Rest day on Fernandina Beach at Fort Clinch State Park. It was a cloudy day so not crazy hot and a great chance to sit and read. I had picked up a book at a little free library about Flora Pig going to Antarctica.
It was finally time to leave the beach and Florida and head towards home. I had no more camping reservations so it was a wing-it evening.
My friend Cory helped me use Google maps to find a truck stop about 4.5 hours away to spend the night. I dislike(read get too antsy) driving more than 4-5 hours at a stretch. In the past I have driven 14+ hours straight and I swore I wouldn’t do that again. I wasn’t aware you can get bedsores from driving!
So I spent the night huddled in my locked van at a truck stop between Tractor trailers in Timmonsville, South Carolina.
I have been asked, ‘aren’t you scared?’. No. I’m alert and aware of my surroundings. I prefer to stop where I have cell reception. I have wasp spray, pepper spray-2, tazer and knives. I lock my doors. My windows are blocked out. Once I am parked I don’t leave my van so nobody knows there is a solo gal inside. I make sure my people know where I am and I let them know I’m safe the next morning before I leave. If for any reason my spidey sense feels sketchyness, I leave. My van is parked in a position and is ready for a quick exit. And no, I don’t carry my pistol as some areas it is illegal and I don’t want to do with that stuff. You do you. But I have found this is what works for me.