John -

One of the problems with the Vanagon list is that we spend a lot of time
talking about the problems we have had.  It gets scary at times, driving
along wondering what will pop up next, but in 12 years of traveling in
Westphalias, I have only had to be towed once.

Same thing with watching the news.  You won't hear much about it on the boob
tube, but crime has gone down in the last few years.  Violent crime is rare,
outside of a few large cities.  Does that mean that I don't lock the van at
night when I'm sleeping in it?  No, lighting can strike, but I am perfectly
happy to camp out by myself in the woods.

We don't need to start a self protection thread, but with reasonable
precautions you don't need to huddle under the lights in a Wal-Mart parking
lot, wondering what is prowling outside in the darkness.

- Mike Finkbiner
'87 Westy
Moscow, Idaho

Date:    Thu, 17 May 2001 15:26:44 -0600
From:    John Brush <jbrush@aros.net>
Subject: Re: Wal-Mart parking

>are so many nice "hidden" places along major highways, wild and without
>paying> fees, along rivers and lakes even springs(including hot ones) close
>by with campfire ring....All that needed is little planning and discovery
>spirit...

Yea, but sadly, we are learning that its not very safe to do such a
thing anymore.

I usually travel with some of my children, so such places are not really an
option. I no longer feel very safe stopping in an empty spot, which I must
confess, really ticks me off because there are so many, and it shouldn't
have EVER been allowed to come to this.
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