In a message dated 7/27/2004 6:58:07 AM Pacific Daylight Time,
doug.alcock@HEWITT.COM writes:

> 'Rest Areas' with trucks and
> RV's in them. Are these safe to camp in??

The official answer is never camp in a rest area. From a security standpoint
they are dangerous for a number of reasons, not the least of which is they are
designed for transients. These are people with no ties to that particular
community and therefore no pedigree. Rest Areas lend themselves to allowing
people with ill intent to blend in. The bad guys know they won't stick out or even
be noticed in an area which by design has people who are just passing through.

Call me an extremist or a paranoid, but I am in fact a purveyor of reality.
I'm sure some remember Kristen Laurite who stopped to rest her VW bus in a rest
area in Arkansas and was was raped and stabbed to death in August of 2000.
She was member of the Type 2 list. That serial killer is still at large.
(www.kristenlaurite.org)

I also understand many have "camped" in rest areas with no problem. But I
mention all of the above because it is a reality in our modern world.

Having said that I have camped in rest areas and still do. But some
precautions should be taken. If you choose not to carry a weapon, I suggest pepper
spray which can be effective in warding off an attacker. Bear spray might be
better. Both even better. In the statistically unlikely event of an attack you'll
be glad you put that pepper spray in your bus although you thought you'd never
need it.

I think you're safer in a Truck Stop than a rest area. And by Truck Stop I'm
referring to a place with a store and restaurant and parking lot lights and
lots of truckers spending the night in their rigs. Park with everyone else or
with the trucks, not in some remote area. Yes it's noisy and yes it's light. But
that's what you get for not planning better. Or what you get for wanting to
"make time" and not going for the Subaru engine.

more people and light = more safety

An additional up side of a Truck Stop is that in the morning you can go
inside, buy a newspaper, use the bathroom, and get lousy coffee or beakfast at the
restaurant. Dot Nebel, my neighbor when I was growing up gave me this tip when
I finally got my bus a few years ago. She was about 89 at the time and still
piloted her Westfalia (well at that time a Eurovan) from NJ to WY every winter
for the skiing. She was an avid skiier who was on the 1940 US Olympic Ski
Team (but never competed as the Olympics were cancelled that year when Germany
invaded Norway). But I digress...

If you find yourself camping at night in a rest area--one with only bathrooms
or maybe not even--in the middle of nowhere here is a tip.

Don't get out of your bus. Pull into the rest area and close the curtains
immediately. That lone creep or group of creeps with ill intent have less of a
chance to size you up if they never get a look at you. They may imagine there is
a football team in your bus if they only see the curtains--or just one guy
with shotgun waiting for some to come calling. Also don't naturally assume all
big rig truckers are friendly and on the up and up. Those days are gone as
well. Didn't you see "Dual"?

Then of course trust your insticts--I mean, if your insticts are any good. If
a place feels unsafe it probably is. Move on. Kansas has pretty accomodating
rest areas with Bar B Que grills and spots for camping. I usually feel safe at
these, but you don't really have to let your guard down. Carry your pepper
spray to the bathroom. What's it gonna hurt?

In conclusion, I'm not recommeding anyone stay home for fear of the
unthinkable happening. And I'm not trying to create hysteria. Quite the opposite,
really. Live your life. But take a few precautions, and mostly don't trust a rest
area is safe for camping. Campsites are usually safer. But you already knew
that.

Happy Motoring
Best
Jeff
83.5 Westfalia
LA,CA