Boondocking on a Bike? MC travel on the cheap

[Aasland]

A little late to weigh in here, but here goes:

• If you're old enough get the Golden Eagle pass. One-time fee and you'll get half off national forest campsites, access to national parks etc. My dad has one and it saved us a bundle.
• If you ge a small stove (I use the MS pocket rocket) and want good coffee, get the Starbucks VIA packs. Best instant coffee I've ever had, just add to boiled water. No more packing and breaking french presses and crap.
• KOA's are generally good quality but pricey. Their cabins are dry; their mattresses suck; the prices are about as much as a cheap hotel.
• Out west things can be few and far between. Be prepared to have a little dinner (soup and bread? Bourbon?) and breakfast (oatmeal? Coffee?) at your campsite.
• You can usually camp for free on BLM and NF land *if* you don't have a fire (including stoves, sometimes) and are at least 150 feet from an established campground.
• NF campgrounds can be really cheap; $6 or free even.
• County parks have been free too, but locals may use for gatherings. Just be smart.

I'm jeaolous of your trip; I've had many good solo riding/camping trips.

 

[Fred W]

Apparently the Golden Age and Golden Access passes have been superseded by the Senior Pass ($10 lifetime) and Access pass (Free), but you have to be disabled for the latter and 62+ for the former. I don't qualify for either (yet) but will definitely look towards getting one when I do.

Thanks for the other tips too. I like the idea of the Starbucks VIA packs. I mean, I can boil water with the best of them.

 

[Twigg]

You won't break this one:

https://www.amazon.com/Starbucks-Stainless-Steel-Travel-Press/dp/B00ASOLMQY/ref=sr_1_1?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1404141059&sr=1-1&keywords=french+press+stainless+steel

• If you ge a small stove (I use the MS pocket rocket) and want good coffee, get the Starbucks VIA packs. Best instant coffee I've ever had, just add to boiled water. No more packing and breaking french presses and crap.

 

[Blind Squirrel]

Frugal Yankee stove, small, light, and wicked cheap:

Yeah, that is wicked cheap. Maybe just a little too cheap for my tastes.

Turn in your yankee card!

 

[gregory]

Just an FYI about KOA's. There is a $10 cancellation fee.

dahik,

 

[Hudson]

Fred,

+1 on the Via coffee packs. Get them in bulk at Costco and they are cheap. Costco also sells a 7 day supply of freeze dried camping food which is really tasty, but not particularly healthy (lotsa sodium and cholesterol).I usually carry a spare freeze dried meal or two just in case, along with a box of NuGo bars.

I use a Jetboil system but the whisperlight stuff is also good. Get a proper cooking set and troll REIOutlet.com and Cabelas outlet, as well as Green Mountain outlet. You can locate good, small gear cheap. One luxury I can't do without is a Thermarest stuff pillow, it's awesome and packs down tight. Add this to your camping pad and sleeping bag options.

Anytime Fitness charges like $30 a month for memberships, has tons of locations around the country, and you can stop and use their shower facilities. The free camping link in the first few posts is good, lots of full time RV people use this, and often stay at BLM lands, which usually require a 4-8 mile detour off the main road to get onto the lands. You're out in the boonies, for sure, so like Carver said, pay attention.