Date: Wed, 30 Aug 2000 23:43:43 -0400
Reply-To: pokeswagon@BLAZENET.NET
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: "(Donna Cassano)" <pokeswagon@BLAZENET.NET>
Subject: Re: Let's not let this happen again if we can
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One "trick" when camping or traveling alone is to not look like you are alone. One
of my favorite stories is when I was camping alone out in Cocconino National Forest
in Arizona. It was hunting season and a couple of scruffy looking camo garbed guys
drove by my rig slowly and curiously. The Van was parked with the sliding door away
from the road (a conscious effort) and I was sitting outside the van in view.
Although I was alone, I "talked" to "someone" inside my van giving the appearance
that I wasn't alone. Don't know if they were totally innocent, but they didn't come
back.
There was another time in a rest area that I stopped in to pee that I'm still not
sure about. I'm only telling this story to help keep people aware. As I got out of
my van, I noticed a step van behind me with a guy just sitting there. I went to the
restroom and as I returned he came out of his van and approached me. He asked me
what time it was and I had taken notice to the clock in the bathroom and reported
9:45 without looking at my watch. He asked if I was sure, and I said that I was,
and he continued to the restroom. I have pretty good intuition and I believe that
he was trying to get me to look down or away to try and get an upper hand. It was
all just a little too weird.
The moral of the story is to try and stay AWARE. I like to give people the benefit
of the doubt, but unfortunately in this day and age one can't afford to let their
gaurd down. Be in tune with your surroundings and keep an eye out for an escape
path. Learn a few self defense tactics - when grabbed from behind, rub the outside
edge of your foot against the attackers shin hard and have an elbow ready for when
they react. And if something just doesn't feel right, it's probably not. Get the
hell out of there.
Happy and safe trails to all.
Peace - donna
'84 Westy (Pepe)
Susan Bernavich wrote:
> Dear List Members...it was with a saddened heart that I learned of Kristens
> death. I am a single woman that often travels alone...I tend to agree with the
> post from //////Chris...it is imperative, that prudence rules our decisions
> while traveling alone....it has long been generally known that rest stops are
> not safe to stay in alone....when I camp ,I look for a state or county
> park....and then scope out either an elderly couple or family to camp next
> to...Geeze it would be great not to have to do that...but the risks are
> certainly out there...on the other hand...I refuse to stay home in a totally
> risk-less environment....Last year when I bought "Harold" a whole new fun
> world opened up to me..Ah ,,,I could smell the freedom...and I am no less
> enthusiastic a year and many trips later....there have been several single
> women ( a couple on this list) that have given me sound advice and prudent
> rules of the road for women...(.any of you want to start a new list????? ) Take
> care out there..my heart goes out to Kristens family and friends.....I love
> this list and community. SusanB
>
> JordanVw@AOL.COM wrote:
>
> > it doesnt have anything to do with her not having a gun.. it has something
> > to do with a young white female sleeping in the back of her bus ALONE in the
> > middle of Bumblef*ck Arkansas in a desolate highway rest stop. and that
> > alone makes her easy prey. its a nightmare waiting to happen. Yes, its
> > unfortunate that females traveling solo are easy targets. but its not the
> > first time it has happened. I can remember a few yrs ago in Fla this
> > happened a bunch of times one summer on some florida rest stops along I-95.
> > most of the victims were women, or out of state tourists. one couple was
> > also visiting from germany i think. While it was terrible and atrosity for
> > this to happen, it was not a smart thing for Kristen to do. NEVER sleep at a
> > rest stop..especially alone and especially if youre female.
> > my condolences to her family, and i hope they catch the guy and give him the
> > chair! (lets not start a thread on the death penalty , now!)
> > chris
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