People are Back

[Sam]

On June 3rd my wife and I drove to see my knee doctor (lots of pain and I was worried about surgery) and we went via I-64 stopping at the Williamsburg Prime Outlets where we found some cars but the majority of the parking lots were empty. My wife got her pocket book and I got my socks and we headed back on I-64 to Newport News to see the doctor.  I-64 was empty. Hardly any vehicles on the highway in either direction during our Wednesday trip.

 

Fast forward to Friday, June 5th when my wife and I headed back on I-64 to Norfolk to cross the Chesapeake Bay to head up Route 13 to Dagsboro, Delaware. I-64 was pack solid. Bumper to bumper. We stopped once again at the Prime Outlets so my wife could exchange her new pocketbook for another and the parking lots were starting to fill up. People were everywhere in the outlets. Young and old. Guys and gals. Everyone was doing some shopping.

 

We got back on I-64 and once again had bumper to bumper traffic heading into Norfolk where we took the Northampton Blvd. exit to Mission Bar-B-Q for lunch. Mission BBQ was busy but we could sit inside the restaurant.  The Chic-fil-a adjacent to Mission BBQ was packed, with the car line going outside of their parking lot into the street.

 

Traffic on Route 13 after crossing the Bay Bridge and Tunnel was a little on the heavy side. Crossing the Bay Bridge we had a lot of traffic in both directions and in the area of the Thimble Shoals tunnel there were at least 40+ boats fishing. We had bass boats; Carolina Skiffs; large inboards; and deep water fishing boats of all sizes and shapes. I have not seen so many boats in one area of the bridge tunnel in my life. And the boats were also along the length of the span. What got me were the two guys in the Carolina Skiff along with the two guys in a 14-foot skiff. I have no idea where they launched their boats but they were in the mix with all of the other fishermen.

 

That evening I went to the Giant grocery store in Millville and it was packed. Everyone was wearing a mask which made me feel good about being around all those people. I also had to go to G&E Hardware to get my 2020 Delaware fishing license and that hardware store was people to people. The fishing department was hit really hard. The lady who help me get the licensed told me it was like that all day from when they opened their doors into late afternoon.

 

On Sunday, June 7, my wife and I traveled from Milville to Georgetown's Walmart to get some stuff for our granddaughter's birthday party. Route 113 in Delaware heading north was packed solid. It was like the traffic you get after a football game or the evacuation from a hurricane. Bumper to bumper. In fact, it was so dense that we did not try to cross the highway to go to the Burger King or McDonald's for lunch.

 

And it was elbows to elbows in Walmart. We got a slip and slide at Walmart, leaving only two on the shelf. The Walmart lady who helped find the slip and slide was surprised as she said they had at least 12 on Friday night when she straighten up the shelves.

 

Heading back to Richmond on Monday, June 8 proved no problem. Busy but moving traffic until we hit I-64 West outside of Williamsburg and we picked up lots of vehicles heading towards Richmond. And for the first time we had to sit in traffic to cross Queens Creek where VDOT is replacing the old bridge. The beaches were lined with people, too, as we crossed back onto land after crossing the Chesapeake Bay. As far as you could see in both directions there were people and dogs.

 

It looks to me like people are tired of this quarantine. I think this is going to translate into more and more people on our lakes and rivers fishing, boating, skiing, tubing, and scuba diving.

 

So what is going on in your neck of the woods? Same thing as we countered in Virginia, Maryland, and Delaware? Let us know. Thanks

[Log Catcher]

They are still limiting the number of people that can be in a store at a time. Restaurants are only allowed to use 1/3 of there seating to maintain social distancing. Traffic is somewhat heavier than it has been. 

As for your knees I don't know how bad yours are. I had knee replacement surgery on both knees done last year. You go through about a month of pain and wondering if you did the right thing. After that you will be much better. I went through in home and outpatient physical therapy plus the exercises they told me to do at home. I am glad I did it and am doing much better now that all my knee pain is gone.

