I just completed a 6-week bicycle tour with my Dad. We visited 40 Missouri State Parks. We camped in the state parks and in one private campground.
Next summer I want to add to my collection of state parks and state historic sites by going around the perimeter of Missouri. While the first tour was designed to take advantage of the camping in state parks-- in fact, our tour was hosted by Missouri State Parks and we did not pay campground fees!-- this second tour will pick up 32 state parks & state historic sites most of which do NOT have camping. Therefore, I'll have to find other accommodations.

Also, my dad isn't joining me for this one. He is biking to Atlanta next summer. Plus, I want to do this one more freely, less structured, and he won't be comfortable not knowing where he's going to sleep that night.

My plan is to use warm showers and couch surfing, to ask at churches, fire stations, gas stations, and in a pinch, just ask a family if I can pitch a tent in the yard.
My question is about how I go about this, as a lone woman.
Now, I'm very intrepid and fearless and trusting. Yet I have my limits. On my 40 Missouri State Parks trip, I admit I was very concerned about getting hit by a car. I've taken the bike class, hell, I teach the bike class. I know all about traffic. But rural highways are just more dangerous. And, in 1400 miles of Missouri state highways, we had ZERO incidents.

So, I suspect that my fears about using warm showers, couch surfing, and asking if I can pitch a tent in the yard, will result in ZERO incidents and I will come away from this with an unshakable faith in humanity.

And yet-- my courage can use a little bolstering while I'm planning this trip. That's where you come in!
I would like you to tell me YOUR EXPERIENCES as a lone female using warm showers, couch surfing, and pitching a tent wherever. If there is anyone out there who has ever done such a crazy thing?
I would NOT like you to tell me what you THINK might happen, what you FEAR could happen, what you HEARD happened to some random stranger in a city 3 states away. (Unless those are happy warm feeling stories. Then you can tell me.) Please no fear mongering here! Go start your own thread for that

Thank you!