Just have a recording of a BIG dog or dogS barking.
Any suspicious noises.
Play it through large speakers.

Have a CAT for a companion (much betterer)

Me. I LOVE it alone.
just don't camp within 20km's of buildings\towns \PUBS.

If I can see traffic on the road I just turned off.
Get a little further away.

Basically. If YOU can't see them. Theoretically.
THEY can't see you.

PS
If you want privacy and want to hide.

That rig (if yours) Is a little big for that.

There are plenty of travellers going sans parks nowadays.
Unless you going real lonely places.
There should be people in most that are designated "overnight"

IF you are, lonely places. get a baseball bat. gruff voice
and stay out of the light.
IE.... Get used to it.
It ain't too bad after first 30 yrs or so Chuckle.

Wow Grubbygypsy, I love it alone in the bush at night..........................just don't watch "wolf creek"!

I think someone suggested once before about putting a pair on large men's boots outside your door.

Else sleep all day and stay awake at night lol.

Helen

I'm just glad it passes quickly (while I'm sleeping). I do love it (the bush) it's just the humans that have the potential to be there and up to no good that enter my mind at times. I guess it's just the time between dark and bed. Like I make sure all generator tasks are complete prior to then, so I don't have to go out again. I certainly never sit out there - but that's as much insects as anything else.
I don't leave anything at all identifying outside, leave them guessing I say - and I don't tell ppl on the road (such as randoms at service stations) that I'm alone or where I'm headed (usually not far lol). When I pop out of the bush in the morning, people are often more surprised to see me I think.
I don't watch scary movies - well....I do read and watch murder stuff.....I think the more I read (like I just read the inquest into a little baby's death in the NT) the more disturbing it gets knowing there are humans out there that are capable of terrible acts.
As we saw recently though, it can happen in broad daylight too (that frootloop killing that guy in the territory). I guess it's just more comforting to be able to see lol.
A lot of the stuff you hear has been people engaging with people too. Luckily, I'm a bit of a snob you could say, so I don't talk to people just for the sake of making conversation. And if they're remotely strange, I'm not there to humour them or make them feel better about their day. There's no way I would of been chatting to that person at that rest stop that killed that guy (you can't tell me he would have been presenting rationally), or the dude that raped the woman on the beach or the guy that attempted to murder the girls camping with him.
I do rarely see anyone, just day to day, so the chances someone stumbling across me and something happening are pretty remote I'd say.
But I still like daylight better.

Interesting reading Grubby. I tend to think the same as you and take similiar precautions.
Not outside after dark, everything packed away in case, in camp no later than 4pm usually.
Luckily Daisy Dog doesn't need to go out again from dusk to dawn.
I love the out of the way places and being the only one there. So peaceful.

-- Edited by Happywanderer on Wednesday 18th of January 2017 02:28:30 PM

Hi.
Maybe if you "blended a bit" you may get to be not so touchy,
City Person?.
Most country\bush\sailors. Loooove the solitude.

I was a single hander sailor all my life.
Others were welcome.
On Other people boats thank you.

I had a 6.5 mtr Roadstar offroader.
PLUS ....... a large winch.
Over the 14 yrs I think I actually "needed" it 3 or 4 times.
(Whoops, Maybe I shouldn't have come in here.. hmmm)

You going those places. GET A WINCH... even second hand
and rebuild it.
the one time you do. you'll be VERY grateful it's there.

LARGE WORN... Boots is a usual.
But put some large. Smelly socks in\over them too.
Go to Vinnies and get shirt. Jocks socks boots
ALL XXXX sizes. Washing line by door..

The small touches. etc.

I'm a shooter from old school.

DO NOT carry or show ANY weapon, Under any circumstances.

UNLESS YOU... Are 100% willing to use it.

The next person that has it taken off them and used against them..
Will NOT be the first.

If anything.

Go to cattle\Feed store.
and buy a Short, "cattle Prod"
Those f----s make a man jump, believe me.

But not much use against multiples of,
for the normal civilised person.

"Sans" meens NO Parks.

Only thing I can recommend if really, or getting that way. nervous.

Buy a 4wd Camper truck. (IE Isuzu? with motorhome on back.
That way as said.
Park it pointing the right way. and just turn key and go.

Find another single hander. and buy him a pint. cuppa. whatever.
And TALK to him\her.
Maybe, some will rub offon you if you explain.
DOn't be proud. Most are nervous at start.

I was born with BIG bombs popping off around me every day.
I spent a lot of my young years inside your own skin being invisible.
Came with the times.

Solitude is great....Company on your terms. sometimes.

