TRAVEL TIP #7 Be safe!
©2010
Wow, another crazy week. I'm just now catching up with my BLOG and have some important things to say about personal safety. Take care of yourself, so that your travels are as enjoyable as they can possibly be.
Traveling safely is absolutely the highest priority for a successful trip. Nothing can destroy the joy of travel faster than a thief or mugger taking advantage of a situation in which you become vulnerable. Use your head. If your “instincts” say that a situation is threatening put yourself first. It’s your trip. It’s your property. It’s your life.
1. Be alert. Pay attention to all people who are in close proximity to you. Avoid putting yourself into positions where you are isolated. There are no guarantees that there is safety in a crowd. Certainly there is a strange phenomenon in which people disregard persons in peril. So don’t count on a security guard to come to the rescue. Recent news reports show how willingly some people will stand by and watch a beating as though it were mere entertainment.
2. Take a personal safety class. Many police officers offer self defense training as a
community service. It is not necessary to pay for self defense training. Call your local law enforcement office and ask for instruction in self defense.
3. Drive during daylight hours.
4. If you go out at night, do so with a friend. Be particularly careful when in
unfamiliar territory. When traveling abroad, be particularly cognizant of potential
dangers. Always check out the State Department advisories as they pertain to your destination.
5. Don’t assume that you are safe in a small town or in YOUR town. Thievery,
assault, kidnappings occur everywhere.
6. When traveling alone, create the illusion that you are with your husband. Talk to
The hotel clerks about places that you and your husband can have dinner, see the sights, etc. Ask for two room keys.
7. Place a bogus passenger or the illusion of a passenger beside you in your vehicle.
I have been looking for a realistic mannequin for a long time, but they seem to be
very expensive and in short supply. For the time being, I position a wide brim straw hat on top of the passenger seat, creating the illusion of two people in the
vehicle. No one is more vulnerable than s/he who is alone.
8. Where legal, carry items that can be used for self defense. You will have to check
out local laws to ensure that you are in compliance. I carry pepper spray, an air horn, walkie talkies, a whistle, a taser, a cell phone, a battery powered emergency flasher, and alarms to put under my hotel room doors. If an intruder tries to pass
through a hotel door or window, one of the alarms will screech an ear piercing siren and in many cases will frighten the intruder enough to discourage further invasion.
9. Use common items for self defense. Several years ago a student who was a
former MP (military police officer) gave a self defense speech in one of my classes. He asked us to look in our purses and backpacks for items we could use
to protect ourselves. I remember him holding up a ball point pen and instructing us to go for the eyes. We squirmed, but understood if it’s our life or an assailant’s
eye, we choose life. Also, Jake told those of us with nylon bristle hairbrushes to imagine the efficacy of being assaulted with multiple, pencil point bristles in the eye. The one tip I most often recall was not one which relied on personal items
for self defense. He asked another student to stand in the front of the room beside him. Then he raised his foot knee-high and quickly thrust the foot through the air adjacent to the side of the other student’s knee. Of course he stopped short of
actually hitting the person’s leg, but assured us that it takes very little force to dislocate a knee. Slam your foot into the side of the knee, and your attacker will
be disabled.
10. Always carry enough cash to appease a thief. One New York law enforcement
officer advised me to carry at last $100 cash at all times. Give it away without hesitation if you are threatened. Accordingly, it is important to turn over your purse and its contents, which may be sufficient to save yourself from a personal attack.
11. Strap a fanny pack with a steel reinforced strap around your waist, and never,
never be separated from the pack. Wearing a fanny pack looks a bit dorky, but
it frees both hands for eating, handling doorknobs, tugging suitcases, etc.
12. Never lay a purse on a seat beside you in a restaurant and never lay a purse on
the table. By the time a robber grabs the bag, he or she will be on the run while you are still trying to get out of your seat.
13. Never place a purse on the passenger seat of an automobile. Your side window
can be smashed in an instant when you stop for a traffic light. Before you have a chance to call for help, the thief will be gone. Place your purse on the floor by your feet. If you are going to secure your cell phone, fasten the fanny pack strap to your seatbelt strap or secure it to the frame underneath the driver’s seat.
14. Carry only one credit card and a lot of cash in your bag. BUT, don’t show large
wads of cash to anyone in public.
15. Hide a photocopy of your driver’s license, extra cash, and an extra credit card in
your vehicle. If your purse is stolen, you will have backup resources to aide you
in your travel.
16. Keep your gas tank filled. And, fill up at the end of each travel day, so you will
be ready to go the following morning.
17. Remember, if there is a power outage, gas pumps will not work. Neither will
ATMs be accessible.
18. Always leave an itinerary with a trusted friend or family member, and check
in with them at the end of each day. If loved ones are concerned, promise them
an email each night and tell them your travel route and destination for the following day.
19. Listen for hazardous weather reports and use your head! If you drive INTO a
storm, your name had better be Jim Cantore or Reed Timmer. Otherwise, you are
asking for trouble.
20. Study crime statistics of new areas through which you will be traveling. KNOW
where the dangerous areas are and know how to respond.
21. Keep your cell phone charged but understand that there may be occasions when
you cannot get a signal. A walkie talkie with a two-mile range could be your
lifeline.
22. Do not travel with expensive jewelry and remember to “trash” your car, so that
you create the appearance of a casual, “broke” wanderer with nothing worth stealing.
23. Women should wear a ballcap and a plaid shirt so as to make a “distant
impression” of a male driver. Men’s mirrored sunglasses will complete the
façade.
24. Don’t allow yourself to become isolated. Stay in open, well lit areas, and walk in
the company of families with children.
25. Many rest areas are perfect locations for robbery. Only nap in a rest area during
daylight hours. Park your car beside a space reserved for the state police or in a
space between cars where families are coming and going.
26. Never hang your purse on the rest room stall hooks. I hang the strap of my fanny
pack around my neck or strap it high on my rib cage. One of my friends lays her
purse on top of the eye- level shelf provided specifically for purses.
27. Don’t trust shopping mall parking lots for personal safety. Many robberies,
muggings, and kidnappings take place in broad daylight in shopping mall lots.
Have you seen surveillance videos of women who were last seen coming out of
a mall store when a man approached them? Keep these images in mind at all times.
You are not safe shopping. It just seems that way.
28. Before getting inside your vehicle, check the back seat to be sure no one is hiding
there. Once inside the vehicle, slam the door lock down as quickly as possible. A neighbor of ours was shopping with her daughter at a large shopping mall when a man began walking earnestly toward their car. The mother told the daughter to lock her door quickly. The daughter protested, saying that her mom was overreacting again. No sooner had she pressed down the lock, the man reached for the door handle, and tried to open the door. It was broad daylight and there were two of them.
