| Considering several shocking occurrences | | | | Once camp is set up and the sun goes |
| in the Australian outback over recent | | | | down, the most obvious announcements of |
| years, it's hardly surprising that many | | | | your presence are a campfire and various |
| people are easily put off the idea of | | | | types of camp lighting. Keep in mind |
| camping in remote areas because of what | | | | that if you can see passing headlights, |
| they see in the media. With crime | | | | it's likely that your camplight and fire |
| seemingly on the increase, the | | | | are visible to them. However, if your |
| comparative safety of bricks and mortar | | | | fire is small, set low in a trench away |
| becomes ever more comforting. | | | | from the 'highway side' of your camp |
| Right or wrong, this perception of | | | | (screened by van or vehicle), all should |
| potential danger out in the lonely | | | | be fine. For reassurance, walk out to |
| places can be difficult to shake loose, | | | | the road and look back toward camp. |
| particularly for anyone with limited | | | | Similarly, try to minimise camp |
| outdoor experience. Realistically, then, | | | | lighting, and keep RV curtains and |
| is there anything we can do to make | | | | blinds completely drawn. And although an |
| isolated campsites more user friendly -- | | | | effective flashlight is essential for |
| at least from a security standpoint? | | | | bush travel, light beams flashing |
| The answer is a resounding 'Yes', but | | | | through trees is an instant giveaway. |
| before tackling the question in detail, | | | | Most commonly, though, traffic all but |
| perhaps we should make some attempt to | | | | ceases come nightfall and you'll have |
| regain our lost perspective. | | | | the area to yourself. In the unlikely |
| Quite simply, crime and cities go | | | | event that someone does pull in, remain |
| together like fleas and dogs. That's not | | | | calm. Be friendly -- helpful if |
| to say there's no threat at all in | | | | necessary -- but it's best not to |
| country areas, but the level of crime | | | | encourage them with invites to 'share a |
| out there is way, way down on big-city | | | | beer by the fire'. More than likely, it |
| rates. After all, as any seasoned crim | | | | will be just another Pilgrim seeking the |
| knows, pickings in the bush are paltry | | | | security of fellow travellers. |
| compared with the unlimited prospects of | | | | Before retiring for the night, it's wise |
| the big smoke. Result is, we're a lot | | | | to walk around your outfit to check the |
| safer, by and large, the further we | | | | fire is out, the car locked, and no gear |
| travel beyond suburbia. | | | | has been left lying about. |
| Understandably, though, many travellers | | | | Assuming everything pans out and you |
| still prefer to stay within their | | | | settle in for a few days, chances are it |
| comfort zone by limiting their stopovers | | | | will become necessary to drive to the |
| to tourist parks, campgrounds, or other | | | | nearest town for supplies. If so, leave |
| 'safe' areas where like-minded company | | | | the campsite looking like the occupants |
| abounds. Despite the apparent wisdom of | | | | aren't far away: camp chairs set up, |
| this approach, is that really all you | | | | coffee mugs on the table, some laundry |
| want from your travels? Don't you | | | | hanging on a line. Of course the caravan |
| thereby place limits on your outdoor | | | | should be locked, with curtains drawn, |
| experiences, not to mention your overall | | | | and anything of value secure inside or |
| enjoyment? | | | | taken with you. It's not a bad idea to |
| Some campers apparently believe so. In | | | | leave a radio playing inside the van, |
| order to bolster family confidence, | | | | either. |
| their strategy is to start out in | | | | Not surprisingly, it's during the night |
| tourist parks or commercial campgrounds, | | | | when nervous campers experience their |
| eventually move on to national and state | | | | greatest concerns. Fortunately, the best |
| parks, then some time later, find a | | | | deterrents against would-be |
| private Shangri-La somewhere further | | | | troublemakers are also the simplest: |
| out. | | | | light and sound. As security |
| Perhaps more importantly -- and | | | | professionals tell us, when intruders |
| regardless of where you camp -- your | | | | feel compromised, their knee-jerk |
| choice of outdoor lifestyle | | | | reaction is to get out of there -- fast. |
| predetermines, to some degree, your | | | | Off down the road to find an easier |
| inherent level of security. Sleeping in | | | | target! |
| a tent, for example, rarely develops a | | | | One way to achieve this is to rig up |
| sense of protection to equal that of a | | | | some form of lighting that can be |
| caravan; and even caravans, it might be | | | | switched on from your bed, and a 12-volt |
| argued, don't offer the all-round safety | | | | floodlight or two does the job. By the |
| of a motorhome. Obviously then, | | | | way, outside lighting is more useful |
| decisions regarding your outdoor | | | | (and your own movements less obvious) if |
| accommodation may indirectly impact | | | | internal lights remain switched off |
| long-term enjoyment. | | | | while you are peering out into the |
| That being the case, a small to medium | | | | darkness. |
| caravan, motorhome or campervan would | | | | In addition to outside lighting, you |
| seem a reasonable compromise amongst the | | | | might consider some sort of noise making |
| camping trifecta of security, site | | | | device. Compact personal alarms |
| accessibility, and outdoor lifestyle. | | | | available from electronic shops (Dick |
| Indeed, the 'hard-wall' RV options have | | | | Smith, Tandy) are inexpensive and |
| the additional advantage that external | | | | effective. Mind you, it is embarrassing |
| 'interference' would be instantly | | | | when you finally storm out of the RV, |
