Barbara

Pretty much like this, in the link I posted earlier:

As described in more detail elsewhere in applicable state public health directives (including on this page), there are a wide range of circumstances in which you may leave your home or other place of residence, even if you are not an Essential Critical Infrastructure Worker. For example, you may leave your home to work at any business or other entity that is allowed to open, to patronize local businesses, or to care for friends or family members who require assistance (as set forth below). And errands like these are not the only reasons you may leave your home: you may also leave your home with or without a specific destination in mind (for example, to walk your dog, to engage in physical recreation, or simply to get some fresh air) as long as you maintain physical distancing and do not gather with any number of people who are not members of your household.

Underhill's point about proximity to a decent-sized hospital is also well worth keeping in mind. A large part of the reason for not traveling to out-of-the-way spots is that they usually have very limited medical services and would not be able to cope with a large influx, or even a small influx, of tourists who get sick with COVID.

mlgb

Newsom may call it an "executive order" but it's only as good as enforcement, which has been virtually nonexistent. He's been caving more and more every day. I don't believe any county's funds have been withheld, proclamations to the contrary. Seems to be up to individuals to decide for themselves. And store owners to decide how to enforce masks (pretty good here). I gassed up recently and the cashier loudly said "NO" when someone unmasked tried to enter. I had to explain to the customer about the mask requirement (he must not have noticed the big sign on the door). Maybe he was here for one of the protests.

There has been zero enforcement as far as stopping anyone in a vehicle and asking for "papers". Even the enforcement of the brief (now rescinded) "order" as far as no sitting on the beach has been random, and mostly nonexistent (in LA County). And we have the worst outbreak in the state.

Might not be the answer that some people want, but it's the reality.

It's been called "Safer at Home" for a while here. Seems more descriptive of the actual situation.

A friend drove down from LA to San Diego to visit his elderly mother. Is that essential? (Leaving aside the question of whether it was smart). On the way back, his car pooped out and had to be towed. And the tow truck guy wouldn't let him go with, so he had to call an Uber.

Another factor to consider.

AustinTraveler

Surfergirl, in case you're still going to Paso, I wanted to tell you that Vina Robles is now open by appointment. You do have to order food, but that is at all the wineries.

LucieV

Which makes things easy for one who is accustomed to thinking only of oneself. And for one who is accustomed to justifying one's situation as being exceptional.

Whatever.

mlgb

Yosemite is going to open on June 11 with reservation required.
"To ensure the safety of visitors, staff and residents during the pandemic, the park is instituting a reservation system and implementing a variety of safety measures. Under the new system, visitors will need a day-use reservation, a wilderness or Half Dome permit, a camping or lodging reservation within the park, or a seat on a regional transit or tour bus. Details are available on the Yosemite National Park website."

My Y is going to reopen on June 15, first the gym followed by the pool and then limited classes will be outside with reservations required.

I have a delayed routine dental hygenist appointment on June 11.

Restaurants, movie theaters, retail stores, churches and hair salons also allowed to reopen in many counties.

All this is happening while our transmission rate is increasing.

jamie99

Disneyland may reopen mid-July (not confirmed but a strong probability, Disneyworld is reopening July 11) but I can't get my nails done and due to painful ingrown toenail have to walk around barefoot or in flipflops.

Jean

I ate lunch inside a restaurant today! It's been almost 3 months to the day since I last did that. The menu was fairly limited (it seemed some suppliers might not be back to full service yet), but it felt like progress!

schmerl

[QUOTE=jamie99;17114772 but I can't get my nails done and due to painful ingrown toenail have to walk around barefoot or in flipflops.[/QUOTE]

Can't you go to a podiatrist?

