“Now, on this road trip, my mind seemed to uncrinkle, to breathe, to present to itself a cure for a disease it had not, until now, known it had.” – Elizabeth Berg, Novelist
Things change dramatically every day in the first 2 weeks of March, 2020.
Good instincts (Divine guidance?) allow us to pull the plug on our EU “sabbatical” just a few days before planned departure on March 8 – to Milan!
Instead, we head out via car into the vast protection of the American Southwest.
Spend three glorious days in Sedona, AZ at quirky Cozy Cactus. Our access to the majestic, sacred Vortex distances us from the gathering global panic. Traveling onward, we hope to “weather the storm” in Santa Fe – eating New Mexican food, staying in Old Town at historic Casa Culinaria.
We remain vigilant and attempt to minimize exposure to infection, and fear. Our chances seem reasonable – when we arrive, there are a total of 3 reported Covid-19 cases in New Mexico: 2 people returned from NYC, 1 from Milan.
After a week of agitated uncertainty, given hourly proclamations of escalating restriction by the Governor of New Mexico, we determine to flee the illusion of protected anchorage, and return home to tough it out in our familiar environs.
“Breakin’ rocks in the hot sun…Guess our race is run…We fought the Law and the Law won!” (so goes our version of the old 60’s rock and roll song)
So…. we head back home in a crazy 2-day run. Along with the “kickers” and the truckers, we bear witness to a new chapter of the American West. In the opposite direction on former Route 66, a monumental column of cars and RV’s move across the Arizona desert fleeing the unknown consequences of California’s lockdown.
“Stay safe and sane” now means more than just kind sentiment, it guides the GPS of exposed lives on the road from ruin.
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All images captured on iPhone 11 Pro Max.
Click on any photo to ride the carousel:
What?? No toilets worth photographing?? Or is that what the nature shots are?
Glad to hear you changed destinations!!
Happy trails…Stay well.
Much love, Martha
Great photos as always. Glad to hear you are both home and ‘safe.’