Day 4 - California Reopening Plan - Phase 2

8:00-9:00 a.m. - Dog. Cheese. Finish yesterday’s blog.

9:00-10:00 - No shower and put on bathing suit and yoga pants/tank top. I already packed everything last night.

10:00-11:30 - B. picks me up and we drive to Carpinteria (The same beach where L. and I went two weekends ago and in Santa Barbara County). We arrive and it’s largely a disaster. When L. and I were there, all of the parking signs in the residential areas were “burlapped”, meaning you could park anywhere without penalty. This was necessary because the city had cordoned off all beach public parking so the only alternative was street parking in the neighborhoods, which is what L. and did.

The new signs are now “unveiled” and they absolutely prohibit public parking in the neighborhoods unless you have a permit. We checked and all the cars parked along the streets have permits. Meanwhile, the public parking for beach goers is still roped off. Truly, there is no place to park. The new parking signs state that you can park in the residential neighborhood on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday, but only for a 2-hour period. Beach trips for most Californians are an all-day affair, NOT 2 hours.

Did I mention it is 59 degrees and cloudy? It looks like rain. We left.

11:30 - 3:00- We stop off at a Shell gas station because we have to go to the bathroom, but a professionally made sign says “No public restrooms.” I notice the same sign is at every gas station. Public restrooms no longer exist.

We arrive at Ventura Beach (Ventura County), near the Crowne Plaza Hotel and it’s sunny and 20 degrees warmer. There is no parking, but B. finds a yellow-curb “loading zone” parking space and we park there. Who would possibly park in the loading zone now that all of the businesses are closed? Like ‘Carp’, the beach public parking is cordoned off, but there is another wrinkle. Professional signs are everywhere - how were they made so fast when everyone is out of business and almost 20% of Americans are unemployed? - informing beach goers that you are only allowed on the beach if you’re in motion [this is actually my term]. You cannot sit, stand, lie down, or sunbathe. You must be moving, i.e., walking, running, exercising, bicycling, etc.

I had heard that some beaches were enforcing the “in motion” policy, but until today, I really couldn’t believe it. How could no sunbathing possibly be enforced? When I told B. about it a few days ago, we both laughed. And yet, it is. Even though there is nobody on the beach, we are not allowed to ‘set up shop’ although we have everything, to include the beach chairs that B. brought. All lifeguard stations are closed.

B. and I eat our lunch in the car and split two beers that he brought. Then, I grab my towel and my back pack and we walk along the beach and the boardwalk area. One of the restaurants is open for take-out, but their bathroom is closed to the public. All benches are covered in yellow caution tape as the city does NOT want anyone stationary. When we get to the sand, a Parks and Recreation truck follows us, then parks and the driver continues to watch us. We are in motion so I don’t know what the problem is. Eventually, he gets bored and drives away. Nothing to see here.

So, I really have to pee and I strip down to my bathing suit, while B. watches my things, and run into the ocean. The water feels great and I stay in for awhile, jumping in the waves. BC [Before Corona] I never went in the ocean, but a lot of things have changed and it was actually fun. I return and then B. goes under the boardwalk to pee on a piling. We don’t bother checking the public restrooms as it’s a given they’re closed. While B. is gone, I, horror-of-horrors, SIT on a rock and wait for him to return. There are 10 people on the beach, scattered a good mile from each other and a cluster of surfers, in the water, about 2 miles away. They are not social distancing (finger wag).

B. returns and we continue sitting on the rock for a little while and it’s not bad, except I know we’re not even supposed to be doing that. Eventually, I’m ready to go and call it. I ask B. if he will help me carry a few smaller beach rocks to the car so I can put them in my backyard garden. Am I allowed to do this? I’m not sure, but we carry three small rocks back to the car anyway.

I eat my taco on the drive home.

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Meanwhile, L. and R. are undergoing their own crisis. Today is their second date and they decide to go to L.’s favorite coffee place in Silverlake, which still happens to be open. There are virtually no customers there when they arrive and L. notes that she has to place her food/coffee order via her phone. Just as she begins to place her order, an employee in full PPE emerges and L. and R. tell him what they want. She gets her standard avocado toast and R. gets some sort of scrambled dish. They take their food to the Silverlake Reservoir, which borders a now empty dog park. There are several open benches - apparently, you’re allowed to sit down at a park??? - and once seated, R. realizes that he has no utensils. Back in the car, and L., who is driving, heads to a Starbucks. They enter and an employee screams at them to go outside, until L. politely asks for a plastic fork. The barista is immediately contrite and proffers the utensil and they return to their beach at the park, where they finish their food. The park is nice.

BUT…they have to go to the bathroom.

L. and R. drive to a gas station and L. asks to use the public restroom. The employee says no. When L. begged and batted her eyes, the employee said, “I’m sorry. I can’t let you in.” Other gas stations have signs that say, “No public restrooms.” L. and R. end up at a grocery store. Social distancing is happening, but the wait isn’t long, and there are public restrooms available inside, which I find shocking. L. said the bathroom was really clean.

The two head to Joe and the Juice, then return to the park in our area where they had their first date, the other day. After, it’s Chick Fil A time - that place will never close - and R. pays for everything. Of course it’s not open for dining so they have to eat in her car. Overall, it sounded like a great day!!

Back to me… :-)

3:00-5:30 - We sit at my patio table and B. compliments my backyard, which is nice. I’ve worked really hard on it during the California quarantine and I think it’s beautiful, but of course I’m biased. I make B. a honey Jack Daniels with 7-up [he has two] and I drink a Prosecco-in-a-can. We talk about shows and podcasts and it’s very nice. My Monday night class is starting soon and the 6:00-9:00 bunch are the needy group so I try to be on stand-by to answer their emails during this time period. B. leaves.

5:30-8:00 - I’m available, then take a quick nap from 7:00-8:00.

8:00-11:00 - I read the news online. After, I create a “Final Review” for my class - the virtual Final is next week - and post to Canvas, then download the papers that were due today from my International Relations class. I print them out because I’m old school and can only edit successfully when reading an actual ‘paper.’

11:00-12:00- I shut it down and heat up the couscous I made a few days ago. L. and I talk in the kitchen and then we go upstairs to watch Married at First Sight.

12:00-1:30 - Married is as good as ever. L. and I scream at the people as we watch.

1:30-2:30 - Bedtime routine. Bed.