By: Blonde Two
I have a conundrum which I would like to place before you. I am planning (soonish) to do a solo overnight mission to Dartmoor. Already I am breaking one of my own very strict rules for Blonde safety. These are:
1. Never tell the Whole Weird World of the Internet (WWWof I) that you are going out walking alone, or even as a pair.
2. Never tell the WWWof I where you are going to be walking, either on your own, in a pair or with youngsters.
3. Always give/text a route to someone that you trust if you are going out alone.
4. Always wear your lucky shell necklace – you know, the one you were wearing when you broke your ankle. It works every time!
Assuming that I manage to keep three of the rules above; I am hoping that you will help me to write rule number five; and herein lies the conundrum:
I need to drive to Dartmoor. I want to stay out overnight. I will have to leave a vehicle somewhere. Is it the done thing nowadays to leave a note in ones vehicle explaining why it has been abandoned on the moor; and indicating that its owner is not lost/broken/dead somewhere but is having a good time eating/reading/looking just outside her tent?
There are, of course, differing opinions on this:
Some are worried about car thieves; but do these nasties read notes? Surely if you are set on stealing a car, you would just get on with it.
Others are worried about people becoming concerned for the missing driver. I can understand that, I would keep an eye on an empty car myself. The vehicle would be easily traced to home though, and Mr B2 will know where I am and my ETA.
A few seem more concerned about their privacy than anything else. Clearly I am not bothered about that, I write a blog, kind of the opposite to privacy!
To leave a note or not? That is the question. I look forward to your answers!
No note in the car but you could leave the car near a local house/farm/pub etc and leave a note with them.
I agree; try to leave car somewhere near civilisation and leave a note on the dashboard with just your mobile number on. Make the inside of your car look more masculine than feminine by leaving something not too valuable on the seat, X-large football shirt for example.
Searching for x-large football shirt as I type …
Not a pub! I might be too tempted to stay 🙂
Whenever I go out wild camping in Scotland I always send the local Mountain Rescue team a courtesy email beforehand which has the location and details of my car and my planned trip. That way if they get a call out regarding an abandoned car they know if I’m overdue (or not).
Thank you for that. We are quite friendly with one of the local Mountain Rescue teams. I will ask their opinion.
All sound advice from these comments. Having the car broken into is just a risk you have to take.
It happened to me on an Easter Monday a few years ago about 500 yards from where I live. I parked the car in a quiet lay-by and walked my dog for only about 15 minutes before returning to find broken glass etc.
All done and the car and I safe. A strange experience sleeping somewhere so wild! Thank you for your comment 🙂
Get permission to leave the car on a campsite with a note in the windscreen – there’s at least one on Dartmoor that will keep your car in a quiet corner while you go off for a night. Alternatively, have even more of an adventure – go by bus!