woman travelling alone

I had a friend who retired and took off full-timing. She belonged to a group - LOW - Loners on Wheels. Before she retired, she went to monthly campouts that the local chapter had. She met friends who were also singles. Sometimes they traveled together in a caravan.

I remember her and another lady following each other, when going on longer trips. I felt better knowing she had someone around that she knew while she was out and about.

She spent the first winter at Deming NM. Ended up having bypass surgery. The folks there helped her out a lot through her recovery.

Go, have fun. Just be aware of your surroundings and follow your gut. If something doesn't feel right, move on.

One of the things I like about our CLass A is that if we are stopped for an overnight and something would happen, we can get behind the wheel and take off without going outside. With a B, you would most likely have that same option.

Congrats on your new adventure. You'll have a blast.

Edit: LOW link
Here's a link to the LOW group. I've never participated as I have my DH, but my friend always seemed to enjoy the comraderie when she went on the campouts with the group. I was impressed with the help she got from other members when she had her bypass surgery. Nothing makes you feel more helpless than having a friend in dire straits and you are thousands of miles away. It's nice feeling like you have a safety net available when you are far from home, and alone.

A great tip I heard here several years ago was to give your RV a man's name. We call ours Mobi (work in tech industry). We always refer to our RV as Mobi. In our family you will hear "the wife is taking Mobi and the kids to Campbell River for the weekend."

If you name your RV George or Fred, Bob etc and always refer to it by name, people overhearing conversations will assume you are talking about a male partner.

As in "I am taking George to Banff". "George has not been to Wyoming yet" You get the idea.

I travel with a dog, but only because I have a dog, I am not sure that I would get one only for the purpose of rving. Our dogs have people names. The last one was a female. Cassie did not like strangers and no one could have approached the family or the RV if the family was in it. Oscar is a little mutt and loves everyone, no protection from him, but we do know if someone is approaching as he gets excited (not barking, whining to play with new people or dogs).

Other basic safety advice:
Camp in your driveway the first couple nights.
Plan on arriving during daylight hours.
Be aware of your surroundings, move on if you do not feel comfortable
Camp with a group of friends or a camping group (there are lots with various interests) at least the first few times.

In 30 + years of camping first in tents, now in an RV we have twice felt unsafe and called the RCMP. One time a group of drunks had a gun in a campground (illegal in Canada). The second a group of drunks kept the campground up most the night with music, hooting and hollering and setting off fireworks. Both times we were tent camping.

We have not taken our RV into the US yet.

Go and have fun. If you have not already done so load RV Park Review into your favorites list on your computer. It is pier based reviews of RV parks throughout North America, and offers some sound comments. One nice thing about a self contained RV is if you pull in and don't really feel safe or comfortable, you do not have to get out.
Away from large cities you will find camping places that feel more secure because there is less rifraf visiting. I have found that troublemakers don't like to drive more than 30-45 minutes to make trouble for others. There just too lazy.

This is my take on "boondocking" if you are interested

When “Boondocking” I feel as safe or more safe as I do at home! Why?
At home- Hedges, shrubs, furniture on the porch/deck, flowers close to the windows all for the “bad Guys” to hide behind, some window sill heights are very low, slider sill height is at deck level, 36” wide entry door that opens inward.

RV- open (clear) area around RV and park under a security light if possible. My lowest window sill height is about 42”, pretty difficult to climb into after breaking the window, plus they will have to climb over 2 recliners to get all the way in. 24” wide entry door that opens outward, impossible to PUSH in. Plus you have to step off the step before opening the door all the way (easy to knock the bad guy “off balance” by opening the door, NOT RECOMMENDED to open the door though).

Even though I have a 5W/TV (see sig) the “panic” button on my TV remote key clicker has the range to work from anywhere inside the 5W, I know I tried it! I don’t have the convience of a MH in being able to drive off w/o getting out of the TV, I still can make a LOT of noise without going outside! (TV flashing lights and horn honking) The one thing that all “bad Guys” fear is lights and noise!
Then there is always dialing 911 on the cell phone!

We have a next door widow lady that has the answer- She went our local Army surplus store and bought pair of well used size 13-14 Paratrooper/Logger boots, a length of light weight chain (I drug it behind my car to break up the plating so it would rust and look used) with a snap lock on each end and a dog watering bowl from a neighbor that had been chewed on by their dog. When she pulls into a Wally World etc. she picks out a spot under a security light, places the boots outside next to the steps with the dog watering bowl and chain attached to the steps and goes to bed!

critternut wrote:
....have common sense and mechanical aptitude,

'Armed' with these two and you will be fine...especially the common sense.

Enjoy your new adventure.

There's good and bad areas everywhere, in every country. There's good and bad (even dangerous) areas in California. Be aware of where you're going and be aware of your surroundings and you should not have any problems.

critternut wrote:
Hello all, newbie Canuck just joined this weekend. After tons of research, test-drives and formal inspections, I've finally bought a wee Class B for myself. Any constructive advice for a woman travelling solo? I've heard everything from "you're brave/insane" to "stay in Canada only". I am pushing 50, have common sense and mechanical aptitude, so I don't see what the big deal is. I've chosen Good Sam over CAA(AAA), so that's a start. (A reminder that guns are out of the question here.) Thanks to all!

Good luck in your travels. You may want to consider travelling with a dog for both companionship and protection. Other than that, enjoy your journey.