randyjawa 

Lots of talk about the virus, everywhere, even on this forum. I have watched friends take the situation lightly. They/we are making a mistake.

I am not all that afraid of getting the Carona virus. I don't want to get it as I am pretty sure that it will be the end of me (old with lung and blood disease, not to mention a heart attack survivor). What I am afraid of is the panic that has already started...

I had to run from Jamaica, barely getting the last international Canadian flight out off of the island. International flights ended yesterday. My wife and I were, to put it mildly, frightened. But we made it home, in a full to the nuts Westjet flight (people wearing gloves and masks) to even more surprises and panic like behavior...

Little, if any, toilet paper available in Winnipeg. People hoarding stuff? Empty shelves, according to my daughter and her husband (I cannot see for myself as my wife and I are under 14 day quarantine). They, by the way, have been on a butt wipe quest for a few days now. Lucky, they did buy extra when they saw the starting up of unusual buying behavior.

I look at this forum and see that people are trying to sort it all out. One member suggested a virus build, coupled with intentions of helping others. I would say that, if you really want to help, hook up with an organized group who need volunteers to do the work. The results you achieve will be much more effective.

Anyway, we got the heck out of the Treasure Beach ghost town, worked our way across the island and several armed check points, to finally arrive at the Sangster airport in Montego Bay. The airport was not nearly as busy as it usually is (made this trip over thirty times during my years). It took hours to get us booked in with bags dropped. We both carried a bleach and water soaked rag to wipe things off with. We had no masks. No rubber gloves. And no hand sterilizer. They were just not available on the Jamaica side of the security gate.

Now, we are into day two of our 14 day self imposed quarantine (we had to agree verbally and in writing that we would subject ourselves to the quarantine) and seem to have no symptoms, so far. My biggest concern, right now, is that my wife and I did not bring the virus into our daughter's home.

My main concern is that this is all going to get worse before it gets better. But at least we are with our family.

And, with luck, my wife and I will be back at our summer cottage in about five weeks and, unless I am taking harp lessons, I will finish this two year long build...

noglider 

I am wishing for the best for you, Randy, as well as for everyone else. I'm pretty shaken up, but we have to keep working on survival, and we have to help each other however we can.

sloar

My main concern is my family. We’re doing extra shifts at the fire department since we’re also an ambulance service. Things haven’t got out of control yet but we’re ready if it does. I’m just afraid of bringing it home.

ascherer 

Wow Randy, glad you and your wife made it home safely. My wife and I were just down the road a bit on Cave Mountain in Kentucky. We split on Saturday, passed a checkpoint on B8. Sangster operations seemed fairly normal. We had planned to be on Cape Cod for a few days this week but we cancelled that so our second week of vacation is at home. Here in NYC it's very quiet but I was able to get all the groceries we needed yesterday at our local Trader Joe's. Now I get to mount two fender tail lights (one on the bike below) and finish dialing in my wife's new cockpit, assuming Spring Cleaning doesn't take the full week. .

randyjawa 

All most of us can do is to take the virus situation seriously.

I am trying to do my best, following all suggestions offered by health organizations.

We can do little about the virus.

But we can, with great certainty, do a lot about how we, as individuals, react and behave in yet another virus appearance.

Best of luck to all.

fishboy316 

Glad you made it back Randy! That would have been scary for sure. I agree that the main concern is bringing it home to my people as I am a Verizon Network Technician and Essential personnel. My wife just finished Chemo and that bothers me. Hang in there folks and be careful.
Prayers for you guys
Bill

noglider 

Prayers for your wife and the rest of your family, fishboy316. My wife had breast cancer in 2003, so I know a bit about chemo. And a friend of mine was just diagnosed with advanced breast cancer. She is already vulnerable and needs to become more so in order to get better. Scary times.

squirtdad

for all the bad stories (hoarding etc) with california on 'shelter in place" I am seeing the vast majority of people being nicer and more patient than normal.

Getting out and riding and getting some vitamin D is a good thing......but not in a paceline

I am going to make pizza dough and deliver a "pizza kit" to my neighbor across the street who has 2 1/2 year old, 8 year old, husband, and dog all male.....she is out numbered this will distrract kids for a bit

glad you got home safe randy

Narhay

Covid19 in a foreign country or Thunder Bay in March... hmm...

OldsCOOL

Glad you made it out safely. I’m confident the TP shortage and people going full nutso will calm soon enough. Hope all goes well with you and yours.

Clang

As a retail employee, I'd advise to get to the store 10-15 min after it opens on a day they receive freight (with us it's Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday- but that'll differ from store to store). If you decide to come right when the store opens, prepare for a bigger crowd. Good luck and stay safe!

alo

There are / will be people trapped somewhere they don't want to be, who are unable to return home. For some of them it will be more difficult than others.

Russ Roth

Hope you did make it back illness free, people have gone a bit crazy around here when it comes to groceries/TP but otherwise seem to be staying calm and laid back.

Roypercy

I'm glad you and your wife made it home, Randy. All the best to you and to everyone on the forum. I'm praying the worst case scenarios don't come true, but we're doing our part to stay safe and follow recommendations. Far rather safe than sorry. My wife and I are both theater teachers, and our colleges have switched to completely online teaching. It's been chaos, and we're still trying to figure it out. I check into BF a few times every day when I can't take the round of emails and Zoom meetings any longer. Stay safe, everybody.

USAZorro

Glad you're back, hoping for the best for you.

MeadMan2

Good luck to all of you! Even though I am 81, I think I have a strong immune system & no underlying conditions. However my wife is 77 & is a type 1 diabetic so I have to be careful for her. The weather here in Minnesota has allowed me to ride my bike. I don't like to ride when there is ice on the roads & trails. I am too old for that.

randyjawa 

At first I did not understand this message. Now I do and, believe me, I seriously considered staying there, rather than returning home to Canada. But, as I mentioned in a previous post, I am not afraid of the virus and I am a high risk target. What feared me most in Jamaica was the growing concern with potential panic. And, believe it or not, mild panic had started before I made the call to bail. Glad I did but I soooooo miss riding in Ja...

qcpmsame 

Glad that y'all made it out and back home Randy. Best wishes on a successful, clear quarantine period too.

Bill

Mad Honk 

Randy,
I'm glad you made it home safely and are in good hands. I'm not so sure about riding inside a barbed wire fenced in area though! I'm used to being out in a lot of social settings though, and three weeks of SIP is gonna drive me to distraction. I'll find a coping measure, but it is a change for me. Smiles, MH

jimmuller 

Thank you for your work. May your efforts to help others not be at the expense of your family.

wrk101

Not knowing, but I would expect the medical facilities will get overwhelmed sooner in Jamaica than in Thunder Bay. And if sick, I would rather be home than on a trip somewhere.

randyjawa 

A second powerful incentive to return to Canada. And not just because of available medical facilities. My wife and I are now with family and that is really important to me.

The Golden Boy 

Thank goodness you're home safely Randy- and I'm glad you're taking the 'voluntary' quarantine seriously.

I work at a hospital and do take this seriously.