Aleria's Adventures

Okay. I think I have it figured out now. Here's a good, practical summary that should clear up all of the ambiguity and rampant confusion about the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, and Covid-19. The Rules (at least according to me in the Republic of Ireland): 1. Basically, if you're 70 or older you can't leave the house for any reason; but if you get sick, then you can. This is called cocooning. Wash your hands. 2. Under 70, you can only travel 2 km from home except if you need groceries or medicines or are caring for someone over 70, then you can travel as far as you need to. Wash your hands. 3. Stores are closed, except those that are open. 4. Morning hours in stores are reserved for older people, except you can't buy booze then so you have to go later or suffer. There is no shortage of groceries in the supermarkets, but there are things missing when you go there, but not in the morning. Sometimes. How old is older? 5. Masks are useless, but all healt...

The village dock  We'd heard from our neighbour that the mackerel are in, and so, to extend our time between shops where we can be exposed to the novel Coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2,   we decided to try fishing. As we headed out in a SE breeze, the wind backed to the NE and brought an icy cold chill to the air. This after shorts and T-shirt weather yesterday. Very strange. It was half tide and we tried the cut between our point and Furlong, but no one was biting. So we decided to go out to the known fishing spot by Inishgowla. After two passes and wind whipping up a chop making it uncomfortable to continue, we returned home skunked. Next time we'll have to go out catching instead of just fishing. What's worse is that we were supposed to put down a couple of lobster pots. As the lobster fishery has collapsed, we thought we might have luck on that front. Except we forgot to bring the lobster pots with us. Duh! The price of lobsters has dropped through the floor as the ma...

On April 3, I wrote on another blog that the world pandemic had just reached 1M documented infected with the novel coronavirus. Today, just 12 days later, the count has reached more than 2M confirmed and 127,000 deaths due to Covid-19. Thousands of cruisers are stranded, some in paradise, others in very remote places without access to supplies, unable to move on as borders everywhere remain closed. Such an unprecedented situation. 2km radius from our home There's an app that outlines the 2 km limit on distance we are permitted to transit at this time, other than going to the pharmacy or food shopping. We feel so fortunate to live on 10 acres on the sea. We are unable to launch Aleria which is the only major downside. But Alex spruced up Moytura and yesterday we got out on the Bay. Fortunately, the weather has been spectacular and we are out and about on the land every day. The garden is shaping up, the vegetable seeds have germinated. As one friend said, this year, sai...

I started writing this about a month ago. My how the world has changed since then. Racing is cancelled. Community frostbiting is stopped. Yachting facilities are closed. Cruisers are turned back or denied entry. https://www.noonsite.com/news/novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov-special-procedures-being-introduced-in-ports-of-entry-worldwide/ Sailing programs are cancelled. https://www.communityboating.com/covid-19-update/ Others are stocking up in case they have to spend quarantine time at sea or at anchor. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpsd2eIYuRw Youth summer sailing program registrations are going forward but who knows when this pandemic will enable 'normal' life to continue, if ever. https://www.ussailing.org/news/coronavirus-information/ Cruise ships continue sailing from port to port after being denied docking permission. https://www.guelphtoday.com/around-ontario/covid-19-canada-watching-70-cruise-ships-still-sailing-with-4000-canadians-on-board-2184664 N...

RUMINATING IN THE WEST OF IRELAND DURING THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC The 2 km zone we are permitted to wander Just a very long month ago, the first cases of a novel Coronavirus began trickling into Ireland. China had experienced a severe outbreak beginning in January, and by February it had spread into several countries including Italy in the midst of ski season. Kids on holidays brought it back home while neighbours of China also had outbreaks. Having had several scares before, the Far Eastern nations reacted swiftly and decisively. The Europeans didn't, and Trump called it a Democratic hoax to divert attention from the US elections. Now the entire world -- 200 countries and several cruise ships -- is in the midst of a pandemic. Hitting a million confirmed cases and thousands of deaths today. As borders closed around the world, I was working on behalf of members of the Ocean Cruising Club (OCC) to assist members getting stuck in places insurance wouldn't let them be duri...