Moto-Camping Lessons Learned?

[motospeed9058]

The last time I went moto camping, I had several lessons learned.
-4 man tent, TOO BIG!!! and too bulky!!!   Fixed, picked up a 2 man backpack tent  

-The ground, while grass, is still hard.    Fixed, picked up a self inflating sleeping pad  

-hhhmmmm, it's 11pm and I've got the munchies and this beer is not doing the trick.  Now what?  Fixed, picked up some protein type snack bars to throw in the luggage.  

-No need for a latern AND a flashlight, just takes up space and weight that could be used elsewhere. Fixed, pick one and go!  

This is just a couple of things.  Now that I'm planning my next trip, what are some of your pitfalls that you have experienced so that i can avoid the same?  

Thanks in advance!

 

[expatbrit]

Bring a headlamp. Incredibly, incredibly useful.

Have a warm enough sleeping bag; a liner may help with this.

Can't second enough the 'have a good, comfy, sleeping mat'. Big Agnes for me, integrated with the bag.

[bomber]

ear plugs.


Really.

Some campgrounds are unlabelled extensions of fraternity houses, and Garth will party on all night ;-}

[bluepoof]

In addition to what's already been mentioned:

* Baby wipes can be napkins, toilet paper, kleenex, face wipes, paper towels, ...... I keep a few in my toiletries bag and they're always a godsend.

* Silk PJs (I use silk long pants and a silk tank top) are a bazillion times better than cotton.  Warmer in cold weather and cooler in summer. Plus they pack down to nearly nothing.

* For cooking while camping:  JetBoil + www.trailcooking.com. Every recipe I've used from them has been tasty, easy to make with just the JetBoil, and the ingredients are easy to bring along in a saddlebag.

* Firestarters are love.  I make mine by packing sawdust into a cardboard egg carton and melting a candle over the whole thing.  Each firestarter takes up very little space and will start a great fire even if it's windy or slightly damp.

* This one is only for the girls, but I recommend a Freshette to every woman camper.  No need to be jealous anymore that the guys can just pee out of the tent at 3am instead of having to bundle up to trudge down the path to the restroom.

* If you get cold easily (I do!), I love Patagonia's down sweater jackets (this is the one I have, but they have men's versions as well).  With a base layer, it cuts out almost all of the wind, keeps me warm, AND it packs down really small in the luggage.

Also, a huge +1 to having a good sleeping pad.  I just got an Exped 9 downmat and, alone, it was just as comfortable as my previous combination of a LuxuryLite cot + 3" Thermarest.    

[Hodge Podge]

1. Establishing a system for packing the bike takes some trial and error. Pay attention to what you use the most and what you don't use, so you can pack frequently needed items where they are accessible and trim unused items from future trips.
2. Pack by category to minimize time searching for what you need--tent and camp gear in one bag, clothes in one bag, "on-bike" items like tools and rain gear in one bag
3. Once you settle on a "system" for packing, pack/load everything in the same order every time you break camp--helps to prevent losing or misplacing gear, since the process of packing is a built-in double check.
4. GIVI cases are as good at keeping liquids in as keeping rain out--they make a real handy improvised cooler.
5. Raccoons will sneak up to within 3' of you to take your dinner, if you're not paying attention.

[MK96xj]

ear plugs.

+1 An absolute if a good night sleep is in order.

- Good ground cloth for tent.
- On those protien bars. Don't be lazy after munching on them. Throw them out far from your tent. Ants have an increadable way of getting to anything. 3am is not the time to wake to their games
- A headlamp. Something that should alway keep on the bike in the tool kit.

[motospeed9058]

What about waterproofing while in transit.  Didn't have to worry about this the first time out, but I'm sure, now that I've said that, the next trip will be through the bottom of the Mississippi if you catch my drift.

Do you put stuff that would be strapped to the seat in one waterproof "something,"  or does each piece go in it's own waterproof "something".  

And what is that "something"?  I'm not so worried if it's a trash bag, but I'd like something a little more sturdy, so suggestions welcome.  Thanks.

