Safe travels?

[racerxmachina.livejournal.com]

I'm not certain if I posted it in my journal or someone's comments, but last year, I took to the very enjoyable habit of getting on the "wrong" bus and having a nice walk of about a mile back to my place. This worked out really well until the day that a man got off the bus the same time I did, went ahead of me by a shortcut, and intercepted me by a field and a culvert, where he asked me the kinds of questions that led me to believe he was up to something bad: where did I live, was I married, was I in a hurry to go someplace, etc. All "will you be missed if I abduct you" stuff. Creepy! I was sufficiently spooked to stop walking from that bus route and took the regular one ever since.
I'd like to do the walking again. Are there ways I can make sure I'm safe? A creek flows under the street, so no matter which side I'm on there's a wooded culvert to be cautious around.
I love walking after work, and I just hope that was a random occurence. What do you think?

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