Feeling brave ??

herbenny

Guest
The van is ready, I have got some time off so was thinking of heading off somewhere tomorrow just for the night as I have other commitments the rest of the week. Will probably not go too far but far enough as I am spoilt for choice where I live.
Why do I feel apprehensive going it alone ? I know there is nothing to worry about I will have the dog with me, but still feel a little vulnerable being a woman on my own in the middle of no where ......

I am hoping the more I do these little trips the more my fears will subside.....

Ladies how did you overcome your fear if you had any travelling on your own ??:):)
 
oi! men get scared too ! it's all down to practise, the more often you do it ,the easier it gets.start off in familiar places,work your way up to wild and isolated places .it'll be fine,or you'll be eaten by psychopathic cannibals,that's the beauty of it !!
 
I still feel a little aprehensive sometimes, even with the hubby and dog with me but I think that's just me, Im a worrier!

I would pick a spot that is not too remote and trust your instincts, if you don't feel right, move on.

Have fun
x
 
Hhhm, have you ever turned that thought around & wondered what a companion would do that you couldn't do yourself?

TBH, you probably need to "Just Do It" once to get over the apprehension. The first time I went solo sailing I was quite worried about might go wrong (there is a lot to remember & do when entering a harbour or anchoring) but by thinking about potential issues in advance &, having a "plan" to prevent the likely problems, stuff mostly went well. Now I sail on my own quite often & enjoy it as much as when the family is with me to help. They are different experiences, but both enjoyable.

Pick somewhere easy & safe for the first time to build up confidence & enjoy the ability to do as you damn well please, when you damn well please!
 
I have a place in mind that there may be some other vans dotted around so maybe that might be an idea for my first solo trip....
My fear is completely irrational I know. The dog would guard me with his life, So I suppose I worry about being startled in the middle of the night. Maybe I need to read up on the safety precautions i.e keeping keys close by and putting the axe under the pillow...........just kidding :angel:

I know for a fact once I get the hang of it and start trusting my instincts there will be no stopping me travelling all over the place.....:):)
 
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I know how you feel. I haven't wilded by myself yet and the thought of doing it makes me feel very nervous! I know it's about confidence and instinct but I just have this vision of myself awake all night listening .......unless I crack open the vino and then I wouldn't be able to drive if anything did happen. Which it wouldn't of course! I really admire the women we know who do wild alone. You can do it and if you do I will! :dance:
 
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carol,getting a bit pissed is definitely not advised for your first night,but it's still a good idea,nowt wrong with dutch courage at times,and trust me,when the monster's banging on your door,you'll be able to drive !!
 
I was just as worried but the more you do it the easier it becomes. Take your precautions and remember no one in the middle of the night is going to know theres only you inside. Dont know how I, d feel without my japenese akita but if I, m a bit tetchy I keep the fire extinguisher and a crowbar to hand...:scared:
 
When I started wild camping on my own about 12 years ago I was petrified the first few nights! Then I gradually became much more relaxed about it and at the moment I'm out most of the time, only using sites when service stops are needed. But even now I rely very much on my instincts about choosing a place, as it has to feel right, and I try to minimise the chances of people realising I'm a female on her own. I pick out my spot in advance, arrive after about 8pm and usually slip away before 9am next day.

Anywhere with circular tyre marks is out - boy racers are my pet hate as they always seem to arrive just after you've dropped off to sleep, though I've never had any hassle from them.

I don't worry much now about intruders but I do have a can of WD40 velcroed next to the door and if anyone made a determined effort to get in a window or door I'd let them have it! :scared:

The dog is a great morale booster and I used to put a large dog bowl outside the door at night - until I forgot it and ran over it one morning!!!:)

I'm sure you'll soon be loving the freedom, Jac...have a great time!:wave:

Hilary
 
Thanks everyone ...I think I have been watching too many horror films :scared:

I think your fear factor increases when you get older.......I have slept in train stations, bus stops and beaches in my travelling younger days with not a care in the world. What happened ??? :scared:

Carol its a deal !!! I will if you will :p
 
herbenny said:
Thanks everyone ...I think I have been watching too many horror films :scared:

I think your fear factor increases when you get older.......I have slept in train stations, bus stops and beaches in my travelling younger days with not a care in the world. What happened ??? :scared:

Carol its a deal !!! I will if you will :p
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Hi Herbenny,

Several good ideas above. May I add that a baseball bat is a deadly weapon but a Rounders Bat is a childs toy and can be swung or jabbed with in the confines of a motorhome, with deadly effect.
Knuckle dusters are illegal but a Carabiner purchased from a climbers shop is not.

Its all about feeling safe. So have a little routine, a check list if you like. Things like, keys in ignition, escape route clear, dog bowl outside, doors locked. I am sure you will think of several more and each one will make you feel a bit safer. Above all, when you pull, if it does not look right or feel safe keep going!

Richard
 
Why Not try one of the many country pubs for the first night your still wilding with the added security that someone is close by Possibility of CCTV in car park as well.

Daft as it sounds a small village high street can offer a rest-full and safe night any way enjoy it .:sleep-040::sleep-027:
 
I've mentioned this before,but a spray can of Pledge doesn't do any lasting harm when squirted in the eyes,but does glue the eyes shut with wax polish. this actually happened to a copper I knew,which is why he recommended it !
 
