Corona Virus Update

I'm behind in  my blogging anyway - so a good time to sit back and talk about the virus situation here!

I am hooked up to several different websites to keep abreast of the situation here - at the moment there are 26 cases in lower Baja - 6 in Lapaz and 20 in Cabo!  The site doesn't list any small towns like ours - I guess you are just considered part of the "county" and our county is Cabo.  About 1/2 way up the beach is Lapaz County.

At this time we are not aware of any cases here - rumor is there was a case a couple days ago but I think it was just that - a rumor!  The gardener that works at our place and the place next door did get sick and we were worried he had the virus - but he did go to the dr and it was just the normal flu.

Things have changed drastically here as the officials closed the beach on Monday - we are right beside one of 2 beach roads so were here when they put the barrel and tape up!  Nobody really knew what was going on and when people would talk to the police, they would get a different story each time!

But we did know that the police would make their rounds a couple times a day and if you were SITTING on the beach relaxing, they would tell you to leave.  Because most of the little community here walk in the morning, the police seemed to leave us all alone then - I walked all week with no problem.

Yesterday that changed - an actual sign was posted that said the beach was closed!  Our friend Juan, who speaks Spanish, talked to one of the police and he said if you are caught on the beach you get a warning and your picture taken the first time.  The 2nd time you are caught, you spend 2 or 3 nights in jail and have to pay a fine!  I don't even want to know what happens if they catch you a 3rd time!

Unfortunately, there is NO clear cut answer on fishing!  Commercial fishing and charter fishing are not allowed - but we have heard from several people that as long as you kayak or are in a small boat with just one person that it is no problem! But you have to be on the beach to get the boat launched and that's where the problem is!   It's kind of scary wondering what would happen if Glenn is caught coming back in from fishing!

So yesterday he went out at 5:00am and was back in by 10, along with Juan in his kayak.  They got the boat in our yard in record time and no police were patrolling at that time.  Today they both went back out at 5:00am and Glenn was back in by 8am!  He wasn't taking any chances!  But it's nerve wracking not knowing for sure if he's legal or not!

The police also told Juan that marines and federales would be patrolling the beaches - and we have no idea when they will come or if they'll have ATV's or what?  I did walk at my usual time of 6:15am this morning but just did a quick walk and have decided not to do it again - makes me too nervous - so I will just have to walk in the streets and arroyo.

A friend made masks for both Glenn and I and we wore them to the store a couple days ago - now the order has been handed down that we are to "shelter in place" and only one person can go to the store.  I'm not sure they will be enforcing that down here but again, we don't want to NOT be in compliance.

So it's pretty strange, sitting on the front porch now with absolutely NO activity on the beach!  I kind of like the solitude but Glenn always enjoyed talking to people as they would walk by or drive by on their ATV's.  We can no longer take the ATV to town since the beach is closed and we have no other way to get the ATV in there.....  So we're back to driving the truck when we need groceries.  Luckily there is a very small store just 1/2 mile away and then another small one before you ever get into town - we make do with whatever they have in the store!!

Are we staying still an extra 3 weeks?  If Glenn decides he cannot fish, we will head home after Easter - there is not a lot for him to do here without the fishing!  (I already have jigsaw puzzles on the list for next year!)  I can read anywhere - but I LOVE the warm weather and just looking at the ocean, even though I can't be on the sand.  So time will tell!