A New Year and Hopes are Sky High

 January 4

After delivering blow after blow 2020 gifted us with 3 inches of rain before departing. For days after the heavy downpour our spirits were high. On the last day of the year we drove out to Refugio Beach where we were able to go on a long stroll due to a well timed low tide. We witnessed a glorious final sunset of the year. It reminded us of our Thailand trip 2 years ago. People in that part of the world we learned deem it significant to catch the year's final sunset.

Adios 2020 from Refugio Beach - tranquil and pretty

At midnight on December 31, the entire world yelled out a unified "Good riddance!" But, no, the virus did not vanish with the arrival of 2021. Our despair is at its greatest. California's lockdown has been extended and our daily new cases and deaths are at frightening highs. 

In the UK there are over 50,000 daily new infections driven by the new variant of concern (VOC). Today, the entire entire country went into lockdown to avoid overwhelming the health care facilities. Another piece of depressing news is that Britain has officially broken from the EU as of midnight Dec 31. Ouch!

South Africa has been recording around 10,000 new daily Covid cases. Their new VOC is of greater concern due to more drastic changes and scientists are questioning whether vaccines will be effective on patients with this mutated virus. Alarming indeed! Only yesterday the South African Health Minister addressed the nation on live TV to announce plans for a February vaccine rollout. Hopefully, by then researchers will have better information.

The vaccine roll out in the USA has been anything but smooth. Of course with a leadership vacuum at the national level this is hardly surprising though incredibly aggravating. The UK has begun administering the Astrazeneca Oxford vaccine today. This vaccine is still in Phase 3 trials in the USA and approval won't happen until the data is available. Another cause for frustration. Johnson and Johnson have completed enrollment for their vaccine and results are expected in February. If it's successful I'm sure the Covid situation will turn around in this country.

This holiday period we went out for daily walks at Refugio Beach and El Capitan late in the day. In seeking out free parking near the exit we stumbled upon the fantastic Bill Wallace Trail.

Bill Wallace Trail

This wide trail climbs steadily so that you're looking at a breathtaking canyon as you draw deep breaths of clean air. On the downhill return the coastline view is most exhilarating, especially at sunset. Of course, midwinter temperatures and afternoon shade helped. I'm already impatient for the spring wildflowers on these slopes. We'll need rain for that.

The new quarter has started for UCSB and Daryl is once again busy teaching via Zoom from his home office. Pandemic life continues.