April 2020 Newsletter

President’s Message

Since it’s April 1st, it seems I should have a joke for you. Maybe something along the lines of moving to my own private island in the Bahamas to escape COVID-19. Sorry, I’ve got nothing. You’ll have to Google your own jokes. It’s been an interesting month and it looks like April is going to get even more interesting. A month ago I wasn’t concerned about COVID-19. We’ve all had a flu before. We got sick and then we got better. I thought even if I catch it, how bad can it be. But I’m beginning to understand this is different and very serious. So my family is dealing with it much like the rest of the world. We trying to stay home and be safe.

Tammy, that’s my wife, loves to go out to eat. And she can’t stay home 2 days in a row without getting cabin fever. So this is hard for her. But she’s coping fairly well. We’ve “dined out” a couple of times by ordering dinner on line, picking it up curbside at the restaurant, and then going somewhere isolated to eat it. This has worked really well for us.

Rachel, our adult daughter who lives with us, must be with her friends. She just can’t live without friends. She’s always been that way. So she’s self isolating in two homes, ours and a friends. She goes to work 5 days a week and visits her friends several evenings a week and stays there on the weekends. I think she knows that is less safe than isolating at our home, but it doesn’t matter.

Jaygen, Rachel’s 6 year old son who also lives with us, is doing well. We’re doing 1st grade online. I knew our school teachers were awesome, but I’m learning about a whole new level of awesomeness as I work with Jaygen on his online schoolwork. After “school” we swim in the back yard for hours. He’s a bit like his mother and likes to be with friends. Before we were totally isolated at home, Rachel came home from work one day and was asking Jaygen about his day. He told her he had been playing at his friend Cash’s house. Rachel replied, “I thought you weren’t going to play with friends?”

Jaygen: “what?” 

Rachel: “You told me you weren’t going to play with friends.” 

Jaygen: “I know, but I just couldn’t handle it.” 

Rachel: “Ditto”

I hope all is going well in your home and you are coping with your own self isolation and your fears surrounding the virus. All we can do is follow the recommendations of the experts and our leaders, pray, and trust in the Lord. And ride. We have to ride. I considered proposing a stop to the rides until things calm down. But we had a good ride at the end of March where we practiced good social distancing. We can ride together safely if we follow some basic rules.

  1. Bring your own lunch. We’ll stop somewhere where we can spread out, eat, and socialize.
  2. When we are off the bikes keep your distance from other riders.
  3. Don’t touch someone else’s bike.
  4. If you don’t feel right, stay home. If you’ve been around someone who doesn’t feel right, stay home.
  5. If you have to touch public surfaces like door handles, try to use your elbows. Bring disinfectant or alcohol wipes to clean your hands after touching public surfaces like gas pump key pads.

David Long

ONGOING EVENTS: (Practiced with Social Distancing)

Thursday Ride – Meet at Terribles Exit 2, I-15 at Sunriver. KSU 10:30am. Please bring a sack lunch and a beverage..we will stop at a park or other venue to eat. Bring alcohol wipes or hand sanitizer in case you need to pump gas or touch a door handle. Ride destination to be determined by those that attend.

Saturday Ride – Meet at Zion HD Exit 13, I-15. KSU 11:30am. Please bring a sack lunch and a beverage..we will stop at a park or other venue to eat. Bring alcohol wipes or hand sanitizer in case you need to pump gas or touch a door handle. Ride destination to be determined by those that attend.

DINNERS / PICNICS / LUNCHES ETC…

As of this writing, all Drifter Dinner / meal get togethers are cancelled until COVID-19 is no longer a problem.