Morning statistics – Hiking on the Green Mountain Trail and in Seven Bends State Park – Social distancing not observed on the freeways – Rumors circulating about Kim Jong-un – Ban on immigration – Validity of the virus challenged – The virus triumphantly meets the test – The sourdough starter is a non-starter
Today’s statistics as of 8:00 AM — # of cases worldwide: 2,554,568; # of deaths worldwide: 177,402; # of cases U.S.: 817,952; # of deaths U.S.: 45,279. China’s number of active cases is now just over 1,000 – always assuming that their data can be believed.
Today the Vigorous Hikers covered the Green Mountain area and the Seven Bends State Park. I have been hiking in the region for years but I am not familiar with either. The Seven Bends State Park is new, so it is not surprising that I haven’t been there before. I was in the Green Mountain area once previously, but only on a trail shared by hikers and ATVs; the experience with ATVs whizzing by the hikers without mufflers was so unpleasant that I’ve been avoiding the area ever since. However, the trail was closed to ATVs for repairs, and the ascent along the Green Mountain Trail was unfamiliar to me. After we reached the Massanutten Trail and had lunch, we descended to Seven Bends State Park. There is still work to be done; several of the trails do not have blazes. But the ascent from the park back up to the Massanutten Trail was magnificent. We certainly practiced social distancing; there were eleven of us in all and we walked in groups of four or less. And we encountered no one else on the trails, except at the end: during the descent from the Massanutten Trail along the Wagon Road there was a group of five teenagers sitting together and smoking, doubtless in an attempt to fortify their lungs against the virus.
Some government tests have indicated that sunlight destroys the virus quickly; if so, hiking out of doors appears to be more beneficial than ever.
Driving back and forth to the trailhead via the freeways has demonstrated that social distancing does not apply to behavior on the roads. Drivers still prefer tailgating to passing, even when the passing lane to the left is clear for miles on end.
Kim Jong-Un is rumored to be in surgery. I have to say “rumored” because there is no way of getting verifiable news from North Korea. He certainly was absent from the annual ceremonies in honor of his grandfather, the founder of the dynasty. And even though he is only 36, he leads a very unhealthy lifestyle, over-indulging in food, in drink, in sex – in everything, in short.
Trump has imposed a total ban on immigration. The Democrats, who have been justifiably critical of Trump’s handling of the virus crisis for months, are now gathering in opposition against him for employing this elementary precaution. In light of the knowledge of how the virus is transmitted, the less travel between nations the better. The Democrats are no more to be trusted than Trump is, though they may be less inconsistent.
“Does anybody have the guts to say this COVID-19 is a political ploy? Asking for a friend. Prove me wrong.” Thus John W. McDaniel, from Ohio, in protest against the lockdown. This easy assertion, whose sweepingness commands a certain admiration, was posted on March 13th. He contracted the virus and died a few days later on April 15th. I suppose he might consider that to be proof; unfortunately he’s not in a position to assess it.
The sourbread starter has not turned out well. I tried making a couple of loaves from it. It had a good flavor but it simply did not rise enough, even though I kneaded it thoroughly. There is still some starter left over, so I will let it ripen a bit and then try it again.