29. Never park in a space beside a van with sliding doors. You can be easily
abducted and driven off site.
30. Never allow yourself to be placed inside a vehicle. Once you lose control inside a vehicle, you lose. If a car is following you as you walk along a sidewalk, turn around 180 degrees and walk in the opposite direction. It will take the driver a few minutes to reverse his/her driving direction and give you a little time to get to a safe area.
31. If you are thrown inside a trunk, pull out the wiring for the tail lights of the
vehicle. This will “signal” a police traffic stop and you have a chance of
being rescued by a patrolling trooper.
32. If you are abducted and in the passenger seat, wait until your abductor stops at an
intersection. Then QUICKLY slam your foot on top of the driver’s accelerator pedal foot. Ram the car into the vehicle in front of you. Once there is a traffic accident, you will have other people on hunt of a hit-and-run driver.
33. Stay calm and alert. Use your head. You can cry later. Do not get into a
threatening situation in the first place. Travel to cities with relatively low
crime rates. Let city managers know that you are choosing safe cities over
their cities. Every word of concern about crime may encourage absolute
serious efforts to address the problem.
34. Park in the well lit front parking lots of hotels. Never park in dark areas at the
rear of a hotel. This means you need to arrive early at your hotel, check in, and
THEN go sight seeing.
35. Read everything available about travel safety! Rely on law enforcement and
the state department to be your guides for a happy trip! Be safe. Take responsibility for your safety. Do your homework! Protect yourself on the road.
36. Stay sober. A drunk lacks reasoning ability and opens him/herself to trouble on many fronts. Alcohol is not your friend when your safety is on the line. Look at the statistics of alcohol related crimes on college campuses and you will be convinced, unless you are drunk while you are reading or just stupid.
Down the road I’ll talk about hotel safety. The steps for safe travel have only begun with this post.
HAVE SAFE TRAVELS!!! Always safe.
I cannot guarantee you personal safety. You are responsible for your well being. Be smart! Be safe! Always safe.
Showing posts with label solo travel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label solo travel. Show all posts
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Friday, February 19, 2010
Travel Tip #6 KNOW THE SNOW! EXPECT ICE! Copyright 2010
TIP #6 Know the snow! Expect ice!
A little more about snow driving safety --- with the expectation---uh---HOPE--- that spring is nigh! In addition to keeping your car in good repairs, knowing how to navigate in adverse conditions is essential.
Rule Number 1: If you do not NEED to drive on bad roads, don’t! Stay home. Give road crews and power line crews a little extra space by keeping your vehicle off the road.
Read a book. Write a book. Help a neighbor. Take a bubble bath. Clean house. Do whatever you choose, but do it off the road. If you are not a savvy slick-road vehicle operator, think twice before venturing out unnecessarily. The life you save could be your own.
Good tires. Good tread. Spend the bucks. I would make an educated guess that
half of the vehicles that end up in the ditch are ones with bald tires. You are maneuvering a 2,000-pound vehicle atop ice skating rink conditions. If you cannot ice skate, what makes you think you can control SO much momentum from a lethal weapon that is moving fifty miles an hour on an oversized public rink with hundreds of other lethal weapons lining up their crosshairs on YOU?
Oh, and if you are out there with four-wheel drive --- FORGET it on ice!!! Know HOW to use it to your advantage. Driving is a skill, not a reflex.
Watch out for semi drivers who are trying to get bread and milk to Walmart. Stay BEHIND all large vehicles. Recently I drove down into the mountains after a storm to get a snowy photo as a Christmas gift. When a large log truck pulled to the side of the road to allow drivers to go in front of him down the mountain, I watched every single car pull ahead in front of him. I pulled to the side of the road and waited for him to resume his ten mph trip down the mountain. A trip that normally would take four hours required twelve hours that day. I was not in a hurry to be creamed. Oh, and be extra careful about the potential for semis to jack knife on the interestates. I often take the side roads if truck traffic is threatening. I have a better chance of surviving a crash at forty miles an hour than at sixty/seventy miles an hour. I love getting bread from Walmart, but I love being able to eat it. Stay in your right lane on the interstates, and avoid getting sandwiched between large trucks. You are jelly waiting to happen. Oh, and know the terrain you will be covering, even if it is an interstate highway. There are some isolated mountainous interstates that I circumnavigate, just to avoid increased risks. Do you know which road(s) in your state are the deadliest? Check your highway traffic safety facts, and then ask yourself why more people die on those roads than any others in the state.
Back to the weather maps. Become a good friend with Jim Cantore and the gang on the Weather Channel. Learn to spot hazardous conditions that are approaching your area of travel. I am the first to admit that I made a HUGE mistake in the Rocky Mountains of Wyoming in May! But I’ve had lots of experience navigating on icy mountain roads, and that probably made the difference. Carry a battery powered NOAA weather radio, cell phone, cell phone manual charger, CB, and or/ walkie talkies on all your travels, regardless of season.
Throw in emergency “sound systems” like a plastic whistle (you can get one at the Dollar Tree in the toy aisle), and an air horn (Walmart and sports shops). The advantage of a whistle is that it requires relatively little effort to make a sound that will carry a long distance. Do you know how to blow SOS? Answer: Three dots, three dashes, three dots. That is to say, three quick loud bursts, three longer loud bursts, followed by three short bursts. Thanks Dad for teaching me that. Thanks also to Sky King who rescued somebody on TV many, MANY moons ago. Rescued … because of reflection from a flashing mirror in a canyon two miles beneath his plane. Now what was the name of Sky King’s plane? Hmmmmmm. Another story for another time. Who is the famous actor who played Sky King? I DO remember that one! Hint: he is the real life brother of a famous television law man.
Back to winter safety. The lesson is clear: carry a mirror or yank your rear view mirror from its mount. Can you signal SOS with a mirror? By the way, you had better hope you can flag down a good Navy veteran with a background in Morse Code who can READ dots and dashes. I am so sorry that Morse Code is no longer an official mode of communication in the military. Civilians and soldiers/sailors/marines need to immediately recognize a distress call in the form of blinking lights or precisely administered sharp whistles. Don’t forget to use your air horn for blasting SOS too. But if you are in bear territory, you may need to reserve the air horn to ward off an aggressive sow that is hell bent on defending her cubs. Use your resources wisely! The bottom line is to think about every possible way to get help in an emergency. If you were pinned inside a vehicle in a ravine, how could you signal someone to render aide. Don’t count on a cell phone signal. P.S. don’t leave you cell phone loose on the front seat. I carry my phone in a fanny pack that can be clicked to my fastened seatbelt. Secure the phone. If your car tumbles or slides off the road, again that weird thing of momentum will hurl it out of your grasp. Good luck trying to get to your phone that’s out of arm’s reach.
