| Camping on a motorcycle can present a real | | | | so you get a good night's sleep.Just carry enough |
| challenge, because you can't carry much weight or | | | | food (and water) to make a couple of hasty meals |
| volume, and there are few places to store your | | | | for when you're tired, cold and hungry and miles from |
| equipment on a motor bike.Most motor cycle riders | | | | a diner or a McDonald's.Then include a change of |
| use bags or panniers at the back of their machines | | | | clothing and extra socks and underwear. Toilet kit - |
| to hold the camping gear. These have to be tough | | | | toothbrush, toothpaste or powder, half a bar of soap |
| and waterproof - a bit like their owners - to keep | | | | (or a small cake or soap from a hotel), a small towel, |
| the camping equipment safe from the weather. And | | | | comb, a few band aids, some asprin or Tylenol pain |
| you don't want anything coming loose and flying off | | | | killers, and any feminine hygiene stuff or prescription |
| either. It might cause an accident and you could be | | | | medicines needed.Out in the country or on the |
| held liable for damages - or worse.With a truck or an | | | | interstate highways, the larger gas stations that |
| automobile, you can put your camping gear on the | | | | cater to truckers will have hot showers as well. That |
| inside. But with a motorcycle, it's got to be fitted | | | | can really refresh you if you've been camping away |
| pretty much on the outside of your machine. Some | | | | from the comforts of home for a few days. Buy a |
| fancy fairings (wind breaks) have small pockets, but | | | | meal there as well, to pay for the shower.For camp |
| they don't hold much camping gear at all.You can | | | | lighting carry a small flashlight and / or a candle. Some |
| usually fit a large cube-shaped bag on the rear | | | | will take a mechanic's 'trouble light' which has a long |
| luggage rack or pillion seat, and maybe a tank bag on | | | | cord and runs of the motorcycle's 12 volt battery. If |
| the motorcycle petrol tank, and that's it.Some bikes | | | | you're going to be in a campground with mains |
| may have a couple of large panniers at the back, like | | | | electricity, by all means carry a mains-powered |
| the leather saddlebags you see on some Harleys, or | | | | 'trouble light'.These are the things a mechanic uses |
| the stylish 'fat briefcase' types you see on a German | | | | when crawling under your auto to inspect it at the |
| BMW tourer. (I've always wanted one of those.)All | | | | garage.Your motorcycle should already have it's own |
| your camping gear has got to fit inside that limited | | | | small tool kit, but it could be wise to carry a spare |
| space, so camping on a motorcycles gives you the | | | | inner-tube and a pump. In case you get a flat tire 50 |
| same kind of storage constraints as a backpacker, | | | | miles from nowhere. Here's where membership of an |
| except you can travel a lot faster than on | | | | auto club would be a good idea, just as carrying a cell |
| foot.Depending on whether you're riding the bike solo | | | | phone (mobile phone) would also be cheap |
| or two-up, you'll want a small tent, sleeping bag (or | | | | insurance.The only other thing you need when |
| bags), sleeping pad(s) between you and the ground, | | | | camping on a motorcycle is a sense of humor and a |
| a small camp stove, cook kit, plastic mugs, bowls, | | | | large helping of common sense. You also need to |
| spoons and maybe knives & forks as well.Have tea | | | | show courtesy for other road users. Why? Because |
| or coffee-making supplies, including powdered milk in | | | | just about everything out there is bigger than you |
| an airtight container or sweetened condensed milk. | | | | are! Ride your motor bike carefully, and stay safe |
| (Anything else leaks or spoils too easy in my | | | | and in one piece!The author, David Harvey, has been |
| experience.) As for myself, I love to sleep in a | | | | camping since he was a boy and riding motorbikes |
| Hennessey Hammock it's perfect in the warmer | | | | since 1967. He now lives in Australia where he still |
| weather and keeps the mosquitos away from you, | | | | enjoys camping and motor cycling. |