In our area of southern PA we’re just now getting close to peak - perhaps another week yet. Where we are in VA (close to Richmond), some trees are turning, but not the bulk. Nonetheless, it was a pretty drive Saturday when we came (PA, MD, VA around DC, etc). When we return before election day I expect to see nothing in PA except perhaps some brown leaves hanging on.
Where my guy is in Western NY they tend to be two weeks ahead of us, though it’s “worse” in the mountains of PA that we cross between the two destinations. Where I lived in NY they are usually 3 weeks ahead of us. I haven’t been to either location since Covid, much less to see the trees this year (sigh).
Most of PA is ahead of us, so any drive through there right now is likely to be very pretty. Enjoy!
@deb922 if you are driving thru NY/in the state less than 24 hours, you don’t need to do anything. However, if you are staying more than 24 hours, you are required to fill out an online form. Failure to do so, and of caught, you face a $2500 fine (I think). I’m not sure if hotels check or not. If we were to stay overnight, which we technically can since we will be there for medical reasons, we are required to quarantine/stay out of public when not at the doctor appointment. Obviously that is an honor system but if caught, there is that $2500 fine I don’t feel like paying.
It’s for the week ending tomorrow, but plenty of my state is still pretty too. We’re missing most of the best time this year by being in VA (sigh), but family is important too. Hopefully we’ll get a nice show locally.
@deb922 In Vermont, we had to sign a statement. If we had been from a state outside of New England, we would have had to swear that we’d quarantined for 14 days. I think people are probably cheating. I saw folks from Texas and other places, and I don’t think they all quarantined.
@Creekland thanks for that - I’d been checking last week but hadn’t looked lately. Looks like it is 75% peak in the county where my son is, so it should be beautiful on Friday! I guess rather than taking a nature hike like we planned on Saturday, we can just do a driving tour on Friday after his appointment. What stinks is that our hotel room has been reserved since February - my son was supposed to have a game this weekend! Of course his season was canceled, but I hadn’t canceled all of our reservations. I kept this one since he has a doctor appointment (he broke his hand a week after moving back to campus in August). We missed peak season last year b/c he had two away games the weekends that were perfect for viewing.
I wish you the best. If it were me, I’d be doing something, esp hitting peak season. Mental health by getting a break counts for something and driving along some scenic roads can be done without contact of any sort. You have the hotel room, and with the medical back up for a reason, so… enjoy the time and vistas with your son. I hope his hand has completely healed.
But it’s up to you, of course. I’d support whichever you choose.
My husband has come up with a concept to go visit our son in Seattle and help him move apartments (in the same building). We’d have a two day drive up, stay five days, and then back down. We’d have to stay in a hotel each way, but could bring our blow up mattress and sleep in one of the two apartments while there (son has a five day overlap between leases).
It’s tempting but I suspect son might be too afraid of being non-symptomatic and giving us the virus (although he’s been ultra careful). OTOH, he might really like the help moving. Perhaps he could go get tested to ease his mind.
I’d have to think about that amount of travel - particularly restrooms (needing lots of stops). Also pretty sure any fall color would be done by then (second week of November). But it’s almost a year since seeing him…
I just took a car trip and the rest rooms were fine. Well, gas stations and fast food places aren’t exactly the Ritz, but the chance of getting COVID is slim. You wear your mask, wash your hands and move fast.
Many posters have mentioned getting together with kids, for one reason or another, whether medical, vacation or moving. How are you doing this safely? I am not seeing my local daughter much at all, because she is afraid to infect me, and my other two are far away.
We are contemplating a cross-country flight for one kid who has medical issues herself, as I mentioned before. Very expensive one seat “suite” in the front of the plane.
I will have to pick her up at the airport. We will both double mask with face shields and have the windows open.
She will stay in a separate apartment for at least 5 days for a post-flight test and then two more to get results. During that time we will only see each other outside. It will be frustrating!
I don’t trust the rapid antigen tests offered at the airport and infection from the flight wouldn’t show up anyway.
@compmom i think that we are being more careful than some but less careful than others.
We drove to see our kids, ate in the car and quick in and outs to use the restroom, always wearing masks.
The kids didn’t go out for 2 weeks before, we stayed home also. After we got home, our contacts were very limited for 2 weeks. It wasn’t that hard for all parties.
I think that we are being reasonably careful but there is some risk. I personally would not make my kid isolate before seeing them, I guess that is a risk I’m willing to take to be able to see my children. One of my kids SO works in healthcare and was getting regular COVID tests. That is no longer happening so their plan to fly here for thanksgiving (and take a test beforehand) is probably not going to happen for reasons more than that. None of my kids would not be able to isolate before seeing me due to limited time off.
So I guess my answer is that I have taken a few risks in my need to see my loved ones. I won’t apologize and the only people I’ve done this for is my 2 children, my mother and my il’s.
@dwb22 I think there are a lot of variables, so we each make our own decisions. I have health conditions and one of my kids has some serious health conditions, so that affects our plans. The need to fly is another factor and the one that makes me most nervous. Without the flight, since I and the kid in question are so very careful, I would consider skipping the quarantine upstairs and we would both just get tested prior to the visit.
Do folks think 5 days wait for testing after flight is enough? I am also wondering if quarantine should go longer but we may not be able to endure living so close but not hanging out. I haven’t seen her in a year. And we both have been very isolated since March.
None of our kids require travel other than car to see us. One lives in town, two live 2.5 hours away.
Like Deb says, there are some risks, but largely small. Some of us do go to work but that is a fairly controlled situation. Few people, little face to face interaction. We know the kids “pods” and they are very small. None of us are socializing beyond a social distanced picnic outdoors in a park. None of us are doing restaurants inside or outside dining.
In summary, we are all leading a pretty boring life, lol. Work, outdoor exercise, outdoor time with limited friends, home time.
We wouldn’t hesitate to get tested if that made someone feel better. I also would not be upset if one of them decided to forego the in person holiday.
I have to admit that it’s getting annoying getting emails from airlines advertising some low flight rates!!!
My friend and run/walk partner got back from South Carolina last week. When she tried to attend an outdoor class at the Y, they wouldn’t admit her since she’d just returned. She had to take a COVID test, which came back negative. She was annoyed but I was happy that the Y is being so careful.
@compmom i truly understand your situation. I guess I’m seeing that air travel is not the spreader that they thought it might be.
My personal opinion is that I would equate it with going to work, with a mask and social distancing.
My personal decision would be to not isolate for 5 days because the incubation for Covid can be as much as 14 days. But you need to do what is comfortable for you. And needing to see your kid is important. It was very very important for my mental health.
Work, outdoor exercise, outdoor time with limited friends, home time.