Fun in the socially-distanced sun

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This article was published 31/05/2020 (2110 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Social distancing just isn’t Kayden Bayle’s thing.

The 14-month-old daughter of Kristina and Patrick Bayle is a natural people person, gravitating toward just about anyone her little legs can take her to.

“It’s going to be her that breaks the social-distancing rules. She likes to visit,” Kristina said Sunday, as the young family joined hundreds of others under the bright, afternoon sun at The Forks.

Indeed, the final day of May was splendid in nearly every way, and Winnipeggers — many with severe cases of cabin fever owing to the COVID-19 pandemic — were intent on making the most of it.

Kristina said both she and her husband have been working from home since March and have been doing their best to remain insolated.

“We were locked in the house for most of the time, and the weather wasn’t that nice, either,” she said. “We’re anxious to get outside, and (Kayden) loves being outside, too, so as soon as we pick her up from daycare we stay outside until bedtime.”

The outdoor patio area of The Forks was a busy place but most patrons, or families and groups of friends and acquaintances, were at their responsible best, keeping a safe distance from others they didn’t know.

The Bayles took their pooch, Olive, for a romp at the dog park and then walked to the open-air bar area to enjoy a beverage, with no trepidation about the crowds.

‘People are doing the right thing. Even when I went in line to get a drink, everyone stood on the little markers and nobody really crowded anyone’– Kristina Bayle, on enjoying Sunday at The Forks

“I think Winnipeg hasn’t been as hard hit, and when you look at the active cases they’ve been mostly outside of Winnipeg. So, it’s still there but I’m not too concerned about it,” Kristina said. “People are doing the right thing. Even when I went in line to get a drink, everyone stood on the little markers and nobody really crowded anyone. And when you look around, everybody’s keeping their distance.”

Meanwhile, Claude Michon and his partner, Marilyn Albrecht, sat in Adirondack chairs and were gazing at the river, with plenty of space between them and a trio of beer drinkers seated around a small, round table.

The couple lives in the East Exchange and enjoyed the short walk over to the city hub.

“It’s like our backyard. It’s May but it feels like summer. It’s great to get out,” said Michon. “We got back from separate trips in the middle of March, so we had to quarantine for two weeks. And then we unquarantined but it still felt like we were quarantined. We go for walks every day, and in March and April it was pretty sparse as far as people, so it was pretty safe.

“There’s a lot more people here now, and last Sunday was pretty similar. Most people are very respectful. They’ll move away from you as you pass each other. There’s the odd person that doesn’t pay attention but it’s very rare.”

There weren’t many mask-wearers at The Forks, just a day before the province moves into Phase 2 of its reopening plan. There’s a growing confidence the worst of the pandemic is behind us.

“This is the first time we’ve been out,” said Jeremy Jackson, taking a stroll with his wife, Steff, and the couple’s two-year-old son, James. “I think it’s the low case count (in Manitoba), and it’s sort of enough already. It’s time to get out, be normal.”

jason.bell@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @WFPJasonBell