socaltraveler

We are watching the world around us open, with caution. I find there are places, like movie theatres, that I did not miss and will not return to for quite awhile. I have no real desire to sit inside a restaurant right now, but one of our favorite cafes is building a new outdoor deck, so maybe that will be worth a try. My hairdresser is moving to a new salon with a private room; I have an appointment for July 2. I only wish that my health club, which has opened to tennis, pickle ball and lap swim, could figure out how to restart water aerobics. DH’s company has everyone working at home indefinitely. And while amusement parks, zoos, etc. are scheduled to re open soon, no desire to put myself in any crowd situation, even one that they are going to limit. MY DIL told me yesterday that they went hiking with friends on the weekend, and then stopped by an open air shopping mall in the next county over. No social distancing, no masks, crowded restaurant patios. She said it was very uncomfortable. So we will stay good close by to home for awhile. Curb side pick ups for a kitchen break, and walks in the ‘hood. Since my new knee is not going to be tested on any vacation anytime soon, I bought a bike, and a helmet; adventures in riding after way too much time ahead.

mlgb

I'm not ready to eat indoors either, there are enough outdoor patio and takeout options. My outdoor adventures continue where I know there are escape routes from crowds, which doesn't include the neighborhoods since the sidewalks are too narrow (unless one walks in the street). It's been too hot recently but I'm going to try one of the larger parks here (El Dorado East) where you can distance over the grassed areas instead of narrow paths.

I haven't seen a movie inside a theatre in years.

Disneyland was always a petrie dish as far as picking something up from the other "guests".

Surfergirl

I should make this a mini-break trip report, but it seems more appropriate here. We drove from Los Angeles to Paso Robles Saturday morning, and returned Sunday afternoon. Previously planned girls' weekend. Me and my sister in one car, and my two besties in another car.

The preparations for this trip (and the amount of stuff brought up) for one night was more like planning a 3 week trip abroad. One bag for "on the road" toilet/gas stops, consisting of disposable gloves, sanitizing wipes, toilet paper, and sanitizing spray. One bag for the motel: pillow, blanket, and duvet cover, which was like having a sheet sleeping bag, as well as more sanitizing wipes and spray, A third, very small bag with a change of clothes. 4 masks. Yeah, I over-did it, but it made me feel safer.

The Adelaide Inn has been open all along for first responders, and so they had a lot of practice in sanitizing and practicing all of the rules. Every employee wore masks at all times, and housekeeping also wore gloves. The room itself was absolutely spotless. The bedding looked brand new. No blankets, no scary bedspreads, no throw pillows. Instead, there were white sheets, white pillow cases, and a heavy white cotton duvet, all of which if not brand new had to have been washed and sanitized in bleach. The room smelled as though everything had been sanitized.

Despite all of that, I still used sanitizing wipes on all counters, door handles, table tops, tv remote, chairs and chair handles before putting anything on them or touching them. You never know!

We were picked up by Coy of the Wine Wrangler, wearing a mask. First stop, Justin wine tasting room, since the winery is not yet open. Wineries could open, and were in the process of opening, with the caveat that there is no standing, seating only, and they must serve food (you don't have to order food, but it must be available). Most will be open this weekend, along with the Bruce Munro Field of Lights. In short, we went one week too early.

My mom when she was alive was a member of the Justin wine club, so we were very familiar with their wines. Delicious! You must wear masks coming in, and wear masks walking around or doing anything but sitting down. They had tables well separated, and the staff wore masks and gloves at all times. Bought their Rose . . . it was pretty amazing, as well as their second highest end Justification.

The second stop was Parrish winery, and it was just a beautiful, relaxing place. David Parrish, the owner, greeted us at the door (in mask and gloves) and again after we were seated. We got to taste about 5 or 6 of his wines. I even enjoyed the Zin, which is something I don't really appreciate. His 2016 Reserve Silken was amazing. It's a blend of 55% Cab, 25% Syrah, and 20% Petite Sirah.

We had dinner downtown at the newly reopened Paso Terra, a seafood restaurant. The owners were charming, and our meals were terrific, even though I discovered halfway into my appetizer that my stomach was full from all the wine I drank! After dinner, we walked around town. Almost everything was open.

