Nervous tonight

[JudyJB]

I was happy to find that I could get the full-hookup camphost spot tonight at a national park campground, but I am getting a little weird because there is almost no one else camped here. I feel a little better to have a couple of units pull in down the way, but it is very dark, and they are several hundred feet away. This is the first time I have ever laid out my pepper spray canisters.

So how do I make myself feel comfortable? It is 8:30 pm so there is no way I would unhook and pullout to go to somewhere else. No one can see in because I have all the drapes drawn and the porch light on.

I have been in a lot of campgrounds where there were not too many other campers--maybe 15% full, so why am I so nervous tonight??? Maybe tomorrow I will re-evaluate the situation and ask them to patrol more often--I assume there is security patrolling around here, right?

I will keep my cell phone by my bed as usual, and call 911 if I hear any strange noises, but I do not like this feeling.

[MsBHaven]

Sounds like you are doing all the right things (blinds shut, pepper spray, cell phone). I've been a state park once where I was alone (big dog - Chihuahua) and there were only two other rigs and it was very, very dark. I really was uncomfortable walking the dog in the dark with just a flashlight. Eventually I fell asleep and everything was fine. Hope you can settle in and feel better in the morning.

[cnq50b]

Keep us posted, Judy...
As long as the doors are locked, windows closed & cell phone charged, you should ok. If you get spooked guess you could always start the engine, honk the horn & make lots of noise. (or do you have a tt?) Your campfire post said you were close to the entrance & the ranger station so you should be ok. You might see if you can find a phone number for the ranger station in case you want to call it directly.
Will be keeping you in my thoughts & prayers tonight. May His angels surround & protect you all night long...

[JudyJB]

Thanks. Glad at least I don't have a very small dog to walk!!

Wish I had a porch light on the other side of my vehicle. Hmmmm. Sounds like an idea for an add-on.

[BirdbyBird]

It can't be much different that boondocking out along the Alaskan Hwy or last week being one of only two parked in the Hoosier National Forest in the middle of nowhere Indiana......as you mentioned....from the outside no one knows that you are there alone. The more I camp out by myself the more comfortable I feel..... Now WalMarts...those I have to evaluate more carefully.....

[Bethers]

I'm like Tina. I'd be very comfortable there if I was comfortable with the area. I'm less comfortable in crowded parks in less desirable areas or, again like Tina, at Walmart. And I love the totally dark areas. Rarely use lights outside. But, what's important here is they you are doing what you need to make you comfortable.

[cnq50b]

Glad at least I don't have a very small dog to walk!!

But maybe a big dog wouldn't be such a bad idea.

[JudyJB]

The weird thing is that I was in another park near Phoenix where I was about the only person there and could not even see other campers, and it did not bother me at all. Maybe it is the woods and the dark, versus the desert and being able to see the lights of the city in the distance.

Which reminds me, Usery Mountain Regional Park near Mesa, Arizona, is one of my very favorite campgrounds. COuld hear the coyotes at night and got woken up by birds cheeping and walking on my roof--had no idea such small birds had such large and noisy feet! Felt like I had the whole desert to myself.

I feel better just writing about this and hearing from you all. I will program in the number of the ranger station.

[cnq50b]

Good morning, Judy.
just checking in on you - ins't the internet terrific? No matter where you are, you've got a tether to friends who can watch over you. Hope you rested well & enjoy your Saturday!

[Carolinagal]

Good morning Judy, hope you had a restful night. Not fun being uneasy of your surroundings. Let us hear from you so we all know you're ok. There are times I feel like that here at my home, it's on a main road and I have wild critters here , so am always uneasy taking Maggie out for her last potty time. That's one time when my talking so much works !!

Waiting to hear from you,

CArol

[Liz]

Hope you made it through the night ok and got some sleep. As others related, I have spent the night in many cgs either alone or with very few campers. Only once was I uncomfortable, and that was because of activity I saw coming in and out of the park all evening. I suspected drug deals or similar. It was a NF cg with no other campers that I could see, although there may have been one in the other loop. I just stayed inside and only walked Roe at my campsite...no long walk.

I suspect we all have those moments whether warranted or not, it is best to trust your instincts if you are uncomfortable. So you did, and I hope all is fine this morning.

[carolb]

Good morning Jdy--Well, hope we hear from yew soon, altho I haven't checked other topics this morning. Yes, yore doing all the right things. I had one night in a rest area where I was the only one! I have dogs, bt still felt weird. One thing I made certain of was to have everything ready to go--all things in traveling mode (not closing drapes to the front windows & staying in the dark), with keys in the ignition. I was ready to hop into the driver's seat & take off. If yore yewsing hook-ps tho, can't do that! Hope yew made it threw the nite & feel better today! I'm off to Morning Coffee--will yew be there?

[retiredhappy]

Hope you had a good night, Judy. Let me say that I would be less nervous in a dark campground with few people than in say a Walmart with Lord knows who coming and going at all hours of the night or walking down a city street. Usually the bad people hang around populated areas, not secluded campgrounds in the dark. Only once was I uncomfortable enough to drive off. I had pulled into a reststop and was going to spend the night. No one else was there until a car pulled in with four young men that I didn't like the looks of and the way they were looking over my rig. Got in the driver's seat and drove off. When I was towing I left my car completely ready to tow - didn't turn the key off, etc. Since I traveled with dogs I had to get out to walk them so without a dog, you are pretty safe if you don't open your door to anyone.

[JudyJB]

Thanks all. I took half a sleeping pill and had a very good night's sleep. Don't know why I freaked out last night, but there are a few more campers in the distance today and I feel much better.

I am off to do some sightseeing. Luckily I can walk to the visitor center so I won't have to unhook.

Just having this group really helped. I could not have talked to my kids or my friends because they tghink I am in a lot of danger all the time, which is silly.

[Bethers]

Judy, glad you feel better today. And, yes, trust your feelings. And, also, yes, it's a different feel with the trees, etc. And share with us any time.