Strange Memorial weekend.

[NYlakesider]

I have been up here at the lake since 1985 for every Memorial weekend.

This weekend was extremely dull. Weather was OK, a bit windy but lots of sun and only a couple minuets of light rain. I have seen more people up here on holiday weekends that best could be described as washouts.

Nowhere the amount of vehicles parked by the road or by camps, much less boats out on the water. Much less people getting exercise walking the road. Many camps still closed. Seats available at many restaurants for any meal. Only heard a couple fireworks being set off.


This was not only me I talked to other knowledgeable people up here and they say the same. I know not what the problem is!

Was it Covid, the very high price of gas? A general malaise strike a lot of people? Gas was about $5.50 minimum on land and about a $1.50 more at the Marinas. At about 1PM today many flatlanders were leaving as many have a long drive: NY City, Northern NJ. Conn.

 

[Rustyt1953]

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[ameridaddy]

This afternoon, I had to take a visiting former exchange student to the airport off I-64, the route to/from Virginia Beach, and dreaded the prospect.
!!!! the road was empty and no line whatsoever at the airport. I got a parking place right at the entrance to departures, and we walked straight to the counter and checked in!
I haven't had that kind of luck since before 9-11.

 

[Doug M.]

I suspect gas prices and related inflation are a big factor. In addition, there is still a lot of Covid around and in some places at higher levels than this time last year. If one has their own high risks, or that of kids/elders to consider, that will also impact behavior.

My wife and I were not much impacted by the restrictions as we don't go out much, so our lives did not change to any real extent.

 

[The Last Standing Knight]

Biggest crowd I saw all weekend was at the NRA Convention here.

Grocery stores were pretty full...at least those I went to.

All in all I think a lot of people went to ground and stayed home or close to it...saving their gasoline for work.

 

[NYlakesider]

I suspect gas prices and related inflation are a big factor. In addition, there is still a lot of Covid around and in some places at higher levels than this time last year. If one has their own high risks, or that of kids/elders to consider, that will also impact behavior.

My wife and I were not much impacted by the restrictions as we don't go out much, so our lives did not change to any real extent.

Got to agree there! All in all it was a bit strange!

 

[Gaffer]

There are many factors, Covid-19, gasoline prices, inflation and a general malaise upon the public at large. At least those of us who see the handwriting on the wall foresee tough times ahead and the general feeling of let the good times roll have been erased by Biden and the possibility of WWIII. Times are changing and not for the better,so get a snug hold on your underwear and hang on.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

Wife and I drove an hour and a half each way to day visit with friends that were camping at a state park. the place was packed!

When we left to drive home it was around 10:30 and the roads were all but empty!

In talking to people at the park. They bought their camper's at prices that exceeded their home! They are now starting to enjoy the outdoor life without the threat of a pandemic destroying their families. And have settled into a lifestyle we would recognize from the 50's or 60's!

Ivan

 

[PALADIN85020]

Each year my wife and I take a Memorial Day tour which involves a couple of graveyards and the Vietnam Memorial in Phoenix.

This year, as is our custom, we asked a very special lady to accompany us and visit her husband's grave. Gloria and he were our next-door neighbors when I was a boy. He was in a tank destroyer outfit during the Battle of the Bulge in WWII; he married her as soon as he got out of the Army. She still lives in the house next to my boyhood home. He died around 1990. Although he was a WWII combat veteran, he was not buried in a veteran's area, but in a family plot in the Beth El Jewish cemetery. The only time she visits his grave is when we take her on Memorial Day. She is now 96 years old, legally blind, and barely ambulatory.

Her religion does not believe in flowers, so we did not provide any for her. It was especially poignant for her to visit the family plot. There were two other graves there, one for a son who committed suicide many years ago, and one for a daughter she lost to Covid 19 about two years ago.

I honored the Jewish tradition of placing a stone on her husband's grave.

We then went to my parents and grandparents' graves in a nearby graveyard to place flowers, as we do every year.

Our next stop was to be the Phoenix Vietnam Memorial, where we traditionally place flowers in honor of high school and college friends who lost their lives in that war. However, her energy was drained and she asked to be taken home, and we did that.

Following that, we went back to the Phoenix Vietnam Memorial, where I saluted each of my friends' names on that wall and laid flowers.

