| Camping on a motorcycle can present a real | | | | sleep in a Hennessey Hammock it's perfect in the |
| challenge, because you can't carry much weight or | | | | warmer weather and keeps the mosquitos away |
| volume, and there are few places to store your | | | | from you, so you get a good night's sleep. |
| equipment on a motor bike. | | | | Just carry enough food (and water) to make a |
| Most motor cycle riders use bags or panniers at the | | | | couple of hasty meals for when you're tired, cold and |
| back of their machines to hold the camping gear. | | | | hungry and miles from a diner or a McDonald's. |
| These have to be tough and waterproof - a bit like | | | | Then include a change of clothing and extra socks |
| their owners - to keep the camping equipment safe | | | | and underwear. Toilet kit - toothbrush, toothpaste or |
| from the weather. And you don't want anything | | | | powder, half a bar of soap (or a small cake or soap |
| coming loose and flying off either. It might cause an | | | | from a hotel), a small towel, comb, a few band aids, |
| accident and you could be held liable for damages - or | | | | some asprin or Tylenol pain killers, and any feminine |
| worse. | | | | hygiene stuff or prescription medicines needed. |
| With a truck or an automobile, you can put your | | | | Out in the country or on the interstate highways, the |
| camping gear on the inside. But with a motorcycle, it's | | | | larger gas stations that cater to truckers will have |
| got to be fitted pretty much on the outside of your | | | | hot showers as well. That can really refresh you if |
| machine. Some fancy fairings (wind breaks) have | | | | you've been camping away from the comforts of |
| small pockets, but they don't hold much camping gear | | | | home for a few days. Buy a meal there as well, to |
| at all. | | | | pay for the shower. |
| You can usually fit a large cube-shaped bag on the | | | | For camp lighting carry a small flashlight and / or a |
| rear luggage rack or pillion seat, and maybe a tank | | | | candle. Some will take a mechanic's 'trouble light' |
| bag on the motorcycle petrol tank, and that's it. | | | | which has a long cord and runs of the motorcycle's |
| Some bikes may have a couple of large panniers at | | | | 12 volt battery. If you're going to be in a |
| the back, like the leather saddlebags you see on | | | | campground with mains electricity, by all means carry |
| some Harleys, or the stylish 'fat briefcase' types you | | | | a mains-powered 'trouble light'. |
| see on a German BMW tourer. (I've always wanted | | | | These are the things a mechanic uses when crawling |
| one of those.) | | | | under your auto to inspect it at the garage. |
| All your camping gear has got to fit inside that limited | | | | Your motorcycle should already have it's own small |
| space, so camping on a motorcycles gives you the | | | | tool kit, but it could be wise to carry a spare |
| same kind of storage constraints as a backpacker, | | | | inner-tube and a pump. In case you get a flat tire 50 |
| except you can travel a lot faster than on foot. | | | | miles from nowhere. Here's where membership of an |
| Depending on whether you're riding the bike solo or | | | | auto club would be a good idea, just as carrying a cell |
| two-up, you'll want a small tent, sleeping bag (or | | | | phone (mobile phone) would also be cheap insurance. |
| bags), sleeping pad(s) between you and the ground, | | | | The only other thing you need when camping on a |
| a small camp stove, cook kit, plastic mugs, bowls, | | | | motorcycle is a sense of humor and a large helping of |
| spoons and maybe knives & forks as well. | | | | common sense. You also need to show courtesy for |
| Have tea or coffee-making supplies, including | | | | other road users. Why? Because just about |
| powdered milk in an airtight container or sweetened | | | | everything out there is bigger than you are! Ride |
| condensed milk. (Anything else leaks or spoils too | | | | your motor bike carefully, and stay safe and in one |
| easy in my experience.) As for myself, I love to | | | | piece! |