I very much enjoy going on solo adventures. Being in control of what I do, and when I do it has an allure to it that just can’t be beat. That being said, there are some adventures I end up deciding need to be done in pairs.
For example, I went for a walk in the woods last week and couldn’t shake the heebie jeebie feeling I had. The Blair Witch meets Micheal Meyers heebies.
This trail was new to me, and despite my desires to explore I was sucker punched with creepy vibes. Plus, at the entrance to the trail there was a cooler with “free cookies.” Any location giving free cookies can’t be trusted…cookies are too valuable.
This seems very, “come here little girl.”
I spent 45 minutes walking the trail and that was more than enough for me.
I saw some graffiti at the beginning of the trail was cool, though it did add to the creepy vibes. The heart above and this panda below were my favorite. I snapped some pics, moved my legs, and hightailed my fanny outta there.
I want to go back and finish the last little bit, but next time I’ll bring a friend. 😉
After leaving the woods, I lived up to my nickname of “Grandma B” and wandered some antique shops. I needed a soothing activity to balance out my adrenaline. I sound so dramatic.
Followed by a walk by the water.
A walk by an abandoned looking, yet fully lived in house with an odd rustic charm.
And a walk around the world.
Ah yes, my adrenaline balance had been restored.
Q: Do you like exploring the wilderness alone? I need a dog.
Blissfulbritt 
61 thoughts on “Safety First”
The Freckled Runner
haha! I agree about the caption under the cookie picture. That gave me a chuckle 🙂
Amy @ A Desert Girl
In general, I prefer to explore new places with a friend. If a place is familiar to me, I get fewer creepy vibes. But I am a huge advocate for listening to you gut feeling. I’m glad you didn’t explore too much on your own – and that you didn’t eat the free cookies. 😉 Love the antique store photos!
Nicole Marie Story
I am never alone. G money is my partner in exploration. 🙂
Shawna
YIKES in re: to the free cookies. not sure what kind of trip that might have sent you on. 🙂 i haven’t done any solo wood walking — being alone in NYC doesn’t actually mean you’re ever alone, so i always feel safe here. aka if i even thought about screaming, there’d be 25 people within 5 feet of me to save my life. 🙂 LOVE ANTIQUE SHOPS! let’s antique togetherrrrr!
Brittany
Deal, I wanna antique it up in NY!
Jessica
The free cookies are both alluring and terrifying…if I lived closer, I would absolutely join you!
B
The panda graffiti looks amazing. And I would 100% fall for free cookies. You’d never hear from me again.
Brittany
Bahaha, I admit I did open the cooler to look. Curiosity captured me. They didn’t look good so I left them. Thankfully. HA.
pickyrunner
I’ll go walk around in certain trails alone, but I think I’d be nervous to go too far into the woods. I don’t think I’ve ever really been “alone” though hiking. I’ve always gone with somebody but there’s something to be said for the peacefulness of alone time, only if you feel safe, obviously.
Claudia
Yes, I go trail running by myself quite often. I do not think it is the smartest thing to do and there were some creepy moments (a guy in a long coat, hat and goggles blocking my way on a foggy morning and things like that….). Before I go I always let my husband know where I will be and I take my cell phone with me. I also find it helps that I am tall and it’s a huge project to stuff a 6’3″ woman in a trunk….
A big no on the cookies, though – anybody who puts their cookies out on a trailhead instead of eating them themselves has a hidden agenda.
Brittany
You need to get yourself some handheld mace! I’m surprised you don’t have any, or do you?? That guy in the coat sounds WAYYY creepy, that would be enough for me to avoid the woods.
herbieontherun
I’d be too creeped out too to go into the woods by myself. The only trail we have around here are out of cell phone service range and they’re in a state park so I can’t carry my gun with me either. So I just don’t go! That thing with the cookies is just too freaky! No way I would have touched that with a 10-foot pole.
Laur
LOVE graffiti. I could look at it all day. I love when trains go by so I can look at all of the art. All of those people have a true talent!
Joe Newbold
It’s amazing the answers you can find that comes from solitude, but the love you can find when sharing an adventure is great too. Great snaps
allisonfiorini
OMG. Free cookies. Can we say, creepy?! That is so weird!! I would have been creeped out for sure!
Amy
Free cookies in a cooler??? That’s so creepy!! I’d be scared of getting drugged or something… I know I’m guilty of giving out free cookies, but at least I just hand them off to neighbors. 😉 I’m an old soul too — I’d have so much fun wandering around antique shops and nature with you!
harveylisam
Haha so weird about the cookies. I’d be a little on edge too, walking through the woods on my own. But I’m with you – usually I’m all about the solo adventures.
