Hiking on the Roller Coaster – Increased traffic on roads – Details of the easing of restrictions – The sourdough starter put to use – The threatened invasion of cicadas in the U.S. – The actual invasion of locusts in Eastern Africa – Evening statistics
Today I hiked with the Vigorous Hikers, although that statement is not quite accurate. At this point we are not really hiking together. We assemble at a trailhead and then complete the hike, each starting at a different time and going at a different speed. It was a there-and-back hike. I started early, so I did not even encounter any of the others during the first part of the hike except for one who started earlier still and who was returning when I was approaching the turnaround point. The hike was along a portion of the so-called “roller coaster” of the Appalachian Trail, starting at Snickers Gap and going to the Blackburn Center. The Center was closed, of course, and in any case I got there before 10:30, much too early to have lunch there. The Center can be reached by two spur trails, so that made for a small loop at the midpoint, descending to the Center by one of them and ascending back to the AT via the other. The day was cloudy and overcast, very different from the day before, and it was considerably cooler. This segment of the AT is very rocky in spots and was rather slow going. It was 16 miles and 3600 feet of elevation gain, and it took me nearly 5½ hours to complete. The highlight of the hike was the view at Crescent Rocks overlooking the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Shenandoah Valley to the southeast.
There are decidedly more cars on the roads now. Not enough to create traffic jams, but there were plenty of cars waiting wherever I had to stop for a red light. Restrictions are scheduled to be lifted soon, and people are obviously in the mood for it. At this point the plan is to allow the non-essential businesses to re-open over the following week. Gatherings of more than ten people will still be prohibited and face masks will still be required for entering stores. Teleworking will still be in effect wherever possible. People will be able to get haircuts, but they will have to make appointments in advance. It will also be possible to dine at restaurants, but less seating will be available than before, so that people can eat at some distance from one another. It means that restaurants will not be doing as much business; on the other hand, dining out might become less noisy than before and thereby become more comfortable. Many American restaurants in the past placed tables so close to one another that it could be very difficult to hold a conversation with people at the same table; the ambient chatter from all over the room drowned everything out. This was true even in many of the expensive ones with the most elaborate menus. The only exceptions were some of the so-called ethnic restaurants (Japanese, Indian, Thai, etc.).
The sourdough batter rose a little, but only a little. Rather than attempt to make it into loaves I added baking powder to it and used it for biscuits. That worked out pretty well, and I now have plenty to use for breakfasts. I’m still on the lookout for yeast, though.
This year will see a new cycle of the cicadas, whose life-cycle is 17 years. Some articles speak of it as an “invasion” but they are quite harmless. Certainly we have more important things to worry about at this point.
The same, however, cannot be said of Eastern Africa, where the locust swarms are largest that have been seen for 70 years. Kenya, Ethiopia, and Somalia are undergoing the greatest impact. As many as twenty million people have been described as “food insecure.”
Today’s statistics as of 8:00 PM — # of cases worldwide: 3,723,745; # of deaths worldwide: 257,975; # of cases U.S.: 1,237,045; # of deaths U.S.: 72,242.