The Coronavirus Chronicles -Three Strikes You're Out

[Gone in 60]

I went for anther "Omega Man" ride today. Realized that I won't be in the office for quite a while, and that's where I left my good coffee, along with some food that will go bad, and felt the need to swipe a few more rolls of toilet paper that nobody is going to need.

Extended the stop-and-grab into a ride to the L.A. Harbor area. I grew up around there, and make it a destination now when I get the chance to go for a pleasure ride. Saw some interesting things. In Long Beach at this time normally, there would be plenty of barricades, grandstands and temporary garages for the upcoming Long Beach Grand Prix. But, since the race was cancelled around the time they were starting to set up for it, there are a few grandstands in place, along with some track barriers here and there. In the parking lot of the convention center, there are several flatbed trailers with stacks of materials. Not sure if they are in the process of tearing everything back down, or if the partially loaded trailers were just left when setup for the race was abandoned. There are homeless tents under some of the grandstands that are up.

As I neared and crossed the Vincent Thomas Bridge into San Pedro, the otherwise desolate roads became a bit more crowded, especially with people who looked and drove like they were a bit out of place, and looking for something.

I soon found out what the crowd was interested in. The USNS Hospital Ship Mercy is docked at the cruise ship terminal, and had attracted quite a crowd of people who wanted to get pictures of it. I didn't feel like getting near the rabble, so I stopped down the road in a freight loading area, and grabbed a picture. In the picture here, it's framed between two pylons of the Vincent Thomas Bridge.

Beach parking lots and piers are closed to help keep people from congregating. Still, a few surfers and beach trail walkers were out, along with plenty of motorcycles enjoying the beautiful day.