Date: Sat, 14 Feb 2004 08:41:03 -0600
Reply-To: Larry Chase <roadguy@ROADHAUS.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Larry Chase <roadguy@ROADHAUS.COM>
Subject: RoadHaus - Bear Country Precautions
In-Reply-To: <WorldClient-F200402140026.AA26100005@jiddware.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
John,
First of all .... Thank you taking the time to email and offer
encouragement.
Notes like this provide a great deal of inspiration and motivation to
keep on trucking :)
Secondly, you bring up a very good point and one of concern.
This past year I've traveled from Baja, Mexico to Chicken, Alaska, much
of the Yukon, BC and parts of Alberta.
Any much of it has been in wild back country rather than developed
campgrounds.
As you can imagine, I've been in a fair amount of bear country.
"be sure to keep anything that might attract Yogi & company (that
includes scented stuff like deodorant) well away from the RoadHaus,"
That has posed a real problem ....
When one is traveling and living fulltime in one of these rigs, you end
up with stuff stashed into every available nock and cranny.
Reality ... it's darn near impossible to remove everything each night
that might attract one of these noble beasts.
Of course I do sensible things like not Popping the Top and not leaving
trash and such outside.
I've talked with a fair amount of Rangers and Outdoors people about what
to do.
In short ... I have not identified the perfect solution.
What I do.
1. Put out an outside spot light that can be turned on from inside the
Van.
- Will scare away some critters when turned on
2. Keep my Car Alarm Remote handy so I can activate the ear Piercing
Alarm.
- Will scare away some critters when turned on
3. Keep the Van ready for a quick getaway in the middle of the night.
- Keys in the ignition and pointed at a good evacuation route
Other that those things, I'm a little stumped.
Suggestions most welcome.
Larry Chase
Email: RoadGuy@RoadHaus.com
Web: WWW.RoadHaus.com
Cell: 408.202.1217
What: North American Road Trip
How: RoadHaus - 1990 White VW Westfalia Syncro
Today: Florida
-----Original Message-----
From: John F.
Sent: Saturday, February 14, 2004 2:26 AM
To: Larry Chase
Subject: Re: Antifreeze and pests and pets
Clipped >>>>
Anyhow, just wanted to drop one quick note. Living near bear country as
I do (Yosemite, CA), be careful stashing food and any other scented
items that may attract critters inside of the van. Nutria are harmless
enough, and their maneuvering for your foodstuffs makes for great
storytelling. But animals of greater capacity are just as intersted in
what you might have stuffed away and won't stop at just scurrying up the
side of the van to get at things. If you're ever in bear country, be
sure to keep anything that might attract Yogi & company (that includes
scented stuff like deodorant) well away from the RoadHaus, or you might
get an uninvited (albeit furry and warm) visitor.
<<<< Clipped