In all the recent mass shootings I've seen in the news lately, every shooter "owned" his gun.Rather futile to carry an unloaded gun . Besides if it's your day to die . Regardless of what you do or how often you worry . Death comes on your appointed day and time . And worrying changes the outcome of nothing . Other then possibly your general health while you wait to die .
Gun Lovers are usually collectors . The vast Majority who carry daily whether concealed or open . Are well trained and usually at least average in marksmanship. And nobody in their right mind shoots at something in the bushes . And if it's a bear even more so . All you'd do is piss it off .
People who carry guns aren't going to shoot you to win an argument . To even suggest that sounds like you are influenced by leftest ideology . People who carry guns aren't hot headed as a rule . We are the level headed calm one in an argument . After all we have a gun
Your thinking appears to be based on misinformation that you constantly hear from the Media . Who are pushing a political agenda/ When I was in High School . Almost every guy had a Gun under his seat at school. If he had a pickup he had a rifle or Shotgun in the window . Far more people had guns 50 years ago then today . Gun-Owners aren't the dangerous one . Nor are they carrying hoping to shoot into bushes
I stupidly left a bungee hanging down by my rear wheel, which sucked it up immediately. Luckily I had my trusty lock-back knife to cut it free.My preferences was either the very smallest Swiss Army Knife or a very small locking blade knife.
T-rex sized chickens?Native snakes are on my 'do not kill" list( our chickens like small snakes, mice, frogs, etc= no wonder they figure T-Rex tasted like Chicken, one bellow from a T-Rex was sure to cure constipation( if there were any Humans around) I am glad there are not T-rex sized chickens at large. Sorry about the 'tangent".
Doh... repeat post...Native snakes are on my 'do not kill" list( our chickens like small snakes, mice, frogs, etc= no wonder they figure T-Rex tasted like Chicken, one bellow from a T-Rex was sure to cure constipation( if there were any Humans around) I am glad there are not T-rex sized chickens at large. Sorry about the 'tangent".
Mine too.Native snakes are on my 'do not kill" list
I get all that. I do. And I'm sensitive to that point of view, up to the point I'm putting my pets at risk. And I'm not going to take the time to catch and release pit vipers. The risks just aren't worth it, to me anyway, As for us being in their space, I really get that too. Me and my pets are allowed to have some space too though. That doesn't mean I'd kill all the elephants in Africa if that's were I lived. Pit vipers are another thing though, but I know that can be argued.One guy around here will actually catch copperheads and relocate them, like rattlers they are endangered. Copperhead bites usually are not that bad on dogs, I laid my arm an a 3 ft long copperhead onetime,He easily could have bitten, was bitten once by something that didn't give me the "full dose" we are actually trespassers on the animal's range. I have live trapped and relocated many different animals,, not that much trouble. I never sense any real danger around my house and will not kill them, over my 20 plus years at this location never had to blow any little brains out. I had my fill of Dogs a long time ago, I do love them, will never own another. Have never seen the need for a Horse, OTH I have had the pleasure of being around and riding Horses, a good Horse is surely a treasure, as are good Dogs, the only problem I have with Dogs is that I see them as sentient beings and I grieve a long time when one of my canine friends die. I suppose I shouldn't the energy of the spirit just goes into something else.
Sound advice. The best way out of a bad situation is to avoid it in the first place, but the reality is that trouble can happen anywhere and mental illness isn’t isolated to cities and bad neighborhoods, (nice guy, kept to himself, always paid his bills on time….).Back to the OP and the original post...... I believe @6zfshdb had great, internal Situational Awareness instincts as to what he came upon on that remote trail ride. To be dismissive of that kind of encounter would be foolish. Especially today, when homeless (with any kind of human behavorial issues) can be found anywhere, alongside the mentally ill or drug addicted, it has to be taken under consideration. The northern reach of the Lock 1 portion of the Delaware Raritan Canal towpath that I often ride, ends in the outskirts of urban Trenton, NJ. Urban Trenton is, per capita, a dangerous place. That fact of the matter has to always be taken into consideration when venturing up in that area. A cinder towpath surrounded by woods and the abandoned D&R Canal. Several years ago, on this northern reach, riding alone, north to my turnaround point; I came upon a lone guy walking southbound. I thought it odd, he was wearing what appeared to be a skin-colored one-piece body suit.....until I got closer and realized it wasn't a body suit..... Long blonde, straggly hair. My first thought was meth-head. Situational Awareness kicking in. SA made me determine quite quickly he wasn't carrying any hidden weapons (lol), so I came back to him and kinda "talked" to him about putting some clothes on. I continued on back to Lock 1 and in doing so, I was concerned about any kids working their way on bikes towards him, luckily there were no kids out but there was an older couple, whom I advised of what was walking their way, a bit further up, on the trail..... Reached the local police station and reported my findings. Didn't like doing that, but the D&R Trail is not a clothing optional trail and children do bike it; as too, solitary women of all ages.
On the other side of the Delaware River, across from my homestate D&R Canal, is the D&L Canal. And I can tell you that within the reach from Morrisville, PA, south to Bristol PA, there are homeless encampments in the wood alongside the trail. Add into the mix that this canal is some 20 odd miles from Philadelphia and the crime/drugs/homeless situation that has spread beyond that troubled city's border, into small areas like Bristol and Morrisville. It's a very real fact of life around here, anymore.
