Anyone use a Personal Locator Beacon just in case?

[LeanneB]

I was on my way to meet some girlfriends last weekend (in south central Utah from SW Colorado), and ran into a young woman who'd ridden from Michigan. She was camping along the way, and I asked her how comfortable she was alone. There are a LOT of lonely stretches in this neck of the woods. She had a SPOT GPS locator that allowed her to give an "OK" to her family with her exact location everyday. It also had a SOS button so if she had an accident, she could push the panic button. Any thoughts on this kind of technology?

On the same trip I had a friend from Vermont ask me if I carried a gun when I was traveling alone. Ah, no.... was my reply. Any thoughts on personal protection on rides? I tend to allow my gut and common sense guide me on my way. But I'm sure open to ideas about how to be safer.... LB

[wingryder92]

Morning,
There is a device called "SPOT" that many other outdoor activities use, hikers, skiers, etc. There may be other brands out there but I'm familar with this one. Several of our friends who have traveled across the states have used it for family and friends to track their adventures and progress in their trip.

Fire arms can be a sticky subject when it comes to state lines. Not sure how the legal system looks at them crossing those state lines or if they were used in self defense in a state that you aren't licensed to carry. Some states honor the home state license and some don't.
Debra
HAVE A SAFE TRIP

[LeanneB]

Agreed on the firearms issue. I've always felt that carrying one can mean that it may be taken from you and used against you unless you have the training and experience to KEEP it. I'll take my chances without it.

And thanks for your input on PLBs. I'm considering a trip from CO to NC next summer, and thought it would be a good tool.

Have a great weekend.... LB

[wingryder92]

Leanne...we were looking at them...considering my little episode last week...and they had the "SPOT" ones on sale. Reg. $150 on sale for $99 with the rebate for the device and $99 a year for a year subscription. Website said it was a limited time. Suppose you could buy the device and wait until your trip to purchase the subscription for tracking. I'll be looking forward to hearing about your trip!
Debra
HAVE A SAFE RIDE

[Burgmanlady]

Mike has one, it works with his GPS. They also have one that goes on your arm. They are great, when you forget to let someone know where you are. He has his on his Facebook account.

[tlc]

I always carry but not to Canada. If I'm ever accosted they will play heck getting it away from me before I ventilate their carcass. I understand those that don't feel the same way as I do about guns but I would rather have one than be without. No one is going to do harm to me without getting a fight back. I've been there and don't plan on going there again.

I like the idea of the personal locator and from what we have read here this week by Debra they sure would come in handy. Don't some cell phones have them? I see some people that post on Facebook that they are this location with so and so.

Theresa

[LeanneB]

Great input from you all. And I appreciate it. I've been doing some research on the SPOT, and it seems that the subscription service can be problematic when you decide to discontinue it. But then that was just a single review, so I'll do more homework. The sale on the SPOT makes it a good investment, I think.

And re: guns, I think it's personal choice for sure. I think I'll go with pepper spray and an air horn. But that's just me!

And just a general comment here. It sure is nice to read the forum and hear you all encouraging each other and gathering good energy from each other. This is a fantastic find for me! Thanks for being who you all are. I'd love to meet up with each of you for a ride!! Keep the shiny side up. Leanne

[wingryder92]

Leanne..you mention the pepper spray. I've wondered about the bear spray...if it would be good to use in certain situations...say to keep in the bedroom or maybe in the car where the size of the can wouldn't be a problem. Bear spray is suppose reach about 20ft or more I think. I don't know how far the reg pepper spray will reach. It's a thought.

Last year when we were in Yellowstone we were sitting on one of the lake beaches having an ice cream when a mean older man walked up behind two young girls who were, maybe, about a 100 ft from us and sprayed pepper spray into the air. There was no reason for him to spray it so he was just being mean. Since we were down wind from them it didn't take long for it to get to us and boy did it create problems for me with the asthma and I continued to have problems for several hours. There was a woman sitting several feet behind the girls who had to be taken to the hospital because she had COPD and was having lots of breathing problems. The ranger came around and talked to all of us and said they were trying to catch this fella but so far hadn't. Said he'd done this several times at different times and places. Guess he just wanted to see people in pain.
Debra
HAVE A SAFE RIDE

[dbsteffy]

Hi Leanne, nice to see you're back in CO, is winter on it's way to AK? Personal tracking devises are getting popular, even a woman at work uses one when she is doing her master's research out in the woods, she swears by it, I know it's not the Spot, it's more like a hand held GPS.
Tell us where you've been riding.
Brenda

[ladyriders225]

I too are not much up for carring a gun. Never did and probably never will. And for the modern technology, I have not been sold on that either. I love the simple life, I do not use a GPS for directions or for some one to locate me. I read the map and write directions on a small piece of paper and tape it to my windshield...lol. I call home as I have cell reception when I travel alone to let the other half know I am ok. I may be sorry some day as I lay there alone along the road and wonder when the next person will go by and see me and that I need help. I guess I am from the old school and travel with faith in my back pocket! Anna