by Colin Aina
You may not be able to go “there,” but exploration isn’t restricted.
At times I can be quite cynical in an attempt to "Keep it real". I've gotten to the point in my life and career where I don't like to B/S people and feel that it should be mutual. I'm optimistic when I see proof that warrants it. Over the last few months, I started hearing statements like, " I'm ready for 2020 to be over, bring on 2021", "2021 is going to be better!" My immediate reaction was that of caution and very little optimism. Let's be real, it's potentially looking like the second half of 2021 is MAYBE the soonest when things are going to get back to normal; in this country at least.
When our initial shutdown happened in March, while others figured it was going to be a 2 -week thing, I doubted it from the get-go and posited that June would be when things would get "better". F$#k, were we all wrong!
I'm fortunate to know many, many people who are involved in our healthcare system, so I rely on firsthand facts from them as to what is really going on. I also do not watch network television news. I rely on public radio for news, rendering me as close to unbiased as possible (hopefully).
As the vaccines start to roll out, I still remain skeptical. People close to me have been placed at risk by people citing "Oh I've been vaccinated!" The logic of some people is staggeringly scary. We are also already seeing western nations such as ours hoarding vaccine stockpiles. This hits me personally as my family is dispersed throughout the globe and most have zero indication as to when their turn will be.
A common theme for many people is that they feel trapped and stuck in their current state (mental and actual). With travel restrictions abound, many people haven't made that annual trip, even to a neighboring state. I would have usually made a few weekend trips to the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont by now to fat bike and ice climb, as well as the Keene Valley in NY to climb too. Given Vermont and New York's tightening restrictions over the last 2 months, I haven't been able to. I also had to cancel a much needed and anticipated mountain biking trip to Moab, Utah in April. Yes, I was able to get my flight refunded!
Despite this sensation of feeling trapped, adventure and exploration aren't cancelled!
In April, I started to notice many new faces out riding on my local mountain biking trails as well as more people hiking. Little did I know that the bike industry would soon turn on it's side. As states shut down, people started to explore more, and bikes became in extremely high demand. The last few years have shown that LBS's (local bike shops) were becoming strained due to brands providing more direct-to-consumer sales and online stores, cutting them out. They got blasted with new riders in the spring. In the fall, supply started to catch up to the demand, but at the time that I write this, supply is back down. Parts are also very hard to come by and I had to drive 90 mins out of state to source a new rim a few weeks ago. The main issue is that the ports on both sides of the chain are backed up.
The positive aspect is that people have made their own adventure but trying something new, getting outside, exploring their own back yards due to not being able to go anywhere else. I too have made my own adventure by seeking out and trying to bike all of the gravel and dirt roads in the state. I've been to some beautiful spots in this state that I would not have otherwise seen if it wasn't for the pandemic. This exodus out of the homes, off of the screens and into the wild is great to see and breeds more physical activity into our world.
I'd like to encourage you to find adventure as well. All you need to do is walk out of your door and explore. You don't have to go into the woods, simply exploring a new neighborhood, a new town or even a new park can be eye opening and invigorating.
To quote John Muir, " In every walk with nature, one receives far more than he seeks."