Ongoing right now in Indiana, is an arrest in the murders of two young girls, out walking the remote Monon High Bridge Trail. Situational Awareness made one of the girls photograph their soon-to-be assailant, walking on the bridge, towards them. She also captured his voice, forcing them to go "down the hill". Heartbreaking. Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murders_of_Abigail_Williams_and_Liberty_German But that trail that they were walking on looked no different that the D&R trail I ride on. You have to be aware. You have to heed those senses within that say....."hold off". You have to give yourself an out.
I don't want anyone to misunderstand my own use of Situational Awareness in the areas I ride in NJ or PA. It's not at all about being some fearful, quivering paranoid worried about every encounter I come upon in my rides. Not at all. Situational Awareness just means that I quickly size up anything coming upon me in any ride, at any time. As simple as a constant look in my rear view mirror to the cars & trucks coming upon behind me as it is surveying the road way in front of my tires for nails, glass, potholes and other debris. That Situational Awareness changes when I get in an area like that northern reach of the D&R for anything ahead of me and alongside me within the woods to my right and left.
Wildlife encounters in my riding areas are not potentially fatal as they are, say in the Pacific Northwest within Cougar country; or in areas of Montana within Grizzly country. Situational Awareness is a condition that is to be adapted to the physical surroundings you are in. It's not strictly confined to just human encounters.
Be nice. Be respectful and courteous. But if ever or whenever you are in doubt......get out. Give yourself that out.
There was a nice gentleman that lived up the street from my grandfather. Everyone in the neighborhood knew him. Always helped people out when he could. Got arrested, he was a mob hitman.Sound advice. The best way out of a bad situation is to avoid it in the first place, but the reality is that trouble can happen anywhere and mental illness isn’t isolated to cities and bad neighborhoods, (nice guy, kept to himself, always paid his bills on time….).
I used to ride that section of the D&R with my brother who lives near Princeton. We now avoid the trail in the Trenton area for the reasons you mention. Too many seedy characters walking around. Even the northern section of the D&R around New Brunswick is getting unpleasant.Back to the OP and the original post...... I believe @6zfshdb had great, internal Situational Awareness instincts as to what he came upon on that remote trail ride. To be dismissive of that kind of encounter would be foolish. Especially today, when homeless (with any kind of human behavorial issues) can be found anywhere, alongside the mentally ill or drug addicted, it has to be taken under consideration. The northern reach of the Lock 1 portion of the Delaware Raritan Canal towpath that I often ride, ends in the outskirts of urban Trenton, NJ. Urban Trenton is, per capita, a dangerous place. That fact of the matter has to always be taken into consideration when venturing up in that area. A cinder towpath surrounded by woods and the abandoned D&R Canal. Several years ago, on this northern reach, riding alone, north to my turnaround point; I came upon a lone guy walking southbound. I thought it odd, he was wearing what appeared to be a skin-colored one-piece body suit.....until I got closer and realized it wasn't a body suit..... Long blonde, straggly hair. My first thought was meth-head. Situational Awareness kicking in. SA made me determine quite quickly he wasn't carrying any hidden weapons (lol), so I came back to him and kinda "talked" to him about putting some clothes on. I continued on back to Lock 1 and in doing so, I was concerned about any kids working their way on bikes towards him, luckily there were no kids out but there was an older couple, whom I advised of what was walking their way, a bit further up, on the trail..... Reached the local police station and reported my findings. Didn't like doing that, but the D&R Trail is not a clothing optional trail and children do bike it; as too, solitary women of all ages.
On the other side of the Delaware River, across from my homestate D&R Canal, is the D&L Canal. And I can tell you that within the reach from Morrisville, PA, south to Bristol PA, there are homeless encampments in the wood alongside the trail. Add into the mix that this canal is some 20 odd miles from Philadelphia and the crime/drugs/homeless situation that has spread beyond that troubled city's border, into small areas like Bristol and Morrisville. It's a very real fact of life around here, anymore.
@6zfshdb, the D&R section I refer to starts at Lock 1 in Bordentown and ends at Lamberton Road/Duck Island. It's only about 4 miles from both end points. At Lamberton Road, the D&R as you know, was filled in and highways built atop it. It requires alot of street running to access the D&R feeder as well as the main stem of the canal that runs up to Princeton, New Brunswick, etc. I will not do that street running to find the main stem entrance; it's just too risky.I used to ride that section of the D&R with my brother who lives near Princeton. We now avoid the trail in the Trenton area for the reasons you mention. Too many seedy characters walking around. Even the northern section of the D&R around New Brunswick is getting unpleasant.
We now confine our rides on the D&R to between Bridgewater and the I-295 overpass in Lawrence Twp. We do the D&R feeder canal section along the Delaware From Frenchtown down to the I-295 bridge.
I haven't noticed any undesirable activity on the D&L but I rarely get south of Yardley.
Never pull a gun unless you are willing to use it. Hopefully, the pick-up driver learned a lesson. I’m glad that the situation didn’t escalate. Stay safe and please use discretion.I had a nasty road rage encounter today with a motorists.
I was riding on 25 mph road occupying
the lane near an intermediate school and some jerk with a jacked up chevy pickup blew his train air horn. I was startled so I moved to my right on the buffer bike lane.
The driver slowed down to my speed 25 mph shouting obscenities. He sped up but at the next red light I caught up to him and tap his window with my Glock.
He quickly change his attitude rolled his window down and apologized saying Sorry Uncle I'm rushing to get to my job.
Around here everyone is Uncle or Aunty if they older looking than you.
I'm the OP of the thread and I don't want to turn it into a handgun referendum but I feel I should express my thoughts.Never pull a gun unless you are willing to use it. Hopefully, the pick-up driver learned a lesson. I’m glad that the situation didn’t escalate. Stay safe and please use discretion.