And … throw a couple of bags of four-way chips or kitty litter in the back of your vehicle for weight. If you DO slide off the road, the chips/litter can provide some traction under your spinning tires to get you back on the road.
On one trip I purposefully drove INTO a winter storm to get a snowy picture at a state park. The weather conditions were harsher than I had imagined they would be, so I took refuge in a local hotel for five days. But I set my alarm clock to ring every two hours so that I could clear a path to and around my car. The hotel manager thanked me for clearing the walk in front of the hotel, but I was really just watching out for my best interests.
And PLEASE be cognizant of the stress that snow shoveling causes in cold weather! I have no idea how many heart attacks occurred with this last winter blast, but we do have a neighbor who suffered a MAJOR heart attack and somehow managed to survive after undergoing a sextuple heart bypass operation. Doc told him he was lucky. As he recovers from major surgery, I am not so sure that he feels “lucky.” Even young people have suffered heart attacks while shoveling snow. PUSH the snow with your heel on the back of the shovel. Do not lift. If you have a heart condition, if you are overweight, if you have a family history of heart disease, or if you are in the “heart attack years” wait for the spring thaw. There are many happy trails awaiting you. Don’t miss a moment of sheer joy on the great highway of life. If you must clear a path --- and I had to do so because I could never have dug out my car --- push snow/shovel ten minutes and take a warm twenty minute break. Take no chances with your life. You are not getting another one!
Carry a shovel and a broom in the winter. You may need to shovel snow away from a spinning tire, and you can spread the litter pebbles in front of same tire as you try to drive back onto the road. Don’t forget: you may be able to assist someone else who is stuck, but use your head for safety. Use your cell phone to call for assistance if the situation appears to be threatening.
Always keep a large candle and farmers matches in your vehicle. Propane lighters can “freeze up” in low temperatures. If you slide into a snow bank, it could be hours before you are rescued, i.e., towed.
Practice driving in a large open ice-covered parking lot --- check with the local police to see where you can practice ice driving. Be cognizant of trespassing laws and be respectful of private property. At a S L O W speed, hit your brakes to see how your vehicle handles. If your rear end starts to fishtail, take your foot off the brake and steer in a corresponding counter maneuver to offset the skid. Drivers ed books say to turn in the direction of the skid, but those instructions have always baffled me. Basically it works this way. If your rear end is sliding to the right and your nose is sliding to the left, turn your steering wheel quickly to the right. OK. I guess that IS in the direction of the skid, from the rear end perspective. I guess I drive with my nose in mind. Anyway, you car should be simultaneously slowing down and correcting itself so that you can regain control. Once the steering wheel turn corrects the skid, quickly resume a neutral position as though you are driving straight ahead. It’s just like playing the piano. The best musicians are the ones that practice the most … usually …. Some people can never play the piano well OR drive a car well. Make sure you know whether practice will indeed make you perfect. If you are an incompetent driver, prone to high levels of anxiety, get off the road. Otherwise practice. Practice. Practice. Practice.
If you need to brake on ice or snow, always “pump” your brakes. Lightly touch the brake pedal in staccato-like easy taps, rather than slamming your foot on the pedal. Some people panic and press the pedal even harder when a skid begins, which is the worst possible response.
Keep your speed well under the speed limit as road conditions merit. If a driver behind you believes that s/he can maintain high speeds under adverse conditions, pull over when you get to a safe place to do so and let the sucker pass. Be prepared to administer first aid a few miles down the road.
Don’t forget the sleeping bag and warm gear. Again, carry a case of water and a
two-pound jar of peanut butter. Think of the guy who was recently pulled from the Haiti earthquake rubble. He survived twenty-eight days in the debris of a collapsed grocery store. Food. Water. Life.
Take a first aid course. It is DEFINITELY time for me to renew first aid procedures. American Red Cross guidelines for CPR are always changing. I am overdue for a refresher on every level. In many cases you can treat your own injuries. And you never know when you may need to assist others. Always carry a first aid kit.
Anti-freeze treated windshield washer is essential. Carry an extra jug in the back. Good wiper blades? Change them before a trip.
Don’t forget jumper cables. Cold weather wreaks havoc on batteries.
If you do not need to travel on bad roads, don’t.
If you do NEED to travel in bad weather conditions, stay calm and in control. Know your limitations and cuddle up with a good book in a hotel until conditions improve.
Stay calm. Have the tools you need for icy conditions. Learn the skills needed to navigate expertly. Watch out for aggressive drivers who have way too much horsepower for their Broncos.
Take your camera. You will see lovely snowscapes along the way. And you may need to photograph a wreck---hopefully not your own.
Safe travels! Have FUN!
A little more about snow driving safety --- with the expectation---uh---HOPE--- that spring is nigh! In addition to keeping your car in good repairs, knowing how to navigate in adverse conditions is essential.
Rule Number 1: If you do not NEED to drive on bad roads, don’t! Stay home. Give road crews and power line crews a little extra space by keeping your vehicle off the road.
Read a book. Write a book. Help a neighbor. Take a bubble bath. Clean house. Do whatever you choose, but do it off the road. If you are not a savvy slick-road vehicle operator, think twice before venturing out unnecessarily. The life you save could be your own.
Good tires. Good tread. Spend the bucks. I would make an educated guess that
half of the vehicles that end up in the ditch are ones with bald tires. You are maneuvering a 2,000-pound vehicle atop ice skating rink conditions. If you cannot ice skate, what makes you think you can control SO much momentum from a lethal weapon that is moving fifty miles an hour on an oversized public rink with hundreds of other lethal weapons lining up their crosshairs on YOU?
Oh, and if you are out there with four-wheel drive --- FORGET it on ice!!! Know HOW to use it to your advantage. Driving is a skill, not a reflex.
Watch out for semi drivers who are trying to get bread and milk to Walmart. Stay BEHIND all large vehicles. Recently I drove down into the mountains after a storm to get a snowy photo as a Christmas gift. When a large log truck pulled to the side of the road to allow drivers to go in front of him down the mountain, I watched every single car pull ahead in front of him. I pulled to the side of the road and waited for him to resume his ten mph trip down the mountain. A trip that normally would take four hours required twelve hours that day. I was not in a hurry to be creamed. Oh, and be extra careful about the potential for semis to jack knife on the interestates. I often take the side roads if truck traffic is threatening. I have a better chance of surviving a crash at forty miles an hour than at sixty/seventy miles an hour. I love getting bread from Walmart, but I love being able to eat it. Stay in your right lane on the interstates, and avoid getting sandwiched between large trucks. You are jelly waiting to happen. Oh, and know the terrain you will be covering, even if it is an interstate highway. There are some isolated mountainous interstates that I circumnavigate, just to avoid increased risks. Do you know which road(s) in your state are the deadliest? Check your highway traffic safety facts, and then ask yourself why more people die on those roads than any others in the state.