[Hodge Podge]

I have waterproof hard cases, so most stuff is already addressed. For tankbag items, I picked up a couple small (<1L) laminated nylon drybags--often used for kayaking and rafting--at REI. I keep my wallet, cell phone, and camera in one, and anything else that needs to be kept dry (papers, etc) in the other. No need to waterproof my rain gear, water bottle, or Clif bars, so those stay loose in the tankbag.  

If you use a trash bag or Zip-Lock as the waterproof barrier, I recommend  it go inside a soft case/hard case/tank bag. That way, the durable bag contains everything, and all the water barrier has to do is keep stuff dry. Plastic bags rip pretty easily in sustained wind.

[Justin]

Nalgene bottle marked with a big X to avoid confusion. This is to be used for a pee bottle so you don't have to get out of the tent in the middle of the night after drinking your beer.

[expatbrit]

Anything (that I care about getting wet) not in the hardcases (e.g. 'the tent') goes in a drybag. The drybag gets strapped to the seat, if required.

[motospeed9058]

I have waterproof hard cases, so most stuff is already addressed.

Very True!  I'm on a Concours, so 2 side bags (not necessarily always waterproof) and a givi trunk which hasn't let me down yet.  However, i was contemplating strapping the tent, sleeping bag/pad, and a sports chair to the seat in front of the trunk.  Yes/No?  Any suggestions?

Also, as a side note, I just realized that I hadn't looked at Carolyns (bluepoof) website in quite sometime.  Great job with that, it is also a HUGE help.  Thanks.

[motospeed9058]

Anything (that I care about getting wet) not in the hardcases (e.g. 'the tent') goes in a drybag. The drybag gets strapped to the seat, if required.

What kind of dry bag do you use?  various sizes?

[Mr Sunshine]

I learned to bring my credit card and skip the camping bit. 

[Justin]

What kind of dry bag do you use?  various sizes?

I use a 30 Liter dry bag from REI. Big enough for my bed roll (pad, sleeping bag, etc)

[expatbrit]

What kind of dry bag do you use?  various sizes?

Yeah. I have a bunch; some Sea 2 Summit eVent, some Stoic, even a gigantic Outdoor Research one. Even inside the hardcases, I tend to pack in drybags (but use them as compression sacks so I have more space and just in case something happens). The smaller the better, IMO.

[Mrs. DantesDame]

* Firestarters are love.  I make mine by packing sawdust into a cardboard egg carton and melting a candle over the whole thing.  Each firestarter takes up very little space and will start a great fire even if it's windy or slightly damp.

Ooo - that's a good idea.  

[bomber]

What about waterproofing while in transit.  Didn't have to worry about this the first time out, but I'm sure, now that I've said that, the next trip will be through the bottom of the Mississippi if you catch my drift.

Do you put stuff that would be strapped to the seat in one waterproof "something,"  or does each piece go in it's own waterproof "something".  

And what is that "something"?  I'm not so worried if it's a trash bag, but I'd like something a little more sturdy, so suggestions welcome.  Thanks.

Figure out a way to segregate that that WILL be damp (ground cloth, rain fly, for instance) from stuff you want to keep dry (sleeping bag, tomorrow's socks, and pack that way . . .this may mean you have a couple-three bags . . . . . . . .

Me, I'd skip the chair the first couple of times out -- my rule of thumb is to NOT bring/purchase anything optional until I unconsciously reach for it three times. It's easy to wind up looking like somthing outa the Grapes of Wrath, and having stuff you don't need falling from the back of the bike at speed.

[1KPerDay]

My motocamping lesson: a good cheap motel beats just about any campground if you want to sleep.

[motospeed9058]

...my rule of thumb is to NOT bring/purchase anything optional until I unconsciously reach for it three times. It's easy to wind up looking like somthing outa the Grapes of Wrath, and having stuff you don't need falling from the back of the bike at speed.

Good point!!  

My motocamping lesson: a good cheap motel beats just about any campground if you want to sleep.

I like to learn things the hard way.  Glutton for punishment I guess.  

[bluepoof]

Also, as a side note, I just realized that I hadn't looked at Carolyns (bluepoof) website in quite sometime.  Great job with that, it is also a HUGE help.  Thanks.

Aww!