POST #61-2

An update to POST#61... as you read last time we are almost convinced we were affected by the Chinese Covid-19 Virus, referencing the timeline of events.

What we should add is that you should take all preventative precautions with your own health.  If you have any underlying conditions..do what your doc says to keep ahead of it as much as possible.   

Boost your immune system! 

We are big believers in Vitamin D therapy to help supercharge your immune system!  We each take 8000 IU of Vitamin D daily.  It keeps our D Level at around 50.  We have it tested by the clinic at least once a year to make sure our level is above the minimum of 30 and below the maximum of 100.  DO NOT start taking 8000 units of Vit D each day WITHOUT having lour level tested.  Everyone is different in their needs of supplementation!  Most people are low in their D Level...some critically low.. Bottom Line...Get tested, supplement if necessary. Doctors are waking up to this and recommending it!

Vitamin C is a good immune booster as well.  Make sure to take it daily!

IF Covid 19 is what we had in February we are thinking by boosting our immune system it kept us from the worst of it.

Keep positive!  Don't be panicky and stressed out!  Stress really weakens our immune response, and that's NOT what we want right now!  This whole thing will pass...probably sooner than later.  Keep the numbers in perspective!  There are 327 million Americans.  At this point there are about 26000 cases in the US.  That number will rise, probably dramatically as more tests are performed.  the 26000 is a tiny percentage of 327 million.  And most that become infected get over it.

Stay in PRAYER!  Ask the Lord for protection of you and your loved ones!  Thats a big one!!   

Until Next Time!

POST #61

Some thoughts on this Chinese Covid-19 Virus...

Yeah yeah, I know its considered racist to call it a Chinese virus..but hey---did it not come from China?

We all have seen the disruption in our lives due to this...but we feel there is a lot of fear caused by the sensationalist press and media outlets.  We are thinking the virus started spreading in the USA a lot earlier than was first reported.

In fact we are quite sure we both were afflicted by this virus.  We both became uncomfortably ill.  We have never has a cold or flu that felt like it.  

Consider the following timeline: 

Dec. 31, 2019: China informs the World Health Organization of a pneumonia-like disease in Wuhan, China.

Jan. 11: China reports the first coronavirus death.

Jan. 20: The first U.S. case involving a 35-year-old man who had traveled to Wuhan, China, before returning to Washington State.

Jan. 30: The World Health Organization proclaims the coronavirus outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.

Jan. 31: “a public health emergency in the United States” is declared.

Jan.31: Trump bans the entry of foreigners who were in China. Trump is called racist and xenophobic for doing it.  He is later criticized for not doing it sooner.

Feb. 7: Barbi starts Azithromycin and Inhalers.  

Feb. 10: Mikey gets sick…no medications other than NyQuil.  All of the next week we both spend most of the time in bed, too weak and tired to do much else.

Feb. 16:  We are mostly up and around, but still weak and tired with a dry cough…the dry cough holds on for another 10 days…feels like something is stuck in the throat….the raspy sounds in our throat hang on another week or 10 days. 

   

Feb. 22-24: The CDC discourages travel to and from Iran, Italy, Japan and South Korea.

March 11: Trump restricts arrivals from Europe, which reels beneath this disease.

March 13: Trump declares a national emergency.

You all know how it goes from there...

There was plenty of time for hundred or thousands of travelers from China to directly or indirectly come to the USA (or other countries) before the travel from China was restricted.  We were in the Phoenix area all through that time between the virus was running rampant in China and when travel from there was cut off.  Sky Harbor Airport in Phoenix has direct flights from China.  The virus could easily have come to Arizona during that time, and spread through the population.  It has been said the many folks are contagious and never show symptoms.  Or they may have just thought it was a regular cold or flu.  We both had the high power multi-strain flu vaccine in October so would think we would avoid the regular flu.  Maricopa County (Phoenix) was one of the first states to have confirmed cases.