Hi n brown,

I bet they come up bushy tailed and bright eyed after that.

Snowbirds.:scared::lol-053::wave:





n brown said:
I've mentioned this before,but a spray can of Pledge doesn't do any lasting harm when squirted in the eyes,but does glue the eyes shut with wax polish. this actually happened to a copper I knew,which is why he recommended it !
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Hi Herbenny - as a newbie to wild camping, and a lone female with dog, I can well understand how you are feeling! My first night out on my own, I was hearing all sorts of things, kept on peering through curtains, etc. :D

I decided before I went for my first night out, that I would sleep over fairly near to habitation and with three or four 'stops' available (planned them via google earth) should I need to move on. I ALWAYS keep my van keys in the same place, as I don't like leaving them in the ignition, because I use internal curtains to shut off the cab area from the habitation, which means the keys would be on show to anyone taking an interest. I also make sure before I go to bed at night, that everything is in it's place and put away, so all I have to do is grab the keys (kept on the shelf above the habitation door) pull my cab curtains back and drive off.

Sleep was a little intermittent (I had chosen a parking area fairly close to a restuarant, which, it turns out, was a meeting place for mmmmm men of a different persuasion may I say) but no one bothered me, and I had a good nights sleep in the end. The dog didn't stir either, which gave me a lot of piece of mind. I moved on fairly early in the morning, and had breakfast elsewhere, but with the first night away on my own under my belt, I now feel that the world is my oyster.

I've been wilding on and off most weeks since about the end of April, so not a long time. Only once in that time, parked up in the middle of town, outside my son's house, have I been disturbed. There was a knock on the door at about 11.30 pm, Storm barked and there was no further sound. I've moved on once, as having parked up and watched the comings and goings for a while while having my meal, decided that I didn't like the feel and moved to another spot, about a 1/4 mile away.

I think if you've got an alternative site or two in mind when you initially park up, you will feel happier knowing you've somewhere to move to if you don't feel comfortable. I've found the POI's offered on here excellent - well the one's I've used so far.

Go and enjoy, it's a great feeling once you start. You've got your dog, you'll find you've got good instincts (just trust your gut feel, don't imagine things) so just go for it, come back here and let us know how you've got on! :wave:
 
I am the cautious one in our 'van. 'er indoors will/can sleep anywhere/anytime:sleep-040:
We stopped in Rouen next to the river in the center of the city a couple of years ago, there was only one other van parked, and when that drove off, I decided, against protests from the good lady, that we should also move on. I know better now, that the location is ok for overnighting, but at that time I didn't like the idea of staying there.
 
I am 6'2 tall with a shaved head and a goate..... I still get a bit nervous from time to time. I try not to get too settled into a location too early in the night, I've found over the last week that what looks peacful and tranquil at 7pm becomes a speedway of nighttime activity ranging from kids in cars throwing McD's rubbish out wheel spinning everywhere, or places where couples get very amourous. If it doesn't feel right move on. Your instincts are the best guide to being safe whilst wilding. I have the wheel brace within reach of my bed, and I try to keep my stuff in the landy organised so I can get shoes on and leave via one of two exit points.

Over the last 10 years I've wilded in my car's, small vans, and now the landy, I've never once actually been bothered by anyone.
 
I am not alone,: but I have a loud personal alarm next to me on the basis that it would proably give anyone a bigger scare than they might give me. plus you"ve got the dog.:dog:
 
Yayyyy I did it :))

I left yesterday lunchtime with the dog a book and some essentials. I headed down to the coast and after a good walk with the dog I had a afternoon siesta (very relaxing zzzzzzz). I feel like I cheated s bit because there was a few vans scattered around but felt reassuring.

I made sure before I went to sleep that everything was in place should I felt I wanted to go quickly.
Fell asleep and woke up thinking it was really late it was only 11.50, so back to sleep and slept soundly until 5.00 this morning.
I had to get back early because I have BT coming at 8.00, but I would of stayed at least another night.
I felt completely at ease and I think it was mainly having the dog there.

So I am feeling very proud of myself this morning :king:...I know its not such a massive thing, but for me its everything !! I have wanted to do this for so long I used to wish and hope that one day I would have these opportunities.

So I got some photos of my first sunset and sunrise this morning ............the first of many I'm sure :wave:
 
herbenny said:
I left yesterday lunchtime with the dog a book and some essentials. I headed down to the coast and after a good walk with the dog I had a afternoon siesta (very relaxing zzzzzzz). I feel like I cheated s bit because there was a few vans scattered around but felt reassuring.

I made sure before I went to sleep that everything was in place should I felt I wanted to go quickly.
Fell asleep and woke up thinking it was really late it was only 11.50, so back to sleep and slept soundly until 5.00 this morning.
I had to get back early because I have BT coming at 8.00, but I would of stayed at least another night.
I felt completely at ease and I think it was mainly having the dog there.

So I am feeling very proud of myself this morning :king:...I know its not such a massive thing, but for me its everything !! I have wanted to do this for so long I used to wish and hope that one day I would have these opportunities.

So I got some photos of my first sunset and sunrise this morning ............the first of many I'm sure :wave:
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Well done you, its not easy doing it alone, i would have gone anywhere last year but i have now lost my confidence, i will get back out there, i have too, i'm so glad you done it, its a massive achievement for you Jaq, xx
 
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