The only thing we were not used to is, and we heard this from Coy, our winery driver, that the Paso natives have been pretty defiant in walking around in open spaces with masks on. In fact, we saw less than a handful of people who were wearing masks, so we kind of stuck out like sore thumbs. There was also not a lot of social distancing. Although the bar and restaurant staff at every place that was open were all wearing masks, and people had to wear masks to go into the restaurants, that was it. As it was a warm, but windy night, and stores and restaurants had just opened up, the downtown area was well attended (not packed), with many people at picnic tables in the park enjoying the warm evening.

The next morning, my sister and I left early, stopping in SLO for a little walk about (the Mission reopens this weekend); then further down the coast to Isla Vista to visit an old haunt at the end of Del Playa Drive that overlooks Deveraux Beach. After being home bound for so long, when exiting hibernation, it amazes me how much we see. Kind of like what I would expect a prisoner being let out after years in prison, and seeing the sun, the sky, and the ocean. The California coast is beautiful!

View from Parrish Winery.

Patty

Thanks for your report! Did you mean in open spaces without masks? And by open spaces do you mean outside? I don't believe SLO county has a mask ordinance. In our county it's only required indoors or while waiting to get in so you won't see many people wearing them outdoors as it's relatively easy to distance here unless you were on the beach Memorial Day weekend.

Surfergirl

Yes, Patty, outside. I've just been so used to seeing people walking around wearing masks in Los Angeles, it came as quite a shock to me, similar (in an opposite way) to when I visited Istanbul a few years ago and so many women wore niqābs (face coverings).

Didn't see anyone in SLO or IV wearing masks either!

mlgb

Thanks for the report. I assume Adelaide wasn't giving any fruit or cookies at the front desk?

Did you have to make any pitstops along the road/?

Jean

Surfergirl, I'm glad you were able to take your little trip. I'll put Parrish and Paso Terra on our "list."

It sounds like there is a real disconnect between downtown Paso and the wineries when it comes to masks. The wineries seem to be doing everything they can to get going again, and locals(?) are, by example, enabling everyone to think masks don't matter and wineries and the local economy aren't worth protecting. Weird. Tourism adds $110M to the local economy, and grape and wine production add about $925M. Nearly 14,000 jobs. Vineyards and wineries account for 28% of all property taxes in the region, and sales generate 10% of all sales tax revenue collected in SLO County.

Surfergirl

Toilet Stories (NOT a take-off from the book, Fear of Flying).

I made pit stops and my little bag was brought in but not used except for my wipes. On the way up, we had to pee and hit up the Chevron station in Isla Visa (Storke Road). The toilet inside was super clean, but still wore gloves and wiped everything down. The cost of gas at that station was expensive . . . $3.45/regular vs. the $2.99 at my local Shell in LA (where I get discounts with my Ralphs rewards).

We used the same station and toilet on the way back. Also, found a restroom in SLO by the Mission (as the Mission was closed) just over the bridge from the Mission in a building that had a few places to get food, an atm, and an outdoor space to eat. The toilet was down a flight of stairs, and was also very clean and well stocked.

mlgb

Thanks for the toilet report. That's almost my biggest fear.

mlgb

Saturday I took a day trip up to the Angeles National Forest. I found an open pit toilet at the Buckhorn Day Use area, and used it! I am pretty good at hovering, and used my own hand sanitizer after.

This may have been asked an answered, (too lazy to look) but isn't there a web link that lists open restrooms?

Gretchen

I think we understand that you do not like Newsom.
personally here in NC I am going to rail against all these people, mostly the young, who cannot delay their gratification long enough to realize that every last one of us has to do something to stop the spread of the virus, as easily as wearing a mask.

mlgb

If you haven't seen the editorial in the Mercury News, I recommend it.

To keep it specific to stay at home, the gist is that California was opened too early, when it didn't meet the criteria set by public health advisors, including one in the Bay Area. So if a Governor says "open" and restaurants and bars open, and testing and contact tracing isn't adequate, don't be suprised if the virus roars back, no matter the politics of your Governor. The virus ignores politics.