My wife and I then drove to our favorite Mexican restaurant, hoping it would be open. Thank gosh it was, and we enjoyed Margaritas and a great lunch.

We then returned home to be greeted by our little dog Booger, who always acts as if we had been gone for years by being beside herself with joy.

All in all, it was a good day. We are not sure Gloria will make it another year, as it was sad to see her say feeble goodbyes to her deceased husband and children, but we were glad to have offered her the opportunity. Lifelong friends such as she is are rare and inspiring. I personally wish she would live forever. Her husband was a true hero and I remember him fondly.

They represent the end of an era that most folks alive today have never experienced.

To friends and family of deceased veterans, I wish you well. Always remember and never forget their incredible sacrifices for our country.

John

 

[Onomea]

... there is still a lot of Covid around and in some places at higher levels than this time last year...

I believe I read in yesterdays news that current covid cases in the US are five times what they were a year ago,* when we were just entering that lull before the resurgence.

Paladin, very nice write up of your Memorial Day. Thanks.

*Hospitalizations and deaths are way down, though, thank goodness.

 

[quikdraw67]

Paladin, thank you.

That was very moving.

 

[LVSteve]

Snapshot of the I-15 to SoCal at 1811 today. It was solid at about 1500 but has cleared already. Pretty unusual IMHO.

 

[Skeet 028]

It was truly unusual here. We had more rain today than we have gotten in the last year all added together.. We probably got close to an inch today. We live in a desert type area. As far as people... Heck doesn't seem like high gas prices are bothering the touristas. Cody is full of people and campers from everywhere else. The lifeblood of Cody...but I try to stay away from there till September.!! Coming back from the gun show in Riverton yesterday it seemed as though all the campgrounds were full

 

[Rudi]

Everything is strange now. We are in uncharted waters. Be prepared.

 

[twodog max]

The mountains and floatable creeks here were covered up most I can remember. I figure folks were staying closer to home and the national forest was closeby. Gas is right around $4.00 here.
People around here are really disturbed by current events, gas prices, inflation worries and the lunacy in upper echelons. Everyone talks about it and are most concerned about where things are headed. As I am too.

 

[ladder13]

Coming back from GA yesterday. Heavy traffic from Florence SC to home, about 150 miles. Moving, but NASCAR like.

Lots of people coming back up 95 from wherever they were.

 

[Breakaway500]

Living amongst the libbies here in Ma. the general feeling is that all is well. That concerns me the most. When all around you is crumbling and all they can do is blame gravity..you know you are on your own. Stay sharp people..

 

[glenwolde]

It's busy around here.

The wife and I decided to spend the summer in our RV and work part-time at a campground in Michigan to get away from the Texas heat. Sort of a reverse "Snow Birds". We've worked at parks before a couple of times but always in Texas. This is our first out-of-state gig.

The place was packed to the gills. The park went through 8 pallets of firewood in the three-day weekend. There was a huge traffic jam waiting for the dump station on Monday. Restaurants packed. The Farmer's Market on Saturday was so packed we passed. Couldn't find a parking space within five blocks anyway.

I was really glad our spot is not in the campground.

I get the impression though that many of them come here every year, same time, same station. Sites are booked out a year in advance and they run 95% occupied on weekends from Memorial Day to Labor Day. About half full Monday-Thursday. Most are Michigan plates and the out-of-state plates I see are within a days drive. At worst the gas prices might add $200 to the trip. If you have an RV that's not going to stop you. From talking to folks I think it's much less for most of them as they seem to be no more than 3-4 hours away.

For the most part they cook at the campsite so food's a wash. Sitting on the beach is free outside of a ham sandwich and the beer. High fuel prices tend to make the RV crowd stay closer to home, and stay longer. But they still go. It would be really expensive to go on a 3,000 mile jaunt right now with lots of stops. But a couple of weeks in a park within 200-300 miles of home is still a viable option. If you can still find a spot.

 

[pawngal]

I'm in a summer lake, resort, tourist area also. Seemed to be quieter than normal here, not as much boat traffic, campgrounds were busy but not full. The 3 flea markets were not as busy either, they got rained out on Monday morning and many packed up early. I went to my daughter's in MN yesterday, traffic on I90 was very light. Definitely a different holiday weekend.

 

[rfo1]

Gas is well over $10.00 a Canadian gallon- not a lot of traffic up here either.