R&R for an RN IN BRITISH COLUMBIA

A mid the chaos of the COVID-19 pandemic, I needed to find the quiet serenity that comes on two wheels. As a nurse educator in a trauma-based tertiary hospital, I’m deep in the trenches, responsible for disseminating information and implementing health regulations to frontline workers. Inundated with fear from global news, increasing numbers of the infected, lack of resources, and a palpable universal panic as the world began to shut down, I needed to be away from it all for a while.

- Cheryl Jones

We decided to take a few well-earned days off and head to the north end of Vancouver Island to explore the remote roads. Cognizant of the risks, we intended to take social distancing to another level, bypassing small communities to avoid jeopardizing anyone.

Bike prep complete, camera batteries charged, emergency gear packed, I threw a couple of days of clothes into my Mosko Moto Reckless 40L system and we were off. After three hours we landed in Campbell River, our temporary home base, and checked into one of the few hotels still operating. I had mixed feelings about the “stay home” direction relentlessly hammered into us and the public’s perception of what that meant. With no clear order to stay home, we were not quarantined, nor were we shut in. Everyone was expected to show up for work where required, purchase groceries, and attend to personal matters, so why was there so much rancor among people when it came to getting out to exercise and taking care of one’s well-being? The risk of injury and need for emergency workers is no higher riding a bike on logging roads than driving to a store in heavy traffic. I knew there might be some backlash from those who took the meaning of “stay home” literally, but being medically versed, I knew that recharging mentally and physically could be done safely.

It was a surreal time to travel, as the Provincial Government had just ordered the closure of all provincial parks, which would influence some of the sights we wished to see. Everywhere we went, we found red-tape barriers and large “CLOSED” signs. As much as it was a source of frustration, it was not surprising given the knee-jerk reactions happening globally; it was all new, and it was all very frightening.