Casino Parking Lot Boondocking - a Safer Option

[Foto-n-T]

UDAP now puts on their labels that it is not a "bear repellant" and that it should not be sprayed on yourself like bug spray (paraphrasing here).  Several years ago in our area a foreign tourist bought some at a local store then proceeded to hose down the first of her three children in anticipation of going to Yellowstone.  The child spent the next 36 hours in the hospital.  There have also been more than one incident of an angry spouse using against their significant other.

 

[99WinAdventurer37G]

Some had concerns about some campgrounds, and others have concerns about safety at casinos and Wal-marts.  Putting self protection devices aside, I believe we just have to go by our gut instincts.  I've pulled in places to stay, and "just didn't feel right", so I moved on.  Whether Camp ground, Wal-mart, casino, Russel Stovers Factory Outlet (parked until they opened, Chocolate has antioxidants, and RS is RV friendly) or where ever we think about stopping, look around, and let your common sense be your best self defense. 

I've been in some bad situations when I was younger, simply because I was where I had to be (receiver/shipper) in the morning, and I didn't want to spend the money on the fuel to leave, and return in the morning.  Not to mention that there may not even be any safe truck parking in the area anyway. 
In an RV that is usually not the case, that's the beauty of the whole RV thing to me.  I stop when I want to stop, and go where I want to go.  I do love to travel this beautiful country of ours.  If I make the campground on the day I planed great, if not, seeya tomorrow.  Like many of the trips chronicled on here which I love to read, the phrase, "we had planned" comes up a lot.  What a blessing to have the freedom to be flexible. 

In the RV, paint me green and call me Gumby!

 

[M1894]

Yes, perhaps. I did find the part about writing with his mouth suspect. However, no one else questioned it or asked further questions. I like that ability to question other reviews with Amazon. It would have been nice to read a review by someone that that had actually used it.

Looking at the ad again it appears it would be illegal in CA (my home state). CA restricts Pepper or bear spray to 2.5 oz containers, whereas the ad seems to indicate this product is 9 oz.

Also, a park such as Yosemite restricts any use of pepper or bear spray.

There is a better product than Bear spray, and it is a common household item. [Wasp and Hornet Spray] For one thing it is easy to obtain, and does not violate any of the park regulations that forbids Pepper or Bear sprays. It is also more potent as a repellant for both 2 and 4 legged aggressors. anyone that it is used on will head straight for the ER after a dose of that stuff in the face. I also keep a number of hollowed out books stored around the rig that I can access at any time while parked. I've spent 20 years teaching legal self protection classes, and a persons best defense is right between their ears. Retreat when possible, but when cornered, "ANYTHING GOES."

P.S. Don't look for me in states with restrictive gun laws. I believe in obeying the law where ever I am, but as a retired L.E.O. I don't agree with some laws  so I stay away from those states.


Lee

 

[99WinAdventurer37G]

There is a better product than Bear spray, and it is a common household item. [Wasp and Hornet Spray] For one thing it is easy to obtain, and does not violate any of the park regulations that forbids Pepper or Bear sprays. It is also more potent as a repellant for both 2 and 4 legged aggressors. anyone that it is used on will head straight for the ER after a dose of that stuff in the face.

Any brand?  Could you post a pic of the product you use? 

Thanks

Steve

 

[Frizlefrak]

There is a better product than Bear spray, and it is a common household item. [Wasp and Hornet Spray] For one thing it is easy to obtain, and does not violate any of the park regulations that forbids Pepper or Bear sprays. It is also more potent as a repellant for both 2 and 4 legged aggressors. anyone that it is used on will head straight for the ER after a dose of that stuff in the face. I also keep a number of hollowed out books stored around the rig that I can access at any time while parked. I've spent 20 years teaching legal self protection classes, and a persons best defense is right between their ears. Retreat when possible, but when cornered, "ANYTHING GOES."

P.S. Don't look for me in states with restrictive gun laws. I believe in obeying the law where ever I am, but as a retired L.E.O. I don't agree with some laws  so I stay away from those states.


Lee

Very good advice.....on all fronts. 

 

[loringsontheroad]

Wow! I never expected so many comments - thank you - very interesting reading.
In response to rvpuller - this was the definition of boondocking in the "Glossary"; I actually looked it up to make sure I was using the correct terminology.
Boondocking:
Also known as dry camping, boondocking refers to camping without any hook-ups, namely camping without hooking up to any electric, sewer or water facilities. You can still have electric power from your RV batteries, solar panels, wind turbine or AC power from a generator and water from your freshwater holding tank.

I guess the bottom line is knowing your surroundings and/or trusting your gut. I feel very comfortable in our area casinos but I'm sure there are others in unsavory areas that I wouldn't feel comfortable staying at.
Just out of curiousity - where do truckers stay when they are on the road?

 

[99WinAdventurer37G]

Just out of curiousity - where do truckers stay when they are on the road?

