Date: Fri, 17 Feb 2023 19:54:46 -0800
Reply-To: David McNeely <davmcneely40@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: David McNeely <davmcneely40@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Getting Caught
In-Reply-To: <CAFdLW6=_EdboOTbcyVEwqExOFrSO9FJBEqaLoZZ=yjndHv65Jw@mail.gmail.com>
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Not me, but something I read, written by the environmental historian Dan
Flores. Many years ago, he and a student explored the Canadian River
Canyon in New Mexico preparatory to doing some historical research on the
long defunct settlement program that USDA promoted for certain parts of the
country in the early to mid-20th century. Upon completion of their several
day backpacking through the canyon, they found themselves in the tiny town
of Roy, NM. After a few drinks in the local watering hole, they looked for
a place to camp for the night. Early next morning, they found that they
had chosen the front yard of one of the prominent citizens of the town.
Flores did not say what consequences there were, other than that several
townspeople were surprised to find them sleeping there. BTW, I have camped
at a BLM campground in that canyon. Quite nice. mcneely
On Fri, Feb 17, 2023 at 7:45 PM Dan N <dn92610@gmail.com> wrote:
> Long ago... I drove to Montana to visit my son at a boarding school... On
> my way back I was so tired that I decided to stop at a small town to
> camp/sleep at night. The town itself is quite ugly, no camping, no motel
> and a grocery store that was closed at 8:00pm. On my way out of the town I
> noticed a school and a police station in front of it. I went to the police
> station and asked if I could camp in their parking lot for one night.
> They said... "sure... Do you want something to drink...?" :-)
>
> On Fri, Feb 17, 2023 at 7:36 PM David McNeely <davmcneely40@gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
>> I think the no overnight sleeping in vehicles in NP parking lots is
>> universal now. Years ago I used to drive all day and into the night to
>> get
>> to Big Bend NP from Tulsa, OK, park in the Panther Junction parking lot
>> for
>> the balance of the night in order to be in the Visitor's Center to pick up
>> a back country permit as early as possible to head out. I was not the
>> only
>> one doing that. For the most part, it was peaceful, no hassles, no
>> objections. Then one year at Christmas break, I noticed that a couple of
>> people were sleeping in the Post Office, and that people were washing
>> dishes in the drinking fountain. The next time I went, the "No Camping, No
>> Overnight Parking" sign had appeared. mcneely
>>
>> On Thu, Feb 16, 2023 at 3:30 PM Richard Koerner <rjkinpb@sbcglobal.net>
>> wrote:
>>
>> > Have you ever got caught when camping in Vanagon where you are not
>> > supposed to, and what was the outcome? In over 45 years of VW van
>> camping,
>> > only happened to me once. I was in Zion, Utah. Simpler times of
>> course,
>> > decades ago. I parked on the far edge of the parking lot at Visitor
>> > Center; enjoyed a wonderful guitar performance inside; went back to van.
>> > Around 11:30 PM....that unmistakable knock-knock-knock of metal
>> flashlight
>> > on window. Red and Blue lights swirling around. I stumbled outside.
>> > Ranger said, "Uhh, you know, you can't camp here."
>> > The outcome? Ranger directed me to a back street in nearby town. That
>> > was that. And lived to tell the story! In general, the law folks only
>> > want no trouble for anybody. And since then, proliferation of signs
>> > informing of no overnight sleeping in vehicles.
>> >
>>
>
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