THE COMFORT LADEN MOTORCYCLE CAMPER by I. JASH
Several years ago, CF and I sallied forth on our very first big motorcycle
touring adventure. We had a motorcycle--we had camping gear. How hard
could this be? Here's a list of our gear:
A pup tent (the $19.95 kind that feels like you slept under
Niagara Falls, when you wake up in the morning! To avoid being
soaked by the condensation, you need to dress outdoors!)
2 sleeping bags (Sears'best--no matter how hard you try, they pack
down to a respectable 3 foot diameter!)
2 inflatable, vinyl air mattresses--again, the finest Sears had)
A 6-inch fan
25 ft. of electric cord
a mechanic's "trouble lite"with a yellow bulb
plenty of clothes and toilet accessories
No stove or cookware, since there wasn't room for it. All this we piled onto the
luggage rack of a 1979 Yamaha XS1100 and off we went! Can you say "Top
Heavy"? The twisty roads were NOT fun on that trip.
Camp settup took eons. (And we were both blue around the gills by the time
the matttresses were inflated!) By morning all our good air was gone and we
were sleeping on a sheet of vinyl on the ground. Packing up the next morning
wasn't fun either, since the entire collection was held in place by ROPES! How
we survived this trip, I do not know. Why we wanted to go again is beyond me.
Eventually, through much research and advice from folks we camped around,
we learned a few things. We gradually upgraded to the point where we rarely
are tempted to buy any new camping gear! We learned the meanings of
'comfort' and 'convenience'. To travel 2-up on a bike and camp in comfort,
takes some doing. You have to think small! And light-weight. Consulting
backpacking experts helped a lot. Now that we have the option of traveling
on 2 bikes, or 2-up with a trailer, life is much simpler, but the gear is
basically the same.
Sleeping is a very important part of happy camping. A therm-a-Rest,
self-inflating mattress is a must. These can be purchased in
most major camping stores and range in price from about $40.00 for the
narrowest, 3/4 length model with 1" of closed cell foam inside, to about
$100.00 for the CampRest Deluxe, which is the widest, longest, thickest
model. Packed sizes range from 5"x 11" to 7"x26", and weigh in from 14 oz.
to 3#13 oz. Any model is an improvement over the "you-inflatum" variety,
since all you do is open a valve and throw your mattress into the tent.
Close the valve at bedtime (adding a puff or 2 if you like) and sleep.
They're tough, they insulate from the cold ground, they last, and if you
have any trouble with them, just send them to the manufacturer for repair,
or sometimes a free replacement! To be truly comfortable in any kind of
weather, you need a GOOD sleeping bag. It has to be lightweight and very
compressible and able to insulate you in the kind of weather you encounter
most often. Down is our favorite. It's the most expensive, of course, but
well worth the money. There are also some very good synthetic bags, which
cost nearly as much. It's a matter of personal preference. Add to that a
lightweight Polar Fleece bag liner and you're ready for anything!
Now, about tents! All things considered (ie. price, availability, ease of use,
etc.), we prefer Eureka! brand. There are really cheap knock-offs, but
don't be fooled. You get what you pay for. The tent we prefer for all
around use, is the 4 Season Alpenlite model, in a 2 or a 3 person size.
This tent will keep you dry in wet weather, warmer in cold weather, cooler
in hot weather, pack down to a tiny bundle, set up in a jiffy, and even
come with an attached vestibule, for extra gear storage. The 1996 model,
3-person, could be bought for about $240--this year's model is slightly
more expensive and has a few improvements. Check your Campmor catalog
for details.
Once you have acquired the above mentioned gear, you can begin to
elaborate. You'll need a good stove, that handles the kind of cooking you
intend to do. For some, a simple Sterno stove will heat water to add to
dehydrated everything. Others want more. Most of us own several stoves,
just like we own more than 1 tent! Light at night can be very important. A
good flashlite is easy. If you want more, pick up a candle lantern and a
few spare candles. Don't be fooled by the cheapy version in most department
stores, that uses tea lights. They slop hot wax at the slightest
provocation and are a waste of money. Check into the UCO Deluxe Candle
Lantern. It packs down to 4 1/2" x 2" and opens up to 6 1/2" long. The
candles for it will give you 6 to 8 hours of burn time, so you won't have
to carry many spares. At about $14.00, these lanterns are a great source of
just enough light, and there are accessories that can be added to make them
even more handy. We carry 2 of them at all times, and have for years.
Another "must have" is a water bag. We prefer the nylon variety, with the
vinyl, replaceable liner. It's easy to fill, holds 3 gallons of water,
folds down to nothing for packing and can be used as a shower, with the
adaptor nozzle, or as a pillow! Now, there are many other "Nice to Have
Along" items, but if I have to pack light, and in a hurry, the above, plus
clothes, toilet articles, maps, instant food, and my teakettle will see me
through, and make a fun adventure even more pleasant.
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