Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/16971
Risky Business by JAMES JONES N.C. is a beautiful state with mother nature providing us a playground for just about any activity we want to do. This time of the year we are out motorcycling, boating, kayak- ing, canoeing, camping, rock climbing, hiking, mountain biking, 4-wheeling, ATVing, parachuting, hunting or fishing. I’m sorry if I’ve missed your particular thing but there are so many things to do here. These activities come with risk. Anything from hitting a tree, getting lost, turning upside down to being pulled under- water by that big catfish are real risks. To mitigate our risk we take our cell phones. Our phones are bundled with a lot of tools that provide communi- cations, navigation and location capabilities. However, these types of activities and the locations that we do them in, very likely do not have the cell phone infrastructure required for them to be reliable in the event of an emergency. Let’s say you are out in the woods and something happens to you or a friend and you have no cell phone coverage. How long will it take you to reach help? What if you had to leave them to get help and you don’t remem- ber their location to tell a 911 operator where you left them? Would you be able to find your way back? Let’s be honest, after a few minutes moving through the woods, on the water or on the road getting lost is pretty easy. This year my friends and I were planning a long and potentially danger- ous trip. We looked at satellite phones but they are extremely expensive. Then I saw the SPOT Personal Tracker. The SPOT is a satellite transponder that covers all of the U.S. Once purchased a subscription is required to activate the device. There are several types of services available. When you register online it will ask you questions about you, your health and your emergency contact information. The device is only a one-way communications device and has several buttons to activate the different features. In the event you press the S.O.S. button the SPOT operator notifies local authorities of your location and any special instructions you may have. SPOT will also contact whomever you have on your contact list. The device will also allow you to set up non-emergency notification alerts. These features are very handy for keeping family and friends updated on your progress. The “OK” button sends your contacts a text and/or email with a preloaded message you compose online ahead of time. There are other features and models that are rolling out. The device itself starts at $169 online or at retailers. RAM Mounts makes a nice variety of mounts that fit on just about anything you own. The SPOT is not 100 percent reliable because the device must have an un-obstructive view of the satellite and it is not self-activating. If something happens to you and you can’t activate it, it is pretty much just material for a Darwin Award. If you are soloing on any of these kinds of activities your risk just went up. You shouldn’t be doing anything risky without a friend. A friend will lower some of your risk but you can lower it even more with a SPOT and by telling them where it is and how to use it in the event something happens. The SPOT will give you and your family a little peace of mind when you are out having fun. If you would like more information or to find a local retailer the website is www.findmespot.com. If there is a topic that you would like to discuss you can contact me at motorcycle4fun@aol.com. RIDE SAFE! JAMES JONES, Contributing Writer COMMENTS? 484-6200 ext. 222 or editor@upandcomingweekly.com 22 UCW SEPTEMBER 29 - OCTOBER 5, 2010 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM SEPTEMBER 29 • MYRTLE BEACH FALL BIKE RALLY Sept. 29 - Oct. 3. www.cfhog.com for more info. OCTOBER 1-3 • HURRICANE ALLEY FALL BIKE RALLY at Myrtle Beach Harley-Davidson. www. myrtlebeachharley.com (843) 369-5555 OCTOBER 3 • CAPE FEAR HOG RIDE. Depart from the BP gas station on Bragg Boulevard and Sycamore Dairy at 10 a.m. www.cfhog.com for more info. OCTOBER 16 • RIDE FOR THE CHILDREN POKER RUN sponsored by the VFW Ladies Aux Post 9103. Registration starts 10 a.m. First bike out at noon. $20 per bike 50/50 raffle, food auction. 436-3885. OCTOBER 22 • SANDHILLS BIKE FEST 2010 IN CAMERON N.C. Camping, bike show, trophies, live bands, vendors, bike games, karaoke. Norman 919-770-3380, Benefits Moore Co Rescue Squad, F.D. and Sheriffs Dept. PATRIOT GUARD RIDERS The Patriot Guard Riders is a diverse group of patriots from every state that come together to honor fallen soldiers at funeral services across the country. Visit www.patriotguard.org for more info. TUESDAYS BIKE NIGHT at Chili’s Grill and Bar in Southern Pines. Happy hour, drink and food specials. All bikes welcome. 4 p.m. to close. WEDNESDAYS BIKE NIGHT at Applebee’s, Cotton Square, Fayetteville, drink and food specials beginning at 7 p.m. All bikes welcome. Bucket Tuesdays 4 Domestics $7.00 Thirsty Thursdays $1.00 OFF Drinks For more information call LEGENDS at 4624 BRAGG BLVD.