Aja
I would also be very creeped out. You lasted a lot longer than I would have!
Amanda @ .running with spoons.
You always find the coolest places to go off and adventure in… although I hear ya on the creepiness factor. I love exploring on my own, but I’m also not the biggest fan of asking for trouble. Ditto on the dog — wanna go puppy shopping with me?
Brittany
Fingers crossed you won’t be exploring Ohio alone in September…wink wink, nudge nudge.
Kate Bennett
I too love solo adventures, but I know the feeling of when all of a sudden I feel like I’m a horror movie. It looks like a cool spot you found though!
Jessica @ VEGGIE RUNNING MOMMA
Grandma B, haha love the nickname.
butttt, yea, you should get a dog. Maybe the doggy would get along with your cat. 🙂
I would have totally tried the cookies, I just can’t say no to free cookies. lol
Ellie
You could bring your cat with you 😉 I like to walk around my town and the gorges near my house. I’m not really afraid of meeting anyone unlucky because I honestly believe most people would leave me alone. I consider myself plain, so I would probably be mistaken for a tree hahaha
P
I had a similar experience when walking to get to a race start a couple months ago. There was this tunnel that had murals and art, but the location of it was pretty sketch…under an overpass, and in a pretty secluded area…I was a bit trepeditious about going through it but I had to in order to get to the race on time haha.
peanutbutterandellie
Great pictures! I love alone adventures too 🙂
FREE COOKIES!? Were they vegan? Probably not. That’s nice, but who knows what’s in those cookies!!!
Josh dV
I love exploring the wilderness alone or with a friend. Generally I’m off on my own and it is something I never think twice about as a man. I’ve gone down dark alleys in third world countries completely inebriated without thinking twice. Not because I am immune from danger, but because I’ve never been taught to be on my guard as I should be. Asd I would teach my daughters.
That being said …free cookies are tempting. And I want a dog to run with too. For the bears.
Brittany
I do think men have it a bit easier wandering alone, but that could be completely biased of me. If I were a man I think I would feel safer, then again I am not a man so I really don’t know haha. I would want a dog for the animals too, more so for that than other humans.
therfpscribe
No I totally agree that blokes definitely have it easier on this one. I have been followed several times while out alone, and I doubt it would have been the case if I were a man.
Bradley on the Run
I did a run in Gatineau, Quebec just before the Ottawa Half. I was fine until I ended up under the highway in a graffiti covered tunnel. It was s beautiful, sunny day – but I certainly picked up the pace to get outta there!!
And no to free cookies! Unless they were chocolate chip…???
Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy
I like exploring by myself, but even that would have creeped me out. Who gives away free cookies?! People with sinister intentions, that’s who!
Kayse
I would’ve been creeped out by the free cookies, too. Usually when our intuition says to get out of somewhere, it’s right. I think it’s important to be really aware when we’re alone… Like when I camped by myself over the weekend… There was a man down by the beach that gave me the creeps real bad when I pulled up in my car and I had to walk past him to get to the beach. So, I locked my car doors, put my knife in my pocket and grabbed a whistle, and I waited till a group of kindly looking people were on their way down to the beach and walked down with them. Overall, awesome solo camping trip, but also I was totally thinking I’d feel a little better if I had a dog by my side.
Brittany
I’ve become very in tune with my inner voice, almost TOO in tune. I’d still be way creeper to camp alone, you are one brave soul my friend!
jennifer prod
you’re weary of the cookies while i would just run over and eat them all and then probably bake some anew and replenish the stock ❤
Christina Does It All
Was about to reply something similar when I saw your comment. Totes ENFP style 😉
karla @ finding my fit
free cookies could be one of two things–laced with the mary-jane or a lure to snatch up pretty ladies 😉
i want a dog sooo bad. i’m dog watching the mister’s right now and have for past month. the thought of giving him back in a week is killing me slowly.
Jane Likes to Run
Those cookies are totally creepy! You do need a dog! That’s what I do. although the dog is usually more nervous than me in those situations!
stateeats
Hi Britt – I am not a big fan of solo outdoor adventures. I worry about the 2 footed animals way more than the 4 footed ones. Kudos to you for listening to your gut which I think serves most women well … if we listen – Kat
manonplatje
I love to wander around solo too and am not easily scared, but free cookies in a cooler? Yikes!
