Date: Sat, 27 Jan 2007 19:01:08 -0500
Reply-To: Joy Hecht <hecht.joy@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Joy Hecht <hecht.joy@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: bus alarm... guns. Now: Stealth/urban camping tips
In-Reply-To: <c4e7c5f90701271522r47c203b4m9fe51b876fbfa94c@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
The info Neil cited in the archives is all good. Neil, it's funny what you
say about stealth camping in your own neighborhood. Now that I'm back in a
house, I find myself kind of automatically scouting for good stealth camping
spots in my neighborhood. You know, where parking is legal, not right in
front of a single-family home where they'd wonder who you were. In fact, in
one of those spots there's often an old RV parked, and I always wonder if
someone is living there. Though it might belong to folks who live across
the street and don't have space in their driveway, too.
I'm generally not a fearful type. I was never really afraid of anything
while I was on the road. Maybe because I grew up in Manhattan, in a rather
borderline neighborhood - I'm not afraid of crime. I love cities, they don't
frighten me. But you know, we all choose our risks - living in a van isn't
risky IMO, but there are other risks I'd never take that plenty of people
do. We're all different that way.
One of my concerns was that I really like to read in bed, and I was afraid
of lights being seen. I always draw the curtains, and hang something behind
the front seats so folks can't see into the back (though usually it's a
towel, and that's probably not a good thing to hang). I try to block the
windows more so light inside can't escape - open the stove top, stuff like
that.
If I want to hang out in the van and do stuff in the evening, I'll park
someplace where I'm not going to sleep, and be quite open about being there.
Then when I'm ready for bed I move elsewhere.
I was approached by the police twice. Once in a city park in St. Louis,
where I searched and didn't see the "no overnight parking" signs. They
stopped at my van around midnight, I happened to be sitting inside on the
internet, working. So I moved to another place that I'd scoped out during
the day. The other time was in Marin County. I was stealth camping on a
road through a state park, in a pull-off on the road. A cop car came by,
shone her light on me. I asked if I could help her. That was last December
when they were having floods up there. She suggested I move to a different
pull-off on higher ground. Nice lady!
Oh, and regarding facilities in the night - for a long time I didn't
"stealth" camp except in place with facilities (Walmarts, truck stops) or in
remote places where a bush was reasonable. Then I finally realized I needed
a portapotty (or equivalent) and I was being silly not to have one. After
that I stealth camped all the time.
Showers aren't much use for urban camping! But I'm a member of a Y, which
gets you access to Ys everywhere in the country, and I'd go work out
wherever I could and then take my shower there. Occasionally a campground
was needed for showers. And of course the sponge bath is always an option.
Joy
:::-----Original Message-----
:::From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
:::Of neil
:::Sent: Saturday, January 27, 2007 6:23 PM
:::To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
:::Subject: Was: bus alarm... guns. Now: Stealth/urban camping tips
:::
:::Joy, that's some interesting insights. I find it reasurring that,
:::(especially from a womans' POV) you felt comfortable stealth camping
:::and didn't have any trouble in regards to safety. As Martha Stewart
:::would say: "it's a good thing". (Just what you need. Another TV
:::reference ;^)
:::
:::My goal is to do the "long trip living in the van" thing. As of now, I
:::need to do some upgrades, (engine swap most importantly) before I do
:::this. Regardless, I am heartened to read of your overall experience.
:::
:::One would assume that a 6' 2" dude would have no hesitations parking
:::in neighbourhoods in strange cities, but I still do. Maybe I just need
:::to practice stealth camping in my own hood'!
:::
:::Since I am curious about this stealth stuff I searched archives found
:::some good tips at.
:::
:::Others may find this helpful:
:::
:::http://gerry.vanagon.com/cgi-bin/wa.exe?A2=ind0308C&L=vanagon&P=R11822
:::
:::Or:
:::
:::http://gerry.vanagon.com/cgi-
:::bin/wa.exe?S2=vanagon&L=vanagon&q=&s=stealth&f=&a=july+2000&b=jan+2007
:::
:::
:::Anything to add Joy?
:::
:::Or other Vanagon Stealth Pros?
:::
:::TIA,
:::
:::--
:::Neil Nicholson. 1981 Air Cooled Westfalia.
:::
:::http://web.mac.com/tubaneil
:::
| 