| detected by the occupants, making | | | | lights blazing, sirens wailing, to be |
| intrusion during the night, for | | | | confronted by a cheeky possum! Chances |
| instance, highly improbable. Of course, | | | | are that's all it will ever be. |
| extra safety is easily installed in the | | | | On the other hand, if you prefer to take |
| form of security screens on doors and | | | | campsite security even more seriously, |
| windows, and additional internal | | | | here are a few more possibilities to |
| padbolts. | | | | consider: |
| Incidentally, evidence suggests a trend | | | | Dogs: The best all-round security |
| whereby travellers happily inscribe | | | | service a traveller can get, but they |
| their names on an external wall of their | | | | come at a cost in both money and upkeep. |
| RV. As welcoming as this might be, it | | | | And many tourist parks -- plus all |
| could be unwise, given the possibility | | | | national parks -- don't allow them. |
| of 'undesirables' calling your name from | | | | Alarm indicator lights: Those tiny, |
| outside, prompting you or the kids to | | | | flashing red lights, usually fitted |
| open the door to somebody presumed to be | | | | inside a car to indicate there's an |
| a friend. | | | | alarm active (even if there isn't) can |
| The same might be said for our natural | | | | be fitted anywhere 12-volt power is |
| inclination to help strangers along a | | | | available. Make them just visible |
| backcountry roadside. Unfortunately, the | | | | without being too obvious. |
| old 'help-each-other-out' principle | | | | Strobe lights: The greatest value in a |
| requires more careful consideration | | | | flashing blue strobe light is the |
| these days. | | | | universal recognition -- among good guys |
| But getting back to the real issue: For | | | | and bad -- that an intrusion has |
| travellers who eventually hope to move | | | | occurred. From that viewpoint these can |
| beyond the crowds and the costs of | | | | be more effective than basic security |
| commercial parks and campgrounds, it | | | | lighting. |
| comes down to how best to utilise | | | | Timers: A light, randomly activated |
| out-of-the-way campsites where gut feel | | | | during the night by a 24 hour x 15 |
| dictates that extra caution is | | | | minute timer, may suggest that a |
| warranted. And in most of those | | | | restless camper resides within. Anyone |
| situations the number one rule is | | | | watching your camp would become |
| 'Privacy = Security'. Generally | | | | frustrated enough to seek easier spoils. |
| speaking, anyway. | | | | Alarms and sirens: Several types are |
| First, select a site far enough from | | | | available, variously activated by trip |
| nearby activity and passing traffic -- | | | | wires, infrared sensors or internal |
| or well hidden by trees and bush -- so | | | | switches. They take a bit of setting up, |
| as not to invite unnecessary attention. | | | | are prone to accidental initiation, and |
| Maybe it goes without saying, but | | | | are, generally speaking, gross |
| anything within about five kilometers of | | | | over-kill. All the same, if that's what |
| a town or ten kilometers of a pub is | | | | it takes to put family fears to rest, |
| best avoided. | | | | visit those electronic stores again. |
| Remember, too, that it's a good idea to | | | | Communications: In outback areas, mobile |
| choose your overnight stopping place | | | | phone networks are rarely within range, |
| while there's still an hour or so of | | | | so for emergency communication consider |
| daylight. Locate a spot well back from | | | | a satellite phone or HF radio. For most |
| the highway, preferably along a | | | | campers, though, the $2000-plus price |
| sidetrack so your camp is not obvious to | | | | tags are difficult to justify. AM/SSB |
| passing motorists. | | | | and UHF sets, although less expensive, |
| Choosing a spot before dark also allows | | | | rely on a trucker or farmer being within |
| time to sus out the surrounding area | | | | three or four kilometers. Nevertheless, |
| (houses? farms? fences? alternative | | | | from the outside, hearing the occupants |
| exit?), and to take a good look around. | | | | put out a 'distress call' would be |
| Obvious signs of partying, reckless | | | | reason enough to move on. |
| driving, or excessive pollution should | | | | Firearms: From a legal viewpoint -- and |
| prompt the decision to move on. | | | | keeping individual firearm training and |
| Yet another benefit of setting up in | | | | competence in mind -- this is definitely |
| daylight is that cooking and other | | | | an issue for cautious, personal |
| chores can be got out of the way early, | | | | evaluation. Without doubt, any weapon in |
| meaning less need for lighting and | | | | the hands of the inexperienced, or |
| stumbling about the site after sunset. | | | | someone overtaken by panic, soon becomes |
| Even so, it doesn't hurt to keep one eye | | | | more danger than protection. And should |
| (and one ear) on passing traffic. | | | | the weapon fall into the hands of the |
| Slowing or returning vehicles should get | | | | intruder, an extremely awkward scenario |
| your antennae twitching. | | | | could be the outcome! Your call. |
| Invariably, in these sorts of impromptu | | | | As mentioned earlier, human dangers in |
| overnight camps, RV travellers choose to | | | | isolated areas are so rare as to be |
| remain in 'departure mode'. No awning, | | | | almost non-existent. But that said, it |
| no camp chairs, no gear stored beneath | | | | doesn't hurt to be realistic. A healthy |
| the RV, no stabiliser jacks -- and | | | | dose of controlled paranoia, backed up |
| generally facing toward the 'exit'. Next | | | | by thoughtful preparation, not only |
| day, if feeling more relaxed about the | | | | improves your level of safety, it also |
| site, a longer stopover might be | | | | helps the family feel more at ease while |
| considered. | | | | enjoying real bush solitude. |