Covid-19: Outdoor activities

I'm back! Okay, I'm still planning on migrating to Wordpress, but it intimidates me. So I'll take my chances here again with this one.... It's just a simple musing on today, and this whole thing.

On our afternoon walk, up behind the industrial park—first, the meander on pine duff through the forest, then the straight, hard sandstone path up to the ridge—we ran into a fellow practicing his archery. We saw him up ahead, standing there, and called Milo back. He yelled that he was just packing up. I thought I saw a longbow in his hands—which I suppose could have given me pause, but it didn’t. There was also a rectangle of cardboard propped up in the trail, which my mind quickly translated to “target.” As we approached he explained that with the archery ranges all closed, he’s been having a hard time finding a place to exercise his sport—but he soon realized that that particular spot probably wasn’t the best: narrow trail, poor sightlines in case anyone was coming. He said the other day he’d driven an hour and a half out Carmel Valley to find a place, and still hadn’t come up with anything good. We suggested the now-closed Frisbee golf course, which is right across the fenceline from where he was, and he said he’d thought of that, but someone was weed-whacking there today. I pointed out that that’ll be all the weed-whacking it’ll see for weeks now, so the place could be all his. He seemed to like that idea.

The interaction made me think about how we are used to using space, and how, with this shutdown, the rules (such as they are) have changed. Of course, not having access to archery ranges is a big deal, if you’re an archer. Where else can you go and shoot pointy projectiles at great velocity? But more than that, there is a feeling of watchfulness—and of being watched—now. Of doing things “correctly.” The question of masks. (None of us moved to put a mask on as we stood and chatted, but I can imagine that in another situation we all would have—following leads.) Not petting other people’s animals. Keeping one’s distance.

I’ve always felt invisible, which gives me a certain amount of freedom in the world (or so I think). Who would care what I’m doing in my space, if I’m not bothering anybody? Who’s going to notice? Well, now everybody notices. You see people pulling their masks out of their pockets when you’re hundreds of feet apart. I do too. I may be invisible, but I’m playing by the rules. Mostly.

California Governor Newsom’s office published a list the other day of all the activities that it’s okay to do now, during shelter-in-place. “We want you to see sunsets,” he said. “We want you to enjoy activities outdoors. What we don’t want is people congregating outside in large groups.” The list is extensive—those interns must have had a rollicking good brainstorming session:

-- Athletics

-- Badminton (singles)

-- Throwing a baseball or softball

-- BMX biking

-- Canoeing (singles)

-- Crabbing

-- Cycling

-- Exploring rock pools

-- Gardening (not in groups)

-- Golf (singles, walking – no cart)

-- Hiking (on trails and paths allowing distancing)

-- Horseback riding (singles)

-- Jogging and running

-- Kite boarding and kitesurfing

-- Meditation

-- Outdoor photography

-- Picnics (with your stay-home household members only)

-- Quad Biking

-- Rock Climbing

-- Roller Skating and Roller Blading

-- Rowing (singles)

-- Scootering (not in groups)

-- Skateboarding (not in groups)

-- Soft martial arts – Tai Chi, Chi Kung (not in groups)

-- Table tennis (singles)

-- Throw and catch an American mini football, Frisbee, or Frisbee golf (not in groups)

-- Trail running

-- Trampolining

-- Tree climbing

-- Volleyball (singles)

-- Walk the dog

-- Wash the car

-- Watch the sunrise or sunset

-- Yoga

But hey! Where’s archery on this list? (And how did “Wash the car” get in there?) No, but seriously, the reason I mention this is—partly—as a record of “these times of Covid-19,” but also to comment on a comment that a friend made on FB, to wit: “I appreciate the state trying to be thorough and specific, but . . . saying the government ‘allows’ meditation, photography, and watching sunsets has an unpleasant totalitarian tinge to it.” To which I responded, “Oh, I don’t see it that way. It’s just a list for people who don’t know what-all they CAN do. I do agree that those particular activities are a little surprising. . . . Then again, a professional photographer I know has been conducting a hearty discussion on whether it’s okay for him to drive places to do his photography—so perhaps this list will give him some relief on that count.”

Morning Light, Yosemite, by Don Smith

This photographer’s discussion (his name is Don Smith) had people splitting pretty much down the middle: NO, you shouldn’t drive places to photograph because what if everyone decided to follow your lead; and YES, go ahead: you’re by yourself, no danger of infecting anyone, and you’re feeding your soul. Everybody’s got an opinion. And is there one right answer? I don’t think so. But then, I am a relativist in so many things: it depends. Like with Don’s question: I’m definitely in the YES camp, especially for him—he’s a landscape photographer. Maybe I would be in a “cautiously yes” camp if he were an urban photojournalist, assuming he deployed proper physical distancing. Then again, why does my opinion matter? Why does the opinion of anyone matter right now except the people who are calling the shots—the experts and the policymakers? And those of us making our own decisions about how to be in the world. Our opinions matter too—for us. With gentle "call-outs," perhaps, from those around us who aren't in agreement. Their opinions matter too. But strangers' opinions? There, again, is a good reason to quit social media. If only I could.

Garland Ranch Regional Park,
one of my favorite places for a hike

Back to the here and now, though: I’ve been interested to see how many people are out at the few parks that are still open—mostly behaving respectfully, now carrying a mask to slip on when another person is in sight, maintaining six feet of distance. Of course, so many people, used to going to a job, out to dinner or for a drink, are probably climbing the walls at home, and need an outlet. It has changed the formerly fairly solitary nature of my regular walks in regional parklands. Not that I object—why would I? how could I? It’s just interesting.

I don’t have any single point in all this. Just that, Covid-19 is still here, and it’s still got us locked down. People’s responses are all over the map, from polite, patient resignation (that would be me) to adamant insistence that people follow the rules to open resistance on statehouse steps. Maybe that’s not so different from usual, except that we’ve all got a single focus now: the virus, and when things will go back to “normal.”

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Monterey County confirmed cases: 226; and there's been a sixth death.

Stay inside. Go outside too, but use proper physical distancing. Stay well.