We think we picked it up somewhere..we were in very crowded restaurants and pubs, museums, stores etc in many parts of the valley during the month of January or early February, between the time it was announced and the closing of travel from China..

Of course we can't say with certainty that what we had was the Covid-19 virus, but considering the timeline and other circumstances it is very likely we did.

The stores have had panic shopping here, just as in Billings.  There's no toilet paper, paper towels, hand sanitizer, wipes, rubbing alcohol when we have been at multiple stores. (We made our own hand sanitizer)

Theres very little soup or canned goods...

Cereal is picked over...

Canned anything is picked over...

We just returned from a Walmart...there's not much of anything in meat products, frozen dinners....really pretty much everything was gone...These are photos of the Billings West Walmart....looks pretty much the same here.  We were there in late afternoon....maybe its better early...

If folks would just relax and quit hoarding the supply chain could catch up and the shelves will be full again.  We have 3 weeks of food with us and wells for water so we will be fine.

Anyway...hang in there...this too shall pass and eventually life will return to normal.  Promising treatments are out there and sheltering in place will eventually starve the virus of new hosts.  The numbers in the US are going up fast recently, but a lot of that can be attributed to a lot more tests being done...

Hang in there!!  Don't panic!!

Until next time!

POST # 60

Well, here we are at Post #60!!  It's been fun doing this and we hope some of you are reading it and enjoy it!

A reminder...in this post and all previous posts if you click on any photo you will see an enlarged version..  Also most posts have "links" to other sites so you can learn more about the subjects of each post.  Some posts have video...if you click the arrow and then after the video loads click the arrow again it should play..   Those of you reading on phones or tablets can scroll down to the bottom of the post and select "View web version" if you would like.  

We have been here at Catalina State Park, near Tuscon, AZ.  Beautiful place...its hasn't been quite as warm here as the last few places.  Even a couple rainy days...we measured about 3/4 inch of precip.  We are at the base of the Santa Catalina Mountians...

A wide view of the campground...

Catalina State Park sits at the base of the majestic Santa Catalina Mountains. The Geology of the area can be studied HERE.   The park is a haven for desert plants and wildlife and nearly 5,000 saguaros.

The 5,500 acres of foothills, canyons and streams invites camping, picnicking and bird watching — more than 150 species of birds call the park home. Information on the Science of the area, including the fearsome Camel Spider, wildlife, plant life and cultural history can be found HERE. The park provides miles of equestrian, birding, hiking, and biking trails which wind through the park and into the Coronado National Forest at elevations near 3,000 feet. 

We are here at this park, closely following the crazy virus situation, until February 20th....

Until Next Time!! 

POST # 59

Today we left Lost Dutchman State Park, near Apache Junction, AZ and moved to Catalina State Park, near Tuscon AZ.

A beautiful sunrise over the Superstition Mountains as we were packing up... 

It was a drive of about 90 miles down to Catalina...slight overcast...temps in the low 80s....

The drive really wore out Ted....

We got our camp set up at Catalina Park...got this photo after sunset, it was nearly dark...my new phone, a Samsung S-9 takes some amazing photos!

Until next time!!

POST #58

We have been here at the Superstition Mountains at Lost Dutchman State Park, AZ for the past 14 days.  Weather has been great...with some days in the 80s.  

We did a lot of hiking around here with the boys...it wore Bill out...

A B-25 Mitchell World War II Bomber has been flying around here quite a bit...I think it is selling rides out of Falcon Field in Mesa...Click arrow to view video...

A closer view...

We visited the Goldfield Ghost Town just down the road....

We purchased a dashcam...here is a video of the drive from the outskirts of Apache Junction to our Campsite...I had to reduce the quality of the video to conform with the requirements of the site....Click the arrow to view...

Tomorrow we will leave the Phoenix area and head south about 90 miles to Catalina State Park...near Tuscon AZ.... 

Until Next Time!