Date:         Thu, 31 Aug 2000 09:17:57 -0400
Reply-To:     pokeswagon@BLAZENET.NET
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         "(Donna Cassano)" <pokeswagon@BLAZENET.NET>
Subject:      Traveling alone
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

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