Back to the weather maps. Become a good friend with Jim Cantore and the gang on the Weather Channel. Learn to spot hazardous conditions that are approaching your area of travel. I am the first to admit that I made a HUGE mistake in the Rocky Mountains of Wyoming in May! But I’ve had lots of experience navigating on icy mountain roads, and that probably made the difference. Carry a battery powered NOAA weather radio, cell phone, cell phone manual charger, CB, and or/ walkie talkies on all your travels, regardless of season.
Throw in emergency “sound systems” like a plastic whistle (you can get one at the Dollar Tree in the toy aisle), and an air horn (Walmart and sports shops). The advantage of a whistle is that it requires relatively little effort to make a sound that will carry a long distance. Do you know how to blow SOS? Answer: Three dots, three dashes, three dots. That is to say, three quick loud bursts, three longer loud bursts, followed by three short bursts. Thanks Dad for teaching me that. Thanks also to Sky King who rescued somebody on TV many, MANY moons ago. Rescued … because of reflection from a flashing mirror in a canyon two miles beneath his plane. Now what was the name of Sky King’s plane? Hmmmmmm. Another story for another time. Who is the famous actor who played Sky King? I DO remember that one! Hint: he is the real life brother of a famous television law man.
Back to winter safety. The lesson is clear: carry a mirror or yank your rear view mirror from its mount. Can you signal SOS with a mirror? By the way, you had better hope you can flag down a good Navy veteran with a background in Morse Code who can READ dots and dashes. I am so sorry that Morse Code is no longer an official mode of communication in the military. Civilians and soldiers/sailors/marines need to immediately recognize a distress call in the form of blinking lights or precisely administered sharp whistles. Don’t forget to use your air horn for blasting SOS too. But if you are in bear territory, you may need to reserve the air horn to ward off an aggressive sow that is hell bent on defending her cubs. Use your resources wisely! The bottom line is to think about every possible way to get help in an emergency. If you were pinned inside a vehicle in a ravine, how could you signal someone to render aide. Don’t count on a cell phone signal. P.S. don’t leave you cell phone loose on the front seat. I carry my phone in a fanny pack that can be clicked to my fastened seatbelt. Secure the phone. If your car tumbles or slides off the road, again that weird thing of momentum will hurl it out of your grasp. Good luck trying to get to your phone that’s out of arm’s reach.
And … throw a couple of bags of four-way chips or kitty litter in the back of your vehicle for weight. If you DO slide off the road, the chips/litter can provide some traction under your spinning tires to get you back on the road.
On one trip I purposefully drove INTO a winter storm to get a snowy picture at a state park. The weather conditions were harsher than I had imagined they would be, so I took refuge in a local hotel for five days. But I set my alarm clock to ring every two hours so that I could clear a path to and around my car. The hotel manager thanked me for clearing the walk in front of the hotel, but I was really just watching out for my best interests.
And PLEASE be cognizant of the stress that snow shoveling causes in cold weather! I have no idea how many heart attacks occurred with this last winter blast, but we do have a neighbor who suffered a MAJOR heart attack and somehow managed to survive after undergoing a sextuple heart bypass operation. Doc told him he was lucky. As he recovers from major surgery, I am not so sure that he feels “lucky.” Even young people have suffered heart attacks while shoveling snow. PUSH the snow with your heel on the back of the shovel. Do not lift. If you have a heart condition, if you are overweight, if you have a family history of heart disease, or if you are in the “heart attack years” wait for the spring thaw. There are many happy trails awaiting you. Don’t miss a moment of sheer joy on the great highway of life. If you must clear a path --- and I had to do so because I could never have dug out my car --- push snow/shovel ten minutes and take a warm twenty minute break. Take no chances with your life. You are not getting another one!
Carry a shovel and a broom in the winter. You may need to shovel snow away from a spinning tire, and you can spread the litter pebbles in front of same tire as you try to drive back onto the road. Don’t forget: you may be able to assist someone else who is stuck, but use your head for safety. Use your cell phone to call for assistance if the situation appears to be threatening.
Always keep a large candle and farmers matches in your vehicle. Propane lighters can “freeze up” in low temperatures. If you slide into a snow bank, it could be hours before you are rescued, i.e., towed.
Practice driving in a large open ice-covered parking lot --- check with the local police to see where you can practice ice driving. Be cognizant of trespassing laws and be respectful of private property. At a S L O W speed, hit your brakes to see how your vehicle handles. If your rear end starts to fishtail, take your foot off the brake and steer in a corresponding counter maneuver to offset the skid. Drivers ed books say to turn in the direction of the skid, but those instructions have always baffled me. Basically it works this way. If your rear end is sliding to the right and your nose is sliding to the left, turn your steering wheel quickly to the right. OK. I guess that IS in the direction of the skid, from the rear end perspective. I guess I drive with my nose in mind. Anyway, you car should be simultaneously slowing down and correcting itself so that you can regain control. Once the steering wheel turn corrects the skid, quickly resume a neutral position as though you are driving straight ahead. It’s just like playing the piano. The best musicians are the ones that practice the most … usually …. Some people can never play the piano well OR drive a car well. Make sure you know whether practice will indeed make you perfect. If you are an incompetent driver, prone to high levels of anxiety, get off the road. Otherwise practice. Practice. Practice. Practice.
If you need to brake on ice or snow, always “pump” your brakes. Lightly touch the brake pedal in staccato-like easy taps, rather than slamming your foot on the pedal. Some people panic and press the pedal even harder when a skid begins, which is the worst possible response.
Keep your speed well under the speed limit as road conditions merit. If a driver behind you believes that s/he can maintain high speeds under adverse conditions, pull over when you get to a safe place to do so and let the sucker pass. Be prepared to administer first aid a few miles down the road.
Don’t forget the sleeping bag and warm gear. Again, carry a case of water and a
two-pound jar of peanut butter. Think of the guy who was recently pulled from the Haiti earthquake rubble. He survived twenty-eight days in the debris of a collapsed grocery store. Food. Water. Life.
Take a first aid course. It is DEFINITELY time for me to renew first aid procedures. American Red Cross guidelines for CPR are always changing. I am overdue for a refresher on every level. In many cases you can treat your own injuries. And you never know when you may need to assist others. Always carry a first aid kit.
