I'm with Tim and Chuck. Roughing it means Motel 6.
John,About a year ago, I found this:
http://www.go-faster.com/SS100.html
I understand folks desire to 'camp out' and I'm guessing on long trips it must save a lot of money. The only thing I've done on multiple day trips is to stay at a nice motel/hotel and I can't see that I'm going to change much. I liked your last post as that's about where I'm at.
Terry
Since I like to camp as much as I like to ride, I'll do it every chance I get. On last year's 2-week Canada trip, only 3 nights were spent in motels. It was considered the most successful ever.
We don't do it in an effort to save money. I think that anyone who camps with that as their prime motivation, and would otherwise motel it, will spend a lot of time being miserable. Properly gearing up is an expensive proposition and to do it right (comfortably), you also have to spend time at it. Time spent pitching and tearing down is time not on the road.
I see it a lot like riding motorcycles. If you're not really into it already, you probably shouldn't do it just to try to save money. If you find yourself riding in the rain and envy those that you see riding dry and warm in their cars, then motorcycling is probably not for you in the first place. If you are looking for a spot to lie down and you find yourself wishing that you could just check into a room and crash, then you probably should just do that.* If you force yourself to sleep on the ground for the sake of 20 or 50 bucks, you will not be a happy camper.
* Sometimes I feel that way too. As much as I love to camp, I am, after all, a grown-up with a credit card and if I've been riding in the rain and see myself setting up camp, cooking and eating and packing in the rain, I'll sureashell get a room too. There's no shame in that. I'm an outdoorsman, not a masochist.
I'm not a camper and prefer motels - the Army broke me from liking to sleep on the ground.
Well said.
I'm not a camper and prefer motels - the Army broke me from liking to sleep on the ground. :tongue:
I have that same issue. I never wake up at home and have to go pee but for some reason I almost always wake up in my tent and have to go RIGHT NOW! There is a way to take care of that without leaving the tent, or even sitting up. When you get good at it, you can just roll over onto your side, carefully put the receptacle into position, and let fly. After a little practice, you don't even need to turn the light on.? The biggest problem I had with camping was my limited bladder capacity. Still working on a good solution to that one.
As for the time it takes to setup/break down camp, I bet I can do that faster that most take to check in at a hotel so I'm on and off the road faster IMO..
Ha! I wish. We maximalists are a different breed. Mostly we envy your type but we can't help it.
I also agre with what Ripshod said prior to this.
My one comment here is that Army camping and recreational camping are two VERY different things. If you intend to camp, spend the money, get good quality gear, practice and ENJOY.
BTW, the best camping bed I ever had was a good oldfashioned rubberized fabric air mattress. I could adjst it from soft to firm as I needed, it was thick enough to keep me off the ground and DRY. Used that thing for 12 years and have yet to find a suitable replacement.
When you guys go "maximalist camping"...what number do you set your Sleep Number bed at?
Chris
100 until it blows up.When you guys go "maximalist camping"...what number do you set your Sleep Number bed at?
Chris
Here are a couple photos of a DR lightly loaded for an extended trip with camping. The bike didn't really handle differently with this light load. I spent a lot of time on curvy mountain roads and places like Sonora pass in California were very twisty. Times like that I was very happy to be on a light nimble bike.
Top dry bag contained tent and camp chair.
Yellow top box was lockable and had clothes, Ipad, and anything I needed fast access too.
Right pannier had riding gear and tools, plus some extra water.
Left Pannier had camping gear, extra tubes/tire irorns. and snacks.
Everything I needed and very little I did not.