This has been a problem in the industry.  There is "Jason's Law" that we've been trying to get passed.  It resulted from a driver going to his receiver, and the receiver telling him he could not go in until right before his appointment.  He was robbed and shot in his cab, while stopped in an abandon gas station.  But if one can't stop at a Shipper or Receiver, we're in the same situation as an RV'r between campgrounds.  Usually a WM that will allow an RV to stop overnight, will not allow a truck, but many will allow it.  Also Sams clubs, Costco, Home Depot and Lowes have big lots and get trucks every day, so they'll let you stay.  They'll knock on your door at 06:00 to see what you're loaded with, but they'll let you stay.  So it takes a lot more planning to know where one can stop 75 feet and 80,000 lbs.  Usually if one does not know if they can park at the S/R, we look for the closest truck stop or rest area.  And as this thread points out, if one doesn't feel safe, a new place must be found.  And stopping after dark, good luck finding a spot.  That's why if you go into a TS late at night, you can see trucks just parked everywhere.  Once your hours are up, if you get caught driving, it's a bad, bad thing.  And if while driving after your hours have expired, a drunk runs across the median into your truck and dies, you will be charged with the death of the drunk driver.  They say this is because if you were parked as you legally were supposed to be, you wouldn't have been there, he/she wouldn't have died.  So you get to spend much of the rest of your life in the high security Hilton.  So when a Trucker is out of hours, they better stop, it's not like the old days.  That's why some trucks are parked in odd places.  Others think the trucker is and idiot for parking there, but, he ran out of hours and found the nearest "safe" place to shut it down for 10 hours.

 

[Foto-n-T]

To paraphrase Heglmeier, finding a spot to take your break in a truck can lead to some creative thinking.  Personally I usually drive a train, 34 tires on the ground 105' long, 120,000 pounds of tanks loaded with diesel or gasoline.  Driving regionally I have my personal little hidey holes that I have found over the years but if one of them isn't available I'm in for some creative thinking.  Since we deliver to gas stations we've kind of got our pick of where to hole up and being in Wyoming or surrounding states security isn't that much of an issue, except for Colorado.  Basically none of our drivers willingly will spend the night in Colorado.  Refineries won't let you spend the night anywhere near them and personally I wouldn't want to.  Off ramps are a no-no with a haz-mat load regardless so prior planning is the key.  I've had to shut down two hours early simply because something had gone haywire and I wasn't going to be able to make it to one of my usual haunts.

 

[Mavarick]

For those interested in bear spray vs concealed weapons... The hottest spray is a 2% rating of Capsaicin. Here is a site that gives some good explanations. All I can say is the rangers in AK carry pepper spray on the platform at the Fish Creek observation site. Do your homework to check what you need to be legal in your state. This is the closest I ever want to be to one.
http://www.udap.com/faq.htm#Q12

 

[PJ Stough]

One of the risks of having guns in an RV.  http://gypsyjournalrv.com/2009/12/a-violent-encounter/

Paul

 

[Bob Buchanan]

One of the risks of having guns in an RV.  http://gypsyjournalrv.com/2009/12/a-violent-encounter/

"Bad" Nick, huh? He should rename to, Macho Idiot Nick.

When one returns to their RV and finds a hole in the front door window or any sign of forced entry, the wise thing to do is split the scene fast and call the police.

In my search for info on whether I should carry a weapon or not I run into a lot of Macho Nick's. For example, a fellow in a gun shop in Reno once explained how I could kill the (won't use his exact words) with each fireame he showed me and explained just how to use it.  I believe that some of these guys wish they could actually get the opportunity to shoot someone one day.

Paul, I don't see the story necessarily as a reason "not" to have a firearm - but more of a story on how not to use one. The training I have had so far only has me firing when I have made the decision that if I don't fire, I will, in fact, be dead myself. But I am still trying to figure it all out for myself and my situation.

 

[Wendy]

When one returns to their RV and finds a hole in the front door window or any sign of forced entry, the wise thing to do is split the scene fast and call the police.

Which is exactly what Nick said he should have done. I guess you have never met Nick because "Macho Idiot" is the last thing I would apply to him.

Wendy

 

[Bob Buchanan]

I don't either....gambling, lottery etc is a tax on the statistically challenged.  And the thought of spending hours choking on second hand smoke (yes, I'm an ex smoker) and being surrounded by a segment of society that I find less than appealing isn't "in the cards" for me either. 

No, not everyone in a casino is a societal malcontent, but they do tend to congregate there.  The further them and I are apart, the happier we will all be.  The last time I was in a casino, . . .

Camp there??  No thanks. 

Actually, your random sampling of 2 examples from a population of millions of casino folk is a bit less than accurate, IMO. 

I arrived in CA in '61 with the Bureau of Recl. Within 2 weeks of my arrival in Sacramento found myself on a long weekend traveling to South Shore Lake Tahoe, then Carson City, NV, then over to Reno, then North Shore before returning to Sacramento. With degrees in Civil Engineering, Math and Physics, text book author, and university adjunct  hardly find myself statistically challenged. During that trip I visited many casinos, and since the trip have visited many casinos in Northern NV including Elko, Winnemucca, and Wendover. And also Las Vegas, and Laughlin.