Anti-freeze treated windshield washer is essential. Carry an extra jug in the back. Good wiper blades? Change them before a trip.
Don’t forget jumper cables. Cold weather wreaks havoc on batteries.
If you do not need to travel on bad roads, don’t.
If you do NEED to travel in bad weather conditions, stay calm and in control. Know your limitations and cuddle up with a good book in a hotel until conditions improve.
Stay calm. Have the tools you need for icy conditions. Learn the skills needed to navigate expertly. Watch out for aggressive drivers who have way too much horsepower for their Broncos.
Take your camera. You will see lovely snowscapes along the way. And you may need to photograph a wreck---hopefully not your own.
Safe travels! Have FUN!
Friday, January 22, 2010
Travel Tip #3 Buy a GPS but Carry a Map
Copyright 2010 Traveling Novelist
Traveling solo for thousands of miles or for hundreds of miles requires a solid sense of direction. Gasoline is too expensive to throw away on the road less traveled. Heading off in the wrong direction can cost you lost hours and a much thinner pocketbook than you had planned. One time I traveled to Amish Country with my friend, Mary. Returning on the interstate after dark and chattering away about how much fun the trip had been, we were oblivious to our whereabouts. When we came to a division in the four lane system, we were so busy yammering, I drove past the exit at an Interstate crossroads. Two hours and a hundred seventy miles later, I began to question some of the landmarks. We called our husbands, told them we were running behind schedule a little, and pedaled back up the road as fast as our Flintstone feet could take us. A GPS would have caught the error immediately,
and would have squelched, “Recalculating,” within two seconds of our missed exit ramp. Alas, the purchase of the satellite highway direction system was in my future.
Don’t skimp when buying a GPS. Consult Consumer Reports, experienced friends, and knowledgeable electronics sales reps before laying your money down. Some jurisdictions do not allow hand held GPS units to be used by vehicle operators, so be sure to acquire a unit that attaches to your dash or window. Perhaps most importantly, select a model that not only announces when your turns are forthcoming, but specifically identifies the street name for your turn. A neighbor of ours has a unit that only announces basic directions such as “Turn left in 500 feet.” Of course, if there are merging streets, avenues, alleys, and private drives in close proximity, it is easy to miss the road indicated by the wise lady in the box. But instructions such as “Turn left on Elm Street in 500 feet,” are clear. Usually you can spot the street sign far enough ahead of the intersection to make the correct maneuver efficiently.
Another feature of our GPS that is incredibly helpful is its capacity to tell the vehicle operator not only to turn left, but to advise the driver to “Turn left on Elm Street. Then keep right.” That usually means that there is a four lane street and I need to be in the right lane in preparation for another turn---to the right---shortly after heading along Elm Street. I rarely have to signal to other drivers the need to change lanes in anticipation of a quick turn in another direction.
Finally, be certain to practice driving on familiar roads with the GPS long before heading on a trip. Get used to the sound of the instructions, and do not allow the lady in the box to steer you into a lake. Stop for stop signs. Stop for red traffic lights. Stop or slow down for highway construction. Yield at yield intersections. When I first started using the GPS I thought I was exceedingly distracted by the directions, to the extent that I would NEARLY run stop signs, simply because the lady instructed me to turn right in 200 feet. It was weird to feel overwhelmed by a computer generated voice that ordered me to drive into oncoming traffic. Initially, I thought this was my problem. But, as soon as my husband began using the unit, I noticed that he had a tendency to keep moving into intersections, regardless of traffic signs and signals. A few times I would yelp, “Stop! Stop!” This tendency to tune out other variables in the driving environment is equivalent to the dangerous distraction experienced by cell phone users who barrel through department store parking lots, ignoring speed, rights of way, and pedestrian safety. Be CAREFUL with the GPS. Stay alert. Focus.
As I prepare for a long distance trip in the near future I have been weighing the importance of upgrading my GPS. New road construction is prevalent in the area of my destination, so my decision to upgrade has been made for me. Occasionally a city will rename a street which will throw you off, unless you have a sense of where you are apart from the perspective of the wonderful metallic, signaling globes swirling around the heavens above us. Keep a small compass attached to your key ring. You can pick up one for a couple of bucks at a discount department store. If it “feels” like you are going in the wrong direction on the wrong street, maybe you are.
Be prepared for personal safety awareness when using a GPS. Unfortunately, the satellites will signal you to drive the most direct route to your destination even if it is a dangerous route. Stay alert. If you see a lot of trash on the streets, heavy bars on storefronts, loiterers staring at your out-of-state license plates from a distance, you have taken the wrong road. Get back to a safer highway as fast as possible. Ignore the computerized message of “Recalculating,” and realize that the GPS will “catch up with you” as you consciously choose a safer route. Safety first. Then follow the GPS.
Do the driving directors ever take you in the wrong direction? Yes. But rarely. On my Wild West vacation I established a routine where I stopped daily at Walmart. I bought water bottles, snacks, ate a bite of lunch, and got $100 cash as I checked out. There is something homey about finding a Walmart as a base of operations along America’s highways. I type “Walmart” into my shopping database of the GPS and set the unit to take me to my store, restaurant, and bank stop. Twice in six thousand miles I was directed to a vacated Walmart building. Somewhere in the vicinity, a Super Walmart had replaced the address of the one on my GPS. That was not a big deal. I either asked directions at a gas station or hopped on the interstate for the next town.
So, why did I title this section Buy a GPS but carry a map? Because sometimes a map is better than a GPS. It is that simple. Before leaving on a long trip, I carefully map out my chosen route with plans to stop at museums, art galleries, historic sites, etc. Acquiring official state road maps before setting out is invaluable. Every state in the USA wants tourists to spend money within their borders. I am happy to do that with all but one state, which I am currently boycotting. (You guess which one it is. Forget it. You’ll never figure this one out.) Nevertheless, go online. Look up the state tourism homepage. (For example, Google “Arkansas tourism official homepage.”) Ask them to send you an official map. It should arrive by snail mail within two or three weeks. Laying a map out in front of you gives you the total perspective of your travel through a specific geographic region. The GPS will get you through Arkansas expeditiously. Perusing the state map of Arkansas and reviewing their state tourism guides will give you many choices for fun, educational, intriguing diversions off the beaten path.
There is also the possibility that roads will be under construction, detours will lead you into areas that raise questions about location, and shopping mall parking lots will be displayed on the GPS screen as a road. You may simply want to plot another course to avoid heavy traffic, dangerous areas, densely populated urban areas, etc. If it is rush hour, I often plot a route around the main business districts of cities, including around D.C.’s beltway, knowing that I will have a more pleasurable experience staying away from tired, potentially aggressive drivers who want me out of their way. No problem. By the way, try to hit key metropolitan areas “outside” of rush hour.
