Journey to the Great Backyard
Figure out the campfire. Don’t have an in-ground fire pit? No worries! You can still enjoy hot dogs and s’mores with a charcoal grill or a store-bought fire pit. If you have enough room in your backyard, you could even try building a bonfire. Just make sure to check your city ordinances and get any necessary permits first. You can find advice for building the perfect campfire at REI.com/learn/expert-advice/campfire-basics.html. Remember: It’s okay to call it a night. For kids, the most exciting part of camping in the backyard is getting to sleep in a tent — that is, until they actually have to sleep. After stargazing, some kids will want to stay up all night whispering and giggling in the tent, and that’s great! But other kids might decide they’d rather sleep inside, and that’s okay too. Your camping trip isn’t a failure because everyone spent the night in their own beds. It’s not about where everyone sleeps; it’s about how much fun your family had together before bedtime. The best part of backyard camping? It doesn’t take a lot of planning. Just grab your gear and your family and hike out into the great backyard. • Avoid the “No-Zone” with trucks or buses — they cannot see you frommany areas. If you cannot see the driver in the truck’s rearview mirrors, they cannot see you. Also, remember trucks make wide right turns. • Follow this old saying: “If the roads are wet, then drive like it’s snowing. If the roads are snow-covered, then drive like they’re icy. If the roads are icy, then don’t drive.” • During inclement weather, if it is necessary to reduce one’s speed, the brake should be applied slowly without making sudden moves. When making sudden moves, it’s much easier to lose control of your vehicle. If you are the unfortunate victim of a crash, give us a call or go to our website at VanMeverenLaw.com for critical first steps to take and answers to important questions that arise following a crash. only. If not actively passing a vehicle, stay in the right lanes, allowing others to pass.
Summer is drawing to a close, but there’s still time to make some great memories. Camping trips are a summer staple. Fortunately, you don’t have to drive hours into the mountains to find the perfect campsite. Your backyard is right there waiting for you! Here are a few tips to help your family say farewell to summer with a perfect backyard camping trip. Pack for an authentic experience. Your back door is literally a few yards away, which can be great in the event of an emergency. But if the kids are running in and out of the house all night long, they might end up deciding they’d rather be inside playing video games after only an hour. Be sure to pack everything you would need if you were really going into the woods for the night so no one is tempted to go back inside. This means tents, sleeping bags, flashlights, pajamas, books, binoculars, a compass, water bottles, and a cooler of food with snacks
and dinner. Treat this like a “real” camping experience right from the beginning!
... Cover article continued • When driving on a two-lane road that allows parking on the right, stay toward the center line to allow for extra room in case someone opens their door and exits their vehicle in front of your car. This forethought will help prevent having to swerve to miss an opening door. If there is no parking allowed on the road, position your car toward the right to allow for more room between you and oncoming traffic. • Expect other drivers to make mistakes and think about what you would do if a mistake does happen. Be ready to react if another driver does not stop. • When traveling behind other vehicles, there should be at least a 4-second space between your vehicles. When the car in front of you passes a stationary object, slowly count to yourself. If you pass the object before the allotted time, you should back off. When traveling at night or in inclement weather, these times should be doubled. • Don’t talk on a cellphone while driving. Phones detract from your ability to concentrate on the road and increase your chances of a collision by nearly 400 • Be extremely patient and cautious around cyclists and give them at least 3 feet when passing.
percent. If you must use the phone, pull over to a safe, well-lit parking lot, and place your call there.
• When leaving for an out-of-town trip, be sure to give an itinerary to someone at home with the planned route, approximate time of arrival, and a contact number at your destination. Do not deviate from this plan without informing your at-home contact. If traveling a long distance, check in throughout the trip with a current location and any changes in your route or times.
• When being approached by an emergency vehicle, pull to the right shoulder of the road and stop.
• Carry all contact numbers that you may need, as well as emergency contact information, personal information, and any outstanding medical needs you may have, in an easy-to-find place in your vehicle. • Leave early and plan to arrive before the appointed time. Speeding does not increase your ability to arrive on time; it only increases your chances of getting in an accident.
• When traveling on a multiple-lane road or highway, keep in mind that the left-most lanes are for passing
–Bryan VanMeveren
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