On any given Sunday afternoon one finds the traffic returning from the Sierras to the Sacramento and SF Bay Areas staggering as do those on the 15 between LA and Las Vegas. Planes are landing continually at major airports near gaming areas. The point is, the vast majority of folks visiting casinos is not of the nature you describe as surrounding you when in a casino.

Have been a full time RVer now for over 15 years - and during that time have sought out and stayed on casino parking lots whenever that casino allows such parking. The highest crime I was involved in was on my last trip to Laughlin someone stole one of my 10 year old and worn out lawn chairs. A second one had preciously been stolen in a $36/night well lite RV park. My parking lot neighbors have always been friendly and fun to camp with. It is also comforting to see the casino police vehicles patrolling the lot all day and night long. And I also mention the shows, good food, and entertainment at very fair prices not found elsewhere.

I hardly gamble though have studied gaming a lot with my work and for pleasure. I once built a computer model of the game of craps to study betting strategies for an ops research class workshop. It is true that most don't know the odds on games they play and most casinos could not exist if they did - but that doesn't make them social misfits. Quite the contrary from my experience.

So my vote is cast for being high on parking on casino parking lots. I will always choose that over a rest area, Walmart, or RV park. My Honda 2000 makes it much less expensive in most cases, and "much" more fun. And if I do decide to gamble a bit, I choose one of the Non Smoking areas found in most all casinos now.

 

[Bob Buchanan]

Which is exactly what Nick said he should have done. I guess you have never met Nick because "Macho Idiot" is the last thing I would apply to him.

Wendy

Wendy, am sorry to have been that harsh -- especially since you know the person and more about him whereas I know only what I read about this one encounter. I do trust your judgement of others so I apologize to both you and Nick for the suggested name change.

It was just a bit hard to fathom confronting a large black man with a gun in his hand by yelling, "Let me see your hands". Also, picture slamming an RV front door on a persons hand  3 times. That would literally crush that persons hand and/wrist. I doubt that person would come back and peep around the corner - he would more likely be close to unconscious. And finally, I can't image even considering shooting a petty thief in the back as he fled.

But I guess in a fit of anger, we are all capable of doing idiotic things . . .

 

[Frizlefrak]

It was just a bit hard to fathom confronting a large black man with a gun in his hand by yelling, "Let me see your hands".

Ohhhhhhhh  K. 

I'm failing to see where his race is relevant, but that's just me.  Sorry if that offends anyone.

 

[Ned]

I would be more afraid of a large green man.

 

[Frizlefrak]

I would be more afraid of a large green man.

Yeah....the Incredible Hulk lurking in my RV might freak me out a bit.  Even Lou Ferigno without the green makeup would. 

 

[Bob Buchanan]

Ohhhhhhhh  K. 

I'm failing to see where his race is relevant, but that's just me.  Sorry if that offends anyone.

Well, aren't you the pure one. You imply someone is a racist, then apologize if they are offended. Sheeezzz . . .

So yes, that "is" just you. For whatever reason, Nick felt it relevant. I didn't introduce his age, race, or size, Bad Nick did.

Quote:
. . . and I found myself face to face with a husky young black man coming out the door.UNQuote

I suppose this gave credit to the idea of how Bad he was to confront and slam the RV door "shut" on his hand three times to disarm him. Can you imagine what a hand would look like after that? Either way I was simply relating that part of his story as he described it - and that it sounded a bit less than credible to me.

 

[Frizlefrak]

Thanks for that clarification Bob.  It's a shame that the internet can't accurately convey intonation.  The apology was sarcastic.  Perhaps I should have added....  :

 

[loringsontheroad]

Oh boy - I never expected my question to promote a discussion on guns. I do believe we have the right - and should have the right - to bear arms - and we also have the right not to. There is no right or wrong. We all know that it's not guns that kill people, it's people who kill people. There are a lot of crazies in this world, some people who are just desperate, and other that have no conscious. We all want to try and be safe on the road as much as possible and I was just looking for some opinions, experiences that people have had - so I can be as safe as possible as we head out for longer and longer trips. As a woman who grew up in Brooklyn, NY and traveled the subway into the city everyday to work, I have seen a lot and try to listen to my inner voice. If I feel uncomfortable, I will not venture into something. A few weeks ago, I wouldn't walk into a garden area in Newport, RI (I was alone) because it had a hidden area and I didn't know how far in it went. It made me feel uncomfortable and my little voice gave me an alert. So hopefully, my gut will be a good asset. I think the recommendation about the wasp spray isn't a bad idea either; at least it gives us some sort of weapon, without taking guns. And, we do have guns. My husband worked security at a power plant and has an AR15, among others.
I wish everyone safe and happy travels!