[Sam]

12 hours ago, Log Catcher said:

They are still limiting the number of people that can be in a store at a time. Restaurants are only allowed to use 1/3 of there seating to maintain social distancing. Traffic is somewhat heavier than it has been. 

As for your knees I don't know how bad yours are. I had knee replacement surgery on both knees done last year. You go through about a month of pain and wondering if you did the right thing. After that you will be much better. I went through in home and outpatient physical therapy plus the exercises they told me to do at home. I am glad I did it and am doing much better now that all my knee pain is gone.

Thanks, Log.

 

I had my right knee replaced five years ago and I was very worried about my left knee. Not worried about the surgery, it was a walk in the park. But the PT to get the movement was a killer.

 

I still cringe when I see a stationary bike that I had to ride to keep motion in the knee.

 

I would suggest everyone wth knee problems need to see a qualified surgeon to discuss knee replacement. As you said, everyone will be glad they did it. After the recovery physical therapy is over.

[gim]

12 hours ago, Log Catcher said:

They are still limiting the number of people that can be in a store at a time. Restaurants are only allowed to use 1/3 of there seating to maintain social distancing. Traffic is somewhat heavier than it has been.

This is us too.  25% capacity at gyms, inside dining, movie theaters, and bowling alleys starting Wed, June 10.  Churches can operate at 50% capacity.  I've really got the itch to hit up the gym later this week.  Traffic isn't quite back to normal yet because even at peak rush hour time in the afternoon the flow is at a normal pace.  Normally there would be at least some brake lights and slowdowns during that time.

[N Florida Mike]

Traffic is picking up during the day around here, but rush hour in the morning is still eerily quiet. Im writing this at 7:10 a.m. Usually by now you would hear the roar and sounds of traffic on the roads going towards town and it’s completely quiet out there. The shortcut out of my neighborhood ( no stop light) is very difficult to get out of in the morning, but has been easy since the virus, and still is.   
Business for us has been great though lately.May was a big boost after a below avg. march and april.

[Bird]

Same scenario here in the north western part of VA, everything opening back up.

 

Interstate 81 back to capacity, perhaps beyond. 

 

Churches, restaurants, and all state and GWNF campgrounds open and most already booked for the summer. 

 

This Covid is going to have a slingshot effect on the economy I believe. 

 

Already mentioned in another thread that I fished a 31 acre lake " lake Robertson " with 37 other boats, it's been crazy. 

 

AND, the wife and I finally get to go to our favorite Italian restaurant Friday evening. 

 

 

[Kyle S]

Fellow Virginian here @Sam, everywhere has been noticeably busier lately like you've stated. I went into Surfside Bait and tackle over the weekend to buy the fiancé a fishing license, and the couple that owns the place are quite worried about being able to keep up with the tackle demand. Like that at many places I would imagine. Glad to see things slowly returning to 'normal.'

[The Bassman]

The tempo has picked up here in central IN. since restrictions have eased. Went out to eat with my son for the first time in months. Another thing I'm noticing is that I have the ponds I fish pretty much to myself. We had a stretch about a month ago when the weather got nicer that things got crazy.  Bored, confined people finally have other things to do.

[Mobasser]

Sam, I'm asking myself, " where did all these people come from"? Many , many more people out here in Missouri. Grocery stores crowded, most places full of people. Some with mask, many not.

[Sam]

3 hours ago, Mobasser said:

Sam, I'm asking myself, " where did all these people come from"? Many , many more people out here in Missouri. Grocery stores crowded, most places full of people. Some with mask, many not.

X2

[N Florida Mike]

I was on I-95 today for over an hour and it was the busiest Ive seen in a long time. There were a LOT of semis on the road too.

Rush hour is still far from normal. Not sure what this is indicating.

People vacationing because they arent working? 

 

[RoLo]

 

"PEOPLE ARE BACK"

 

Yes I know, don't rub it in   

 

Roger