My first long distance ride

[feeger]

Thanks for the well wishes Dave

I did it all the way around Nova Scotia, it's really not that bad, and 2up at that. We packed the Givi E-52 with a tent and 2 sleeping bags, then 1 side case for each of us , and we shared the tank-bag. 3,000 miles in 8 days! We did it so fast on the FJR that we had a couple of days left over on our vacation that we just chilled when we got back, it was great. Now I camp all the time, it takes me about 1/2 hour to set-up/take down. A couple of times we went in the campground late and left early without paying.

Hopefully I will make use of the camping gear that I spent a small fortune on at REI! My tent, sleeping bag, mattress, camp towel, stove and coffee maker all fit in a small duffel bag.

I'll start a new thread in the Ride Reports section and post pictures along the way.

 

[ALDAWG]

Thanks for the well wishes Dave

I did it all the way around Nova Scotia, it's really not that bad, and 2up at that. We packed the Givi E-52 with a tent and 2 sleeping bags, then 1 side case for each of us , and we shared the tank-bag. 3,000 miles in 8 days! We did it so fast on the FJR that we had a couple of days left over on our vacation that we just chilled when we got back, it was great. Now I camp all the time, it takes me about 1/2 hour to set-up/take down. A couple of times we went in the campground late and left early without paying.

Hopefully I will make use of the camping gear that I spent a small fortune on at REI! My tent, sleeping bag, mattress, camp towel, stove and coffee maker all fit in a small duffel bag.

I'll start a new thread in the Ride Reports section and post pictures along the way.

Dollar menu is your friend. Do you really need to brew coffee in the morning, it's messy and time consuming not to mention taking valuable space. Especially when there are thousands of Mc Donalds, and Dunkin donuts, and gas stations with good coffee that rivals your home-brew All over the place. Not only that, I slept much better at night knowing that we had absolutely no food in or around the camp. The warnings for bear and other animals are there for a reason. Our routine was quite simple. Ride all day, with breaks for lunch and streaching, then find a camp site, set-up, ask the locals about the good food around there, go out and eat. Maybe bring back a snack or dessert, something that would be consumed before bed. Sleep, shower in the morning, pack up, get coffee and bagel, ride, rinse, repeat. every 4 days we did laundry. We bought all that underarmor moisture wicking underwear and shirts that pack amazingly small. Black socks and no whites that way everything can go in 1 load of wash without the need for bleech. Very easy and dries fast. Most of the time we were in our underwear, under our riding pants and jacket, for comfort. We only packed 1 pair of jeans each, for bumming around the campsite, and shorts for sleeping or if it was really hot.

 

[phil]

Thanks for the well wishes Dave

I did it all the way around Nova Scotia, it's really not that bad, and 2up at that. We packed the Givi E-52 with a tent and 2 sleeping bags, then 1 side case for each of us , and we shared the tank-bag. 3,000 miles in 8 days! We did it so fast on the FJR that we had a couple of days left over on our vacation that we just chilled when we got back, it was great. Now I camp all the time, it takes me about 1/2 hour to set-up/take down. A couple of times we went in the campground late and left early without paying.

Hopefully I will make use of the camping gear that I spent a small fortune on at REI! My tent, sleeping bag, mattress, camp towel, stove and coffee maker all fit in a small duffel bag.

I'll start a new thread in the Ride Reports section and post pictures along the way.

Dollar menu is your friend. Do you really need to brew coffee in the morning, it's messy and time consuming not to mention taking valuable space. Especially when there are thousands of Mc Donalds, and Dunkin donuts, and gas stations with good coffee that rivals your home-brew All over the place. Not only that, I slept much better at night knowing that we had absolutely no food in or around the camp. The warnings for bear and other animals are there for a reason. Our routine was quite simple. Ride all day, with breaks for lunch and streaching, then find a camp site, set-up, ask the locals about the good food around there, go out and eat. Maybe bring back a snack or dessert, something that would be consumed before bed. Sleep, shower in the morning, pack up, get coffee and bagel, ride, rinse, repeat. every 4 days we did laundry. We bought all that underarmor moisture wicking underwear and shirts that pack amazingly small. Black socks and no whites that way everything can go in 1 load of wash without the need for bleech. Very easy and dries fast. Most of the time we were in our underwear, under our riding pants and jacket, for comfort. We only packed 1 pair of jeans each, for bumming around the campsite, and shorts for sleeping or if it was really hot.

Good advice, ALDAWG. I generally follow the same rules. I'm meeting up with feejer on the East coast, but he's coming further than I am. But I will also be out for 30 days, so must pack light, and eat out . . . no cooking, even coffee.

 

[feeger]

Good advice, ALDAWG. I generally follow the same rules. I'm meeting up with feejer on the East coast, but he's coming further than I am. But I will also be out for 30 days, so must pack light, and eat out . . . no cooking, even coffee.

I didn't realize that bears consider coffee as food. I'm addicted and it's the first thing I go for in the morning. :angry2:

Thanks for sending me the packing list Phil. Ride safe and I'll see you in D.C.

 

[FJReady]

hope to see you out there, feeger. I'm leaving Boston 8/31 heading to Ontario back into US through Sault Ste Marie then west across WI, MN, SD, WY, MT, ID, NV and CA.

Be safe, have fun

Russ