Silently movin' along

It's not that bad, but you never know what tomorrow might bring.  One must be prepared!

We've quietly moved to near Howe, IN.  Campgrounds are closed.  We're not sure if it's because it's so early in the season or if Indiana has a warped sense of importance of the northern Indiana area and consider it a vacation destination thereby closing it off to ward off those renegade Michiganders...but no problem getting a hotel.  Go figure.

Either way, we're in a hotel, again, this time a one bedroom suite with kitchenette.  The trailer sets with fridge empty & off in the parking lot ready to move as our service appointments arrive.  We completed our service at Lippert Thursday.  We were the only ones there.  We arrived promptly at 7 AM where we were checked in, were told (by a service tech who stood at a respectful distance) the customer lounge was sanitized, and they'd turned on the TV for us.  The tech who worked on our trailer arrived at 8 AM and by 11 AM the tech stood at the customer lounge doorway, told us we were ready and that we'd be contacted by phone for payment instructions.

Payment was contactless.  After we were on the road back to the hotel, the service advisor called to ensure we were happy with our service, confirmed our email, and explained the payment process.  By the time we arrived at the hotel, Lippert had sent a test message to our email address.  After we responded to that email, a link was sent so we could pay our bill. Very nice process - that worked!

BTW, this is similar to checking into a campground at the present time.  At most campgrounds we don't even need to talk with anyone when we check in as it's all done online or by phone.  If you go to a hotel, you must talk with someone, hand over ID and credit card that's returned to us, use a common pen to sign receipts, and be given a plastic room key to a room that while you're told it's sanitized, you really don't know because you don't even know who - if anyone - slept in that hotel room and used it's bathroom the night before.  I know this may surprise you, but Donna and I actually know who slept in our trailer the night before and who used the toilet and shower and we didn't have to talk to anyone to check in or out.  Who'd thought that?! 

Now contrast Lippert's and most campground's check in/out processes to Auto Park Ford's process in Sturgis, MI where it was business as usual except the showroom was closed.  Of the dozen or more people who came in and out of the service area's customer lounge during my four hour stay for truck service, only two of us wore a mask.  No one wore gloves.  Social distancing was hit or miss.  Payment process was across the counter and business as usual.  We all used the same ink pen.

Walmart in Sturgis - as compared to the Walmart in Glasgow, KY - was business as usual.  A few people wore masks and/or gloves.  The Walmart staff were diligent in sanitizing checkout areas.  Shoppers ignored the directional arrows in the lanes.  People used both entrances and exits to the store.  People, more or less, maintained social distancing.  Plenty of meat and paper products.  No sanitizing products.

Moving forward:  We here until at least May 1st.  MORryde service and height adjustment on our trailer's suspension begins at 6 AM Monday morning.  Another early start and 50 minute drive for us Monday morning.  We get the trailer back Tuesday afternoon and move it to Indiana Interstate Enterprises in Lagrange, IN.  Paul & Kay will let us know when trailer's service is finished.  As most campgrounds are closed here and in Illinois, we're looking at moving to Madison (DeForest), WI once Paul & Kay are done with us for this service season.  So as the cartoon above explains, we sleep so we're ready for that drive!

Voyageurs:  We're getting a better idea of what to expect once we arrive.  Target arrival date remains June 7th.  We've spent some time talking with Tawyna by phone.  We now know that we're to go into quarantine for two weeks once we arrive.  We know the rules of the quarantine.  We've learned that we can arrive earlier.  Based on what Two Harbors decides to do with it's Burlington Bay campground, we may just do that and arrive before Memorial Day so that our quarantine is over by or before June 7th.

We questioned Tawyna about whether we were really needed as tour boats and ranger programs are canceled for the summer season.  We were told that not only where we needed, but that there are only five people on the interpretive ranger staff this summer (including us) for the whole park!  Looks like being a Volunteer in the Parks that brings your own housing does have it's benefits for the Natl Park Service. Nice to be needed!

We expect to be stationed outside Rainy Lake Visitor Center.  Grand Teton Natl Park did that at Jenny Lake Visitor Center last year placing some of their volunteers at a table outside the visitor center to answer most questions and assist visitors. They started it as the Jenny Lake Visitor Center's renovation was nearing completion, but kept it once the visitor center renovations were completed.  (We'll be bring lots of bug spray for Voyageurs!)

Long blog, but that gets you up to date with us.  Thanks for dropping by and checking in on us.  Until next week - when we may know more - be safe out there.  David