Traveling during the pandemic shows our writer the difference between the states.
Traveling during the pandemic to Albuquerque
In mid-March, and two days after I lost
my jobs due to edicts of economic destruction imposed by Colorado Governor Jared Polis, I drove south on I-25 to Albuquerque to stay with family. The plan was to save money while I looked for work. The drive itself was fairly non-eventful, though I stopped
at a grocery store in Trinidad near the Colorado-New Mexico border and it was packed like humans in a sardine can with long lines at the cashiers. Nobody wore masks or gloves.
At the beginning of April, two weeks
later, I was on the road again, this time back to Colorado. On a warm, sunny morning there was no traffic. A few semi-trucks were spaced out miles apart, a pattern repeated all the way home. In New Mexico, state police cruisers could be seen at the edges of
most cities and towns along the interstate. But on I-25 between Las Vegas and Raton, which has some of the longest and straightest sections of the interstate, there was no traffic. No semi-trucks. No state police. It was amazing and peaceful. I was in the middle
of nowhere, and it was blissful. I loved it.
I got home to a snowy Manitou Springs.
I missed my apartment, my friends, my neighbors, and of course, my jobs. For the next few days, I cleaned the apartment and also the fridge, which was yucky. I watered the plants. Sorted the mail. Applied for jobs at grocery stores. Talked to friends and neighbors,
some of whom were my former coworkers. I missed my life in Colorado. After a few quick days, it was time to return to Albuquerque.
Driving in Colorado during a pandemic
Driving south on I-25 on a breezy, sunny
morning, traffic was light, though this time Colorado state police cruisers could be seen parked on exit ramps along the way. Rest areas were also closed. I stopped again in Trinidad at the same grocery store I visited earlier in March, and this time, there
were no long lines. Some employees wore gloves. As I paid for my beet juice, an employee came and brought me a little jar of hand sanitizer, which I used. And then I went upstairs to use the restroom before heading back on the road.
The restrooms were located near an employee
break room. A small group of people were sitting at the table, with some using a nearby computer screen. It looked like people were filling out job applications as papers and pens could be seen on the table. Nobody wore masks or gloves. Social distancing didn’t
seem to be a factor. Regardless, I left the store with lots of questions, mostly directed towards Governor Polis.
In New Mexico, unlike Colorado, rest
areas were open. I saw cars parked and people walking around the rest areas. No state police could be seen anywhere. I stopped in Las Vegas for a quick lunch. Saw lots of people walking outside without masks, though a few did. At a gas station, as I pumped
fuel into the car, I saw a group of teenagers exit the gas station and pile into a small car. Some folks back in Manitou Springs were gushing outrage on social media whenever they saw anyone not wearing a mask outside, and I wondered what they would think.
In any case, the rest of the drive back became normal with more traffic on the road, especially between Santa Fe and Albuquerque.
Tips Before you Leave Home
A friend from Colorado Springs recently asked about my travels to and from New Mexico and I gave him some pointers since he was thinking about driving to another state to stay with his family. So, let me give you a few tips if you decide to head out on the interstates. First, you can check gas prices at GasBuddy.com; I stopped in Las Vegas to fuel up since gas was roughly $.50 a gallon cheaper than in Trinidad, Colorado, a trend that continues today. I had no trouble getting across the border each time but some states are requiring mandatory 14-day quarantines if you drive across the state border, such as in Texas. You can see which states have specific instructions and guidelines regarding interstate travel at this article from the New York Times.
Since spring is here and that means snow storms, it is a good idea to check the state highway websites and webcams before leaving to be sure the roads on your trip are open. If you enjoy road trips like I do, now is a great time to get into the SUV or RV and head out. Be sure to watch out for state police; in some states, like Colorado, rest areas are closed, but in other states, rest areas are open. So, plan accordingly.
Have fun and be safe.
