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