@ GG
I've always had a bad feeling about that van park at Meekatharra, not to mention that its on the main road with traffic noise. Just recently a lady got attacked in the showers there at night time. My instincts aren't often wrong.
If I pull up somewhere and there are others there, I always check out my nearest neighbours and introduce myself. They're probably just as concerned as I am. Also, I've met some great people like this. NH

Grubbygypsy wrote:

---

Does anyone else not like the dark hours much (particularly the solo ladies)?. 

 

---

 Probably close to Lotto odds the chance of bad things happening in the night.   Maybe camping up earlier and gathering a few fellow travelers for company might be more comforting.

Concern for your safety in the night, is, of course, a good thing and appropriate.   Even with big strong me by her side, the partner sometimes expresses her concern in those out of the way camp sites.

Iza

Izabarack wrote:

---

Grubbygypsy wrote:

---

Does anyone else not like the dark hours much (particularly the solo ladies)?. 

 

---

 Probably close to Lotto odds the chance of bad things happening in the night.   Maybe camping up earlier and gathering a few fellow travelers for company might be more comforting.

Concern for your safety in the night, is, of course, a good thing and appropriate.   Even with big strong me by her side, the partner sometimes expresses her concern in those out of the way camp sites.

Iza

---

 Hehehe....couldn't get in any earlier - Im always last out and first in lol. Today I was parked up by around 10am.

I rarely see people - well for the last 8 months or so anyway. Maybe that'll change as I get further into heavier populations. I also notice people are obviously reluctant to go away from the road for some strange reason. I also think that people have spent that much time whinging about people camping near them, that people are too scared to go within cooee of anyone else. Some people pulled up here before, but must of just been for lunch, because they took off after a while - I call myself 'the camp clearer' lol. 

Good point about the shooting sticker. Didn't think about it from that angle. 

 

 

I hate certain areas at night. Cross bred dingos howling, riverbanks up north, Adder country, and any where a dog breaks loose and drags a chain, nightmare material from watching Deadly Ernest as a kid! Other than that, the Aussie bush is safe, unless you walk around at night in bare feet, leave your shoes out for something to crawl into and forget about drop bears or camp in the middle of a circle of grass trees and forget to put the saucer of milk out for the snakes!

Thanks Wild1, The Big One I hate, have always hated as I experienced as a young child and recently on Kangaroo Island is the near lightning strike. The one where your hairs stand up and you hear the zzzztttt, as best as I can describe it, just before the light and then then the deafening noise as the bolt hits or leaves the ground. Both were within 25 metres! So I don't like being in thunderstorms either.

I had one scary night, alone and very visible under a full moon. I woke to hear footsteps around the van. Much relief when I peeked out and spotted the culprits - a family of feral pigs!!

Men's clothing and boots outside van an absolute must. Man's old hat with fishhooks in band on dash of tug. Nothing attractive to ferals on display in tug.
Always, repeat always have a can of Raid Wasp Killer next to door - will stop any intruder/s man or beast in their tracks. It can be used at a safe distance (7 meters). www.raid.com/en-us/products/raid-wasp-and-hornet-killer-33 look at solutions video.
Don't be forgetful and leave tool or any equipment outside that may be attractive to ferals, or be used as a weapon against you.

Grubbygypsy wrote:

---

I guess it's just the time between dark and bed. Like I make sure all generator tasks are complete prior to then, so I don't have to go out again. I certainly never sit out there - but that's as much insects as anything else.

----

I am saddened to hear you say that. You have a right to feel, and be, safe.

Please don't misunderstand what I am about to write, I offer it not as a judgement upon you but as my observation of people in general.

Some individuals are predators or bullies or simply bad and nasty. These people have an ability almost to sense those who are afraid of them and they will exploit that knowledge if they can.

I know this is easier to say than to do but the response to these people is to not be afraid of them but to channel that fear into anger. Anger because they have the f****** audacity to believe they have the right to intimidate others and, invariably, only those they perceive as weaker. If you can generate this level of anger within yourself they will sense that too and be fearful of you because the very last thing they want is a victim who may fight back like an alley cat. A victim who understands they may well be hurt in the struggle but who is damned! if they will be a passive victim!

I suggest you purchase a small folding knife which may be opened by centrifugal force, something like this:

https://www.anacondastores.com/camping-hiking/equipment/knives-tools/gerber-stl-drop-point-fine-edge-single-blade-knife/p/BP90033219

And keep that in your pocket at all times - such a knife is very useful around camp and if you need to protect yourself it will help to even the odds. You may suffer damage but, by God, you can make them sorry they ever set eyes upon you.

MH