Date:         Wed, 20 Aug 2003 12:33:42 -0400
Reply-To:     Jim Henry <jch@JCHGIS.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Jim Henry <jch@JCHGIS.COM>
Subject:      Re: urban stealth camping..
In-Reply-To:  <20030820003806.D6B3B12F80B@email.iwon.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

I second the Wal-Mart suggestion, this has become a standard for us in that
it is so easy to pull into a Wal-Mart at any hour and have a save and secure
place to sleep. The ambient light level might be a little high, but that
adds to the security. I usually end up easily spending the equivalent of a
night's camping fee in the Wal-Mart, so it seems to be good business for
them. I found a 750 watt inverter on sale at the Wal-Mart in Hagerstown MD
over the 4th of July. Now my cell phone and laptop are always charged on
trips.  Inside a Super Wal-Mart at 3:00 am can be a very interesting place.

My favorite stealth camping adventure was at the Adam's Mark Hotel in one of
our fair cities here in NC last winter. I had intended to share a room in
the hotel with a business colleague, but it turned out that the hotel had
put us in room 1313. I do not have many superstitions, but tridecaphobia is
one of them. Not a chance that I will stay in a room with a 13 in its
number, let alone two 13's. So when time came for me to go to bed, I just
went to the westy that was parked in the hotel/municipal parking garage
across the street and slept fine. In the morning, I used my key to get into
the exercise area, worked out, showered and then went on to the meeting. My
friend was curious about why I had not come home to the room, but I just
told him that I "got lucky."  I did later share the whole story with him so
that my reputation might not be too misdirected.

Good luck and drive well,

Jim Henry
Durham, NC
84 Westy



-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM]On Behalf
Of John Parson
Sent: Tuesday, August 19, 2003 8:38 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: urban stealth camping..


  Living in the Westy, I've learned not to pop the top, but rather move
stuff around and sleep on the bottom with all the curtains closed when
utilizing the free camping spots available in the urban landscape.  I try to
find a dark place to park that is unsigned, or at least signed by some
unlikely-to-enforce authority, such as the railroad.  Actually, the right of
way along RR tracks is an excellent prospect.  I try not to wear a place
out, as locals will put up with a night, sometimes even a few days, but they
don't want you as a fixture of the neighborhood.
  Anyone else got any urban camping tips?

The Trundler
'82 Westy
'87 Westy



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