I left Sparks, Nevada (American Mensa's Annual Gathering) on Sunday afternoon, heading - after five weeks - back east. I expected to have lots to report as I meandered my way back to Bow over the remainder of July.
Unfortunately, yesterday I started having flu-like symptoms, and this morning I tested positive for Covid. So far, the symptoms have been relatively mild approaching moderate in some cases. Fever, congestion, headache, cough, aches. All the normal things. Tylenol has kept (again, so far) the fever from getting too bad. The cough is driving me crazy. And I hate having a runny nose. I'm cautiously optimistic that I will get through this quickly.
And it could be a lot worse. I am fully vaccinated and have had two booster shots. I have everything I need to keep track of how I am doing along with me. I didn't leave home unaware of the threat of illness or injury to someone traveling by themselves. I can check my temperature, my oxygen levels, my blood pressure, my heartrate and even make sure that my occasional A-Fib is not acting up. I have let my doctors know that I tested positive.
The thing that most distresses me is that now I have to isolate for at least 5-10 days. No going out to restaurants. No walking in the woods, unless I can be 100% sure I won't see anyone. And I can never be 100% sure of that! When one wants to be outside, sitting in a hotel room all day isn't the most fun.
So please think good thoughts for me: that I get over the symptoms quickly, that I test negative again soon, and that I can get back to my pilgrimage to nature and myself as soon as possible.
As soon as that happens, I will be back with commentary and pictures of the things that have brought and will bring me joy as I travel! Here's a teaser - a picture I got traveling across I-70 on Sunday afternoon.
We hope that you get over your symptoms quickly. - Catherine & Bob