When traveling to Wyoming, I carefully monitored weather forecasts and was aware of a highly volatile storm system with tornado watches and warnings along my plotted route. I studied the satellite images of NOAA weather maps, and charted an alternate route through northern Wyoming. I used my Wyoming state road map to do so. Devils Tower National Park was just thirty miles from my new route, so I calculated driving times, risk, and prepared a stop at the beautiful volcanic rock formation. I steered clear of the storm system that was destroying homes and lives to my southwest, allowing plenty of time to reach my night’s stay to the south. But as I drove toward Casper, the skies became more and more ominous. The first clue to danger was the significant decrease in traffic. I went into a heightened state of observation. When I realized that suddenly there were no tractor trailer trucks on the road, I knew I was in trouble.
Unfortunately my weather radio reported no impending threats. But, as I have learned, the local radio station was on top of the crisis. Professionally trained spotters had detected a tornado on the ground in Casper. I was driving straight into it. As soon as I heard the report, I exited the interstate and looked for the strongest, safest hotel in the vicinity. I checked in, informed the staff that a tornado was on the ground in Casper and was headed north. Then I called the Casper hotel, joked a little bit about the weather “down there” and asked them cordially to release me from a room reservation penalty as I had procured shelter in Gillette. They were very cordial and understanding. I settled into my room for the night. It was 2:30 in the afternoon. Safety first. Everything else comes later.
Have a map for every state through which you travel. It is far more comprehensive and far more comprehensible than any GPS screen. Never drive down the road juggling a road map in your right hand while steering your vehicle with your left hand. Study alternative routes and be flexible with your time. Do not try a long trip into unfamiliar territory without a GPS. Know how to use it. It is not a luxury. It is a necessity for serious travelers. And take a map. Be smart. Be safe.
Copyright 2010 Traveling Novelist
Traveling solo for thousands of miles or for hundreds of miles requires a solid sense of direction. Gasoline is too expensive to throw away on the road less traveled. Heading off in the wrong direction can cost you lost hours and a much thinner pocketbook than you had planned. One time I traveled to Amish Country with my friend, Mary. Returning on the interstate after dark and chattering away about how much fun the trip had been, we were oblivious to our whereabouts. When we came to a division in the four lane system, we were so busy yammering, I drove past the exit at an Interstate crossroads. Two hours and a hundred seventy miles later, I began to question some of the landmarks. We called our husbands, told them we were running behind schedule a little, and pedaled back up the road as fast as our Flintstone feet could take us. A GPS would have caught the error immediately,
and would have squelched, “Recalculating,” within two seconds of our missed exit ramp. Alas, the purchase of the satellite highway direction system was in my future.
Don’t skimp when buying a GPS. Consult Consumer Reports, experienced friends, and knowledgeable electronics sales reps before laying your money down. Some jurisdictions do not allow hand held GPS units to be used by vehicle operators, so be sure to acquire a unit that attaches to your dash or window. Perhaps most importantly, select a model that not only announces when your turns are forthcoming, but specifically identifies the street name for your turn. A neighbor of ours has a unit that only announces basic directions such as “Turn left in 500 feet.” Of course, if there are merging streets, avenues, alleys, and private drives in close proximity, it is easy to miss the road indicated by the wise lady in the box. But instructions such as “Turn left on Elm Street in 500 feet,” are clear. Usually you can spot the street sign far enough ahead of the intersection to make the correct maneuver efficiently.
Another feature of our GPS that is incredibly helpful is its capacity to tell the vehicle operator not only to turn left, but to advise the driver to “Turn left on Elm Street. Then keep right.” That usually means that there is a four lane street and I need to be in the right lane in preparation for another turn---to the right---shortly after heading along Elm Street. I rarely have to signal to other drivers the need to change lanes in anticipation of a quick turn in another direction.
Finally, be certain to practice driving on familiar roads with the GPS long before heading on a trip. Get used to the sound of the instructions, and do not allow the lady in the box to steer you into a lake. Stop for stop signs. Stop for red traffic lights. Stop or slow down for highway construction. Yield at yield intersections. When I first started using the GPS I thought I was exceedingly distracted by the directions, to the extent that I would NEARLY run stop signs, simply because the lady instructed me to turn right in 200 feet. It was weird to feel overwhelmed by a computer generated voice that ordered me to drive into oncoming traffic. Initially, I thought this was my problem. But, as soon as my husband began using the unit, I noticed that he had a tendency to keep moving into intersections, regardless of traffic signs and signals. A few times I would yelp, “Stop! Stop!” This tendency to tune out other variables in the driving environment is equivalent to the dangerous distraction experienced by cell phone users who barrel through department store parking lots, ignoring speed, rights of way, and pedestrian safety. Be CAREFUL with the GPS. Stay alert. Focus.
As I prepare for a long distance trip in the near future I have been weighing the importance of upgrading my GPS. New road construction is prevalent in the area of my destination, so my decision to upgrade has been made for me. Occasionally a city will rename a street which will throw you off, unless you have a sense of where you are apart from the perspective of the wonderful metallic, signaling globes swirling around the heavens above us. Keep a small compass attached to your key ring. You can pick up one for a couple of bucks at a discount department store. If it “feels” like you are going in the wrong direction on the wrong street, maybe you are.
Be prepared for personal safety awareness when using a GPS. Unfortunately, the satellites will signal you to drive the most direct route to your destination even if it is a dangerous route. Stay alert. If you see a lot of trash on the streets, heavy bars on storefronts, loiterers staring at your out-of-state license plates from a distance, you have taken the wrong road. Get back to a safer highway as fast as possible. Ignore the computerized message of “Recalculating,” and realize that the GPS will “catch up with you” as you consciously choose a safer route. Safety first. Then follow the GPS.
Do the driving directors ever take you in the wrong direction? Yes. But rarely. On my Wild West vacation I established a routine where I stopped daily at Walmart. I bought water bottles, snacks, ate a bite of lunch, and got $100 cash as I checked out. There is something homey about finding a Walmart as a base of operations along America’s highways. I type “Walmart” into my shopping database of the GPS and set the unit to take me to my store, restaurant, and bank stop. Twice in six thousand miles I was directed to a vacated Walmart building. Somewhere in the vicinity, a Super Walmart had replaced the address of the one on my GPS. That was not a big deal. I either asked directions at a gas station or hopped on the interstate for the next town.
