If someone has already posted this story hope the mods will delete this

This make me so friggin pizzed!

https://www.morningsun.net/news/20160702 ... body-found

In the wake of this unnecessary tragedy and in Larry's memory its a good time to reflect on good touring safety. This country, more so then ever before, has become extremely predatory. Carried and concealed tips the scale but being proactive in being aware of your surroundings can help minimize the risks.

Some suggestions I have from my experience is (I'm traveling with just my wife so I am super cautious and vigilant, more so than when by myself):

* always be aware of my surroundings. I'm not gonna care if I fit in. I'm not even gonna try. If I find myself in less the acceptable conditions/environment I'm outty.A good run is better then a bad stand

*when ending a day near a big city I'll push thru and past the big city by 10-20 miles before I pick a hotel

*Hotels..stay away from the sketchy flea bag hotels. They attract low life undesirable's. Days Inn, Hotel 6 and even some Quality Inns have exuded such sketchiness. We were pulled over 10 miles off the interstate following a Quality In sign only to have been lead to a very small town and the hotel way back in the woods. Even though it was raining hard I was outty. Went down the interstate another 20-30 miles and found a Holiday Inn Express in a populated, well lit decent part of the town

* don't take a stranger on face value. Be polite, reciprocate pleasantries but don't drop your guard. Don't get socially engineered. We stopped at a gas station just outside the Delaware water gap NP. Got gas pulled over to the side (me and my wife) to rest, hydrate etc... This guy pulls up in a truck with a camper on the top of the bed and makes a bee line for us. Just as chatty as he could be. Big over bearing slob of a guy. A little to familiar and a little to friendly. Making suggestions that was inserting himself into our day. We declined and as he headed into the store we headed out. Another time we were already in a Holiday Inn and it was a apparent there were a handful of cable runners staying there too. I happened out side for a smoke and one of the workers was out there with an ice cold case of Budweiser. He offered me one I accepted and was grateful. We exchanged chit chat about where we're from and what we're doing. Typical friendly travel banter, small talk. Still I didn't over stay my welcome or try to mooch another beer.

*Ask to park your bike under the over hang that extends from the front entrance. More often then not they let you.

*Bottom line if given the choice of being to paranoid or to friendly I'm picking paranoid. I got enough friends.
__________________

Good advice RC