Column: Road trip during the pandemic can be challenging

I didn’t want to leave Florida. I could have stayed in the Sunshine State for a few more months. My wife, however, had different ideas, so I’m back.

The long road trip during the pandemic was a little challenging, but there were some surprising advantages as well.

First came trip preparation. Besides the normal packing, we had to add all our protective equipment, including disposable gloves, hand sanitizer, antiseptic wipes, face mask and a bag to throw them all in after use.

The trip heading out of Florida was a breeze. Traffic on the highway was light as we cruised into Georgia and sped through normal downtown Atlanta traffic jams with uncanny ease.

Gas stops were part pleasure and part pain. The pleasure was seeing gas prices under $2. The pain? At each stop we had to prepare as if we were heading in for major surgery. Before getting out of the car, it was on with the mask and the gloves. Proper national health organization precautions were taken while filling up the gas tank and entering the rest area snack shops.

Then things got even more complicated.

To go to the washroom, I had to touch my belt and pants, of course, but the gloves could have been contaminated, possibly putting the virus on my clothing. What to do? After three and half hours of driving, I didn’t have long to decide.

So off came the gloves, followed by the government-mandated 20-second vigorous hand wash. Heading out of the restroom I put the gloves back on, but I didn’t want to contaminate the door handles of the car, so off came the gloves again.

This exhausting back-and-forth went on at each stop.

The hotel where we stayed for a night did not offer much relief. After being informed of the award-winning housekeeping staff, the toilet seat in our room indicated otherwise. The breakfast buffet was kaput, replaced by a less nutritious bagged breakfast-to-go.

The long journey finished when we arrived in Chicago during rush hour but cruised downtown without delay. The view of the skyline was beautiful driving into the city, and it made me glad to be back home.

Now I have to self-quarantine for 14 days, right?