So, why did I title this section Buy a GPS but carry a map? Because sometimes a map is better than a GPS. It is that simple. Before leaving on a long trip, I carefully map out my chosen route with plans to stop at museums, art galleries, historic sites, etc. Acquiring official state road maps before setting out is invaluable. Every state in the USA wants tourists to spend money within their borders. I am happy to do that with all but one state, which I am currently boycotting. (You guess which one it is. Forget it. You’ll never figure this one out.) Nevertheless, go online. Look up the state tourism homepage. (For example, Google “Arkansas tourism official homepage.”) Ask them to send you an official map. It should arrive by snail mail within two or three weeks. Laying a map out in front of you gives you the total perspective of your travel through a specific geographic region. The GPS will get you through Arkansas expeditiously. Perusing the state map of Arkansas and reviewing their state tourism guides will give you many choices for fun, educational, intriguing diversions off the beaten path.
There is also the possibility that roads will be under construction, detours will lead you into areas that raise questions about location, and shopping mall parking lots will be displayed on the GPS screen as a road. You may simply want to plot another course to avoid heavy traffic, dangerous areas, densely populated urban areas, etc. If it is rush hour, I often plot a route around the main business districts of cities, including around D.C.’s beltway, knowing that I will have a more pleasurable experience staying away from tired, potentially aggressive drivers who want me out of their way. No problem. By the way, try to hit key metropolitan areas “outside” of rush hour.
When traveling to Wyoming, I carefully monitored weather forecasts and was aware of a highly volatile storm system with tornado watches and warnings along my plotted route. I studied the satellite images of NOAA weather maps, and charted an alternate route through northern Wyoming. I used my Wyoming state road map to do so. Devils Tower National Park was just thirty miles from my new route, so I calculated driving times, risk, and prepared a stop at the beautiful volcanic rock formation. I steered clear of the storm system that was destroying homes and lives to my southwest, allowing plenty of time to reach my night’s stay to the south. But as I drove toward Casper, the skies became more and more ominous. The first clue to danger was the significant decrease in traffic. I went into a heightened state of observation. When I realized that suddenly there were no tractor trailer trucks on the road, I knew I was in trouble.
Unfortunately my weather radio reported no impending threats. But, as I have learned, the local radio station was on top of the crisis. Professionally trained spotters had detected a tornado on the ground in Casper. I was driving straight into it. As soon as I heard the report, I exited the interstate and looked for the strongest, safest hotel in the vicinity. I checked in, informed the staff that a tornado was on the ground in Casper and was headed north. Then I called the Casper hotel, joked a little bit about the weather “down there” and asked them cordially to release me from a room reservation penalty as I had procured shelter in Gillette. They were very cordial and understanding. I settled into my room for the night. It was 2:30 in the afternoon. Safety first. Everything else comes later.
Have a map for every state through which you travel. It is far more comprehensive and far more comprehensible than any GPS screen. Never drive down the road juggling a road map in your right hand while steering your vehicle with your left hand. Study alternative routes and be flexible with your time. Do not try a long trip into unfamiliar territory without a GPS. Know how to use it. It is not a luxury. It is a necessity for serious travelers. And take a map. Be smart. Be safe.
Friday, January 15, 2010
Travel Tip #2-Pack Clothes Based on Comfort and Need
Travel Tip #2 - Clothes for the Road
(c) 2010 Lea, the Traveling Novelist
2. Pack clothes according to comfort and need. Travel in stretchable knit sweat pants and tee shirts covered with a microfiber hooded jacket. Driving long distances comfortably requires flexibility. Tight fitting slacks or jeans will work against your movements as you change gears and turn to double check lane change safety. A cozy jacket will break cool winds in gusting moderate temperatures and will yield to arm motions as you maneuver the steering wheel, turn on lights and wipers, and change gears.
Buy two-gallon ziplock bags before packing your bags and insert each day’s apparel, including undergarments into each bag. Place a paper label inside each bag, identifying contents according to temperature and needs. When I traveled through the northwest and circled down to the southwest deserts, I grabbed bags marked COLD, MODERATE, and HOT according to weather conditions. And to save space, simply squeeze out excess air by sitting on top of the bags before zipping them shut.
Stack the plastic wrapped apparel in a lid covered plastic tub, and pull out only the next day’s clothes as you check into your hotel. Leave the bulk of clothes in your car or van. If you have a trunk, store everything inside it. CAUTION. Thieves often look inside vehicles to make an assessment of a “take” while travelers eat lunch, walk to waterfall overlooks, or snooze in the comfort of roadside inns. So far, I’ve managed to thwart thievery by camouflaging moderately valuable items by “trashing” my van. I allow the old Windstar to get dirty and I leave clean empty soda cans on the seats along with heaps of newspaper and wads of fast food restaurant bags. (Caveat: DON'T LEAVE ANYTHING THAT EMITS FOOD ODORS INSIDE YOUR VEHICLE WHEN YOU're in BEAR TERRITORY unless it is stored in the proper airtight approved food lockers as required by the National Park Service! And----KNOW when you're in bear territory!) Anyway, a thief peeking inside my windows would probably assume that some destitute nomad with nothing worth taking is crossing country on a shoestring. In other words, look like you have nothing worth stealing.
On the other hand, I always secure irreplaceable valuables (cell phone, walkie talkies, GPS, and computer) in my hotel safe. I never leave easy-to-hock electronics in the Ford. All of my traveling clothes are cheap department store replaceable items, with the exception of some L. L. Bean/Cabella type gear that runs a little higher than average discount department store apparel. But even L.L. Bean is replaceable. My philosophy is simple: if somebody steals my clothes, I simply MUST go shopping!
Before packing, empty your closet of all the clothing you own. Match tops and bottoms. Casual, everyday slacks will suffice for traveling. It is not necessary to dress up for a five hundred mile drive along the interstate highway system. The advantage of traveling with twenty one changes of clothes on a three-week trip is that you lose no time in laundromats----time you could spend in an art gallery looking at magnificent works so much more worthwhile than ogling rotating clothes inside a stainless steel oversized mechanical box. You can do laundry when you get home. If you do not have twenty one changes of underclothes, buy some extras and save yourself the distraction of laundry. Compare the cost of a few extra undergarments to the cost of detergent, washing machine cost, and dryer expense. There are even biodegradable undergarments that you can purchase and throw away without guilt.
Women traveling solo should dress modestly. Leave short shorts and low cut tees at home. Dressing informally is not the same thing as dressing cheap. Convey an appearance that sends a message of self respect and the expectancy of the same from others. Don’t send any signals that could be construed as an invitation for sexual advances.
