anything where we might catch or spread the virus. I’ve had it - so that’s not really an issue for me but I don’t want my wife or kids exposed. We’ll wear mask whenever we are inside a public place, which we’ll also do our best to avoid.

Wear a mask, wash your hand, and for goodness sake avoid being inside with other people but if that can’t be avoided make sure everyone is wearing a mask. Avoid at all cost any super spreader events where one person can infect many others.

with friends for our yearly trip but didn’t end up going (not COVID related). They said Dover and Portsmouth were dead.

In comment 14941667 redwhiteandbigblue said:

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shows exactly why we are spiking with new cases ALL OVER THE COUNTRY. How many shore parties or social gatherings infecting dozens who refuse to social distance or wear masks does it take b4 a lightbulb in people's heads gets thru to them. Very sad and very frustrating. Prayers to those we have lost from this terrible virus.

"Shore parties..."

As if people who attend those are the only guilty parties we account for lack of (or none) social distancing without masks...

Put it back in your pants.

Just as long as you're wearing a mask.

.

Tentatively planning on driving up to New England, specifically NH/Maine, in September. But we'll see.

In comment 14941661 BillKo said:

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In comment 14941591 pjcas18 said: Quote: but two weekends ago went camping at Lake Otis in the Berkshires in Western, MA and it was great, not much COVID evidence at all. Some places people wore masks (workers mostly), but for the most part people were able to appropriately social distance so masks we unnecessary and on the lake no one had masks on. Last weekend I went to a golf tournament in New Hampshire and it's like COVID never existed. No masks, no social distancing. I was in a bar (multiple bars actually). Never thought I'd see the inside of a bar again (Massachusetts has closed bars until a vaccine). I ate breakfast at a diner, ate after golf at a restaurant. Nice change of pace to revisit the "old normal" And unrelated I got my airline ticket fee refunded from a family trip to Europe in April that we had to cancel. I wasn't counting on that since my tickets were clearly non-refundable. PJ - so you weren't concerned about not social distancing at the tournament or bars? Or is it because their isn't much COVID in New Hampshire (I'm not familiar w/ the stats there).

NH has very few cases.

I was concerned in the bar, but I believe I have already had it and I'm getting a test soon since I have to bring one of my kids to South Carolina for college the week after next and MA law says for me to come back to MA after going to SC I either need to quarantine for 2 weeks upon return or have a negative test.

I was not concerned at all at the golf tournament.