A couple of weeks in the past I performed a stay video occasion through Ustream the place I spoke briefly about my travels on the Katy Path and shared a few of the good books I’ve been studying currently. On the finish of my discuss, I took questions from these in attendance and did my greatest to reply them stay in the course of the occasion.
One of many questions I acquired needed to do with the security of your belongings when coming into a constructing or sleeping in your tent at night time. The one that requested the query needed to know what she or he was imagined to do with their luggage once they had been sleeping of their tent at night time or once they wanted to go inside a grocery store or different such constructing.
I responded to the query by saying that I all the time sleep with my belongings inside my tent. Typically, I discover a picnic desk, tree or fence to lock my bike to whereas I sleep… after which I convey all of my private belongings contained in the tent with me in a single day.
When going right into a grocery store, nonetheless, I defined that more often than not I normally simply convey my precious objects into the grocery store with me and depart my bike and the remainder of my gear locked up outdoors – hoping that nobody will attempt to steal it. I went on to say that in some circumstances I’ve carried all of my belongings into the grocery store with me. In these cases, I’ve eliminated the panniers from my bike and carried them in with me whereas I store. This, in fact, just isn’t straightforward, however it may be carried out if vital.
After I shared this info, I went on to speak about how I’ve by no means had any drawback with theft on my travels. I’ve been touring with my bicycle for ten years and by no means have I had something stolen from me whereas out on the highway.
I then shared how I used to be capable of depart my bike out on the road, unlocked, for a month-and-a-half throughout my latest go to to the nation of Montenegro… and the way I felt completely secure leaving my laptop computer laptop and different belongings in my room at a shady intercourse lodge in Shkoder, Albania whereas I went out to discover town.
The purpose I used to be making an attempt to make by sharing these tales was that theft just isn’t one thing you all the time have to be afraid of. There are many cases the place you may depart your bike unlocked, roam across the metropolis and return to seek out that nobody has touched any of your issues.
What I failed to say in the course of the stay broadcast, nonetheless, is that understanding when to be involved on your security and the security of your belongings is one thing that you simply be taught as you get extra expertise on the highway.
Let me say that once more, however in a barely completely different method: As you journey and achieve extra expertise on the highway, you’ll start to be taught when you should take additional care of your self and your belongings… and you’ll grow to be higher at distinguishing secure areas and people who may be trusted.
Your security on the highway is one thing that you simply be taught and get higher at as you achieve increasingly more journey expertise!
The rationale I convey this up is as a result of I don’t need those that watched my stay net occasion and noticed me reply this explicit query to get confused about private security and the security of their belongings. Simply because I’ve by no means had something stolen from me doesn’t imply that it’s by no means going to occur. The very last thing I would like you to do is exit into the world and never lock up your bike or your belongings after which have the whole lot ripped away from you. I don’t need that to occur!
You see, the explanation I’ve by no means had something stolen from me whereas on my travels is partly because of luck, however principally because of the truth that in most circumstances I am going above and past to make sure that the issues I’m touring with are inside my attain and cannot be stolen away from me. The rationale I’ve had such good luck with reference to theft on the highway is as a result of I’ve taken the steps vital to make sure that my belongings haven’t landed themselves within the palms of thieves.
My suggestion to you is that this: If you’re planning to journey the world together with your bicycle, do what you may in each single occasion to lock up your bike and safe your belongings to the most effective of your skill. Even in case you assume you might be in a secure space, lock up your gear! As you journey and get extra expertise, you’ll encounter circumstances the place it’s merely not possible to lock up your bike or safe your belongings. And in these cases, you’ll have to determine whether or not or not you may threat leaving your gear unsecured or whether or not or not you should depart the realm and go to a different campground, grocery store, restaurant, and so forth.
The important thing right here is to 1) get some expertise. 2) Lock up your bike and all your belongings each time – if doable. After which, 3) after you’ve spent a big period of time on the highway, then you may start to determine whether or not you need to take some threat and depart your belongings unlocked, unsecured and out of doors of your protecting clutch.
Good luck… and be secure!
Picture by Saxon Moseley
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