Remember to take two or three changes of shoes/boots. Good hiking boots are a good investment. For our wedding anniversary this year, my hubby got me snakeproof boots (at MY request). Now, when I travel into my favorite National Wilderness area with my camera, and where I KNOW timber rattlers await me, I am a little safer than I have been when trekking along stony pathways wearing "cute" sneakers. A snake "handler" at our State Natural Resources office also advised me to use care walking near rocky ledges and canyon walls. Slithering assailants lurk in dark shadows of canyon walls in anticipation of striking out at the heads of approaching idiots. Don't forget dress shoes. (Not for the snakes---for dinner!) Once I passed up an exquisite 5-star dinner at a gorgeous restaurant which had a fastidious dresscode. The closest thing I had to dress shoes were white flipflops. I had remembered to pack a long black travel dress, but forgot to pack appropriate shoes. I was not about to pay $80 for spikey heels from the resort gift shop. I have other ways to spend a travel budget! Walmart. Black flats. Dressy enough.
Always pack a couple of dressy outfits, even if you are headed for the great outdoors. Conservative, loose fitting black slacks and a blazer over a simple tee can be accented with a paisley scarf for dinner when a restaurant or formal B&B shuns jeans and shorts. Keep in mind that the high end restaurants may expect more formal attire. And, ALWAYS check out dress codes of restaurants before embarking on your journey. Do not pass up an opportunity for exquisite dining because of a penchant for denim. Ringo Starr can wear denim to posh restaurants. Love Ringo. Love Ringo. The rest of us really cool, blue jean clad twits can expect to be turned away at the door. Not that Ringo is a twit. Ringo:COOL. Rest of us: QUASI TWITS wandering along the road of life.
And as you go down the road----dress well, travel well, be safe.
(c) 2010 Lea, the Traveling Novelist
2. Pack clothes according to comfort and need. Travel in stretchable knit sweat pants and tee shirts covered with a microfiber hooded jacket. Driving long distances comfortably requires flexibility. Tight fitting slacks or jeans will work against your movements as you change gears and turn to double check lane change safety. A cozy jacket will break cool winds in gusting moderate temperatures and will yield to arm motions as you maneuver the steering wheel, turn on lights and wipers, and change gears.
Buy two-gallon ziplock bags before packing your bags and insert each day’s apparel, including undergarments into each bag. Place a paper label inside each bag, identifying contents according to temperature and needs. When I traveled through the northwest and circled down to the southwest deserts, I grabbed bags marked COLD, MODERATE, and HOT according to weather conditions. And to save space, simply squeeze out excess air by sitting on top of the bags before zipping them shut.
Stack the plastic wrapped apparel in a lid covered plastic tub, and pull out only the next day’s clothes as you check into your hotel. Leave the bulk of clothes in your car or van. If you have a trunk, store everything inside it. CAUTION. Thieves often look inside vehicles to make an assessment of a “take” while travelers eat lunch, walk to waterfall overlooks, or snooze in the comfort of roadside inns. So far, I’ve managed to thwart thievery by camouflaging moderately valuable items by “trashing” my van. I allow the old Windstar to get dirty and I leave clean empty soda cans on the seats along with heaps of newspaper and wads of fast food restaurant bags. (Caveat: DON'T LEAVE ANYTHING THAT EMITS FOOD ODORS INSIDE YOUR VEHICLE WHEN YOU're in BEAR TERRITORY unless it is stored in the proper airtight approved food lockers as required by the National Park Service! And----KNOW when you're in bear territory!) Anyway, a thief peeking inside my windows would probably assume that some destitute nomad with nothing worth taking is crossing country on a shoestring. In other words, look like you have nothing worth stealing.
On the other hand, I always secure irreplaceable valuables (cell phone, walkie talkies, GPS, and computer) in my hotel safe. I never leave easy-to-hock electronics in the Ford. All of my traveling clothes are cheap department store replaceable items, with the exception of some L. L. Bean/Cabella type gear that runs a little higher than average discount department store apparel. But even L.L. Bean is replaceable. My philosophy is simple: if somebody steals my clothes, I simply MUST go shopping!
Before packing, empty your closet of all the clothing you own. Match tops and bottoms. Casual, everyday slacks will suffice for traveling. It is not necessary to dress up for a five hundred mile drive along the interstate highway system. The advantage of traveling with twenty one changes of clothes on a three-week trip is that you lose no time in laundromats----time you could spend in an art gallery looking at magnificent works so much more worthwhile than ogling rotating clothes inside a stainless steel oversized mechanical box. You can do laundry when you get home. If you do not have twenty one changes of underclothes, buy some extras and save yourself the distraction of laundry. Compare the cost of a few extra undergarments to the cost of detergent, washing machine cost, and dryer expense. There are even biodegradable undergarments that you can purchase and throw away without guilt.
Women traveling solo should dress modestly. Leave short shorts and low cut tees at home. Dressing informally is not the same thing as dressing cheap. Convey an appearance that sends a message of self respect and the expectancy of the same from others. Don’t send any signals that could be construed as an invitation for sexual advances.
Remember to take two or three changes of shoes/boots. Good hiking boots are a good investment. For our wedding anniversary this year, my hubby got me snakeproof boots (at MY request). Now, when I travel into my favorite National Wilderness area with my camera, and where I KNOW timber rattlers await me, I am a little safer than I have been when trekking along stony pathways wearing "cute" sneakers. A snake "handler" at our State Natural Resources office also advised me to use care walking near rocky ledges and canyon walls. Slithering assailants lurk in dark shadows of canyon walls in anticipation of striking out at the heads of approaching idiots. Don't forget dress shoes. (Not for the snakes---for dinner!) Once I passed up an exquisite 5-star dinner at a gorgeous restaurant which had a fastidious dresscode. The closest thing I had to dress shoes were white flipflops. I had remembered to pack a long black travel dress, but forgot to pack appropriate shoes. I was not about to pay $80 for spikey heels from the resort gift shop. I have other ways to spend a travel budget! Walmart. Black flats. Dressy enough.
Always pack a couple of dressy outfits, even if you are headed for the great outdoors. Conservative, loose fitting black slacks and a blazer over a simple tee can be accented with a paisley scarf for dinner when a restaurant or formal B&B shuns jeans and shorts. Keep in mind that the high end restaurants may expect more formal attire. And, ALWAYS check out dress codes of restaurants before embarking on your journey. Do not pass up an opportunity for exquisite dining because of a penchant for denim. Ringo Starr can wear denim to posh restaurants. Love Ringo. Love Ringo. The rest of us really cool, blue jean clad twits can expect to be turned away at the door. Not that Ringo is a twit. Ringo:COOL. Rest of us: QUASI TWITS wandering along the road of life.
And as you go down the road----dress well, travel well, be safe.
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