I remember one time in New Zealand I was walking around the town after dark. I walked past this little park and kept hearing this noice. It literally sounded like someone was creepily laughing at me. It was the fastests I’ve ever walked… The next day I learned that it was probably a possum making the noice, nasty little bastards!
Brittany
HA, oh man animal noises are CREEPY!
An Unrefined Vegan
Imperative to listen to your instincts. We have ’em for a reason! So good on you for taking heed. Have to say, the cookie thing is quite strange. Who in their right mind would eat one?!
Christina Does It All
I was totally going to say I’d probably eat those cookies before seeing Jenn’s comments. HA you’ll probably live much longer than us. 😉
Christina Does It All
PS Lovely photos, as always.
Change of Pace
Always listen to your intuition- I think it’s a powerful thing!
I got the major heeby jeeby’s the other week when i was trail running alone. I always go alone, but this particular time I got freaked out. I couldn’t have ran back to civilization fast enough!
Such beautiful photos! The house is pretty, but I feel like it would be haunted for sure.
Heather
I’d be scared to go at it alone. My vote is def to get a dog 🙂 And the cookies- you hit the nail on the head… creepy! BUT not gonna lie, I probably would’ve taken one and ate it a home just in case.
Brittany
I DID look in the cooler, but they didn’t even look good.
di @ life of di.
‘Free Cookies’ – WTF? That is definitely a tad creepy. I think it’s time to start walking with pepper spray (if you don’t already.) I’m glad you were able to walk while still being discerning of your surroundings! I hate that we have to feel skeptical or nervous when out on our own but there are just so many freaks out there. Ugh.
Also – that graffiti is really cool. I love the panda!
Brittany
Oh yes I always bring my mace with me! Haha.
Rach @ This Italian Family
Yes! You definitely need a dog! Sometimes it makes me sad that there is such a terrible stereotype about pitbulls, but sometimes I’m a little okay with it. Like when Oreo and I are hiking a trail and some creepy guy gives me the eye… and then leaves me alone because my dog is lunging at him on the leash. 😉
thehipandthrifty
Firstly, beautiful pics…you took some really interesting shots there! Secondly, yeah…free cookies at the beginning of a secluded trail though the woods? That sounds really bad…good thing you trusted your gut on that one. That isn’t near a school zone or anything, is it? Maybe you should call it in to the local police station in that area; even though a few days have passed since then, it can’t hurt…
Brittany
Not near school thankfully, good thought and idea though!
GiGi Eats Celebrities
You are my twin, so you know the answer to that. I have ZERO problem exploring the world with you though, because you are me, so it would be just perfection, because we love the same things and can read each other’s minds! ha ha ha! In fact, you + me in Taiwan would have been fucking amazing… We need to PLAN OUR REUNION – NOW!!
Brittany
So much yes about this comment. I secretly (or not so secretly?) wished I WAS WITH YOU in Taiwan. So jealous.
Lucie Elizabeth (@CollectingLight)
Free cookies? Jesus, I dont know if thats cute or weird! Not sure if I could do the whole “walking in the woods” alone! Alone given your experience, I think youre pretty safe!
Arman @ thebigmansworld
I’ll go hiking with you AND eat those free cookies 😀
Jess @hellotofit
Omg free cookies in the cooler might be the creepiest things I’ve ever seen!!
The Vegan 8
Ok, seriously, can you imagine what kind of poison potion was in those cookies….like some freak put them there hoping people would eat them and then pass out…omg, lol! I would never eat “free cookies” either! I’m super amazed at how brave you are too. I’m way too much of a wuss to go on any alone hikes. I do, however, love to travel alone. I did that many times when I was single and not married. I loved going to other states to travel and not be bothered by anybody and could march to the beat of my own drum. It wouldn’t be as much fun nowadays though because I’d miss my daughter too much.
50statecanuck
Free Cookies??? Ughhhhhh!!!
Great pics!!
wePhilistines
that house looks super cool
Meghan@CleanEatsFastFeets
When you get those creepy heebie jeebie vibes, you listen. Your intuition is telling you something and in this case, I’m glad you hightailed it out of there. The graffiti was cool though.
Also mental note: Britt needs to balance out her adrenaline rushes with something other than caffeine. I can do that. 🙂
Sophie33
A lovely post, my friend! I found that you were very brave walking alone so far! That house looked a bit creepy! I think you should get a lovely dog! 😉
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