Voyager America  

In the Time of COVID....

For the most part, our travels during this pandemic have been safe and we luckily have remained symptom free.  We have been able to travel from state to state with no restriction and nearly everyone we've come in contact with has been welcoming, courteous, and wearing a mask. We've followed the few simple rules: wear a mask, keep a safe distance from others, especially indoors, and we wash our hands frequently.  Somewhere in Texas, we decided to only get our food in markets or as take out, no longer eating in restaurants.  Much like we did in Philadelphia, we spend our time just together and doing outdoor things like hiking, birding, and bike riding, or touring around in our car. We are able to do almost everything we would like to do and feel safe doing it. 

The San Miguel Mission Church, Santa Fe. 
It is referred to as the oldest church in the
United States and was originally built around 1610.

This sign hangs on the doors to the San Miguel Mission seen behind us in the photo above.
The State of New Mexico started a 2-week lockdown and stay at home order on
November 16 to hopefully reverse the alarming escalation of COVID cases in the state.

Highway signs like these are seen all over the state.

New Mexico began an all-state lockdown almost two weeks ago.  They plan to loosen restrictions a bit this coming week, but will still be under state-wide restrictions until the number of cases begins to dissipate. There is a state order here to wear masks and most people are complying with this.  Like everywhere in the world, those people who are the poorest are suffering the most in New Mexico.  

Native nations make up about 10% of New Mexico's population, but account for 23% of the state's COVID cases and, more devastatingly, over 40% of the deaths due to COVID.  The communal nature of the Native people, a clear strength, is now one of the main causes for the spread of the disease.  All of the Pueblos and reservations have been closed to others, and coming and going for those living in them is monitored closely. The Navajo Nation, the largest native group in New Mexico, has a small portion of their reservation in Alamo, just down the road from where we are staying in Magdalena. Along with the great loss and suffering caused by COVID, the disruption to traditional ways and sacred practices has created a deep wound.

All pueblos and reservations in New Mexico are closed to outsiders because of the alarmingly
high number of COVID cases. Pueblo residents who must leave their homes for work are being
carefully monitored. 

The Days Inn in Socorro will continue to house COVID-19
patients who are in quarantine from the nearby Alamo Navajo
Indian Reservation.

The Visitor Centers at all national parks and monuments are closed.
Many of them, such as Bandelier National Monument near Santa Fe, have tables set up outdoors
with lots of park information and a park ranger there to answer any questions.

Signs plastered over the entrance to a Sprouts market in Santa Fe state "FACE MASKS REQUIRED
FOR ENTRY" and "FEELING SICK? PLEASE DO NOT COME INTO OUR STORE WHEN YOU
ARE FEELING SICK!" They also post a list of behaviors to follow such as only touch the products
you'd like to purchase and don't sample any products in the store.

We have seen how hard so many regular folks are working to get through the pandemic and also to help so many others get through, too.  We both feel so grateful for such efforts and understand that a trip like we are taking could only be safe because of the efforts of so many people.  Each day we try to remain vigilant and almost all of our actions and plans are made to stay out of harms way. We are also saddened and dismayed at the continued strength of this disease and at how easy it seems to be to let one's guard down, which then can aid significantly in spreading it. Like many of us, we are encouraged by the vaccine progress.  We also hope we can continue to come together as a nation to follow those simple rules that can cut down significantly on COVID's spread-----and that we see clearly who is in most need----and help life become more safe for them.