Thursday, May 10, 2012

I am NOT a camper

I am NOT an Adventurer. I like the comforts of home. I like running water. I don't like to be cold. I don't like to be hot . . . so I bought

IMG_6999

a Tent. I had been doing a lot of comparison shopping, checking out all the websites wondering which model to get and finally one came on sale at a reasonable price. So I made the big leap and bought it. I purchased a ground sheet a couple of years ago so I layed it out so I could see how easy it is to set up this Marmot Traillight 2p 3-season tent. It comes with its own ground sheet, fly and DAC aluminum poles. It is very light weighing under 5 lbs

I unpack the contents, spread out the tent, connect the cord locked poles and put the ends into the grommets at each corner

IMG_7003

so far it seems too easy. The tent hangs on the outside frame and all I have to do is to clip the plastic tabs onto the aluminum poles. There is a larger ring for the one in the middle where they intersect

IMG_7004

I notice there are a lot of mesh panels for air circulation. Now I unwrap the fly and drape it over the tent. The pole tethers at the front have colour-coded ribbons (RED) sewn in so you know which way to attach the fly. Otherwise the doors won't line up with the fly

I decided to try out the tent, I climb inside and find it is too short. My head is hitting the side of the tent and I can't get my feet inside.

IMG_7005

Notice that the fly forms a vestible where you can put your riding gear out of the elements. I decided to turn myself lengthwise and finally I could fit fully inside. This is a 2 person model and it would be a bit tight for two, unless you were on your honeymoon, but for one it would be sufficient

IMG_7009

It doesn't hurt to do a dry run, to test that it works and also to make sure you have all the pieces. Now it was time to dismantle and try to pack it back into its carrying pouch

IMG_7013

I unclip all the plastic fasteners, collapse the poles and start folding everything

IMG_7015

I carefully fold the ground sheet, the fly and the tent trying to minimize its bulk. The aluminum DAC poles and J-pegs are in separate bags which I place in the middle and I gently roll the set back up to be able to fit inside the original pouch

IMG_7017

Mission accomplished. I managed to get the roll small enough to fit back into its tubular package, including the poles and J-pegs

IMG_7019

I plan to strap it onto my rear seat between my side cases as an emergency measure, along with an old sleeping bag which may be packed inside of a waterproof dry bag

IMG_6995

It's like packing an umbrella with the hope that it never rains




48 comments:

  1. Oh come on, Bob. I bet there's an inner camper somewhere in there just waiting to be set free!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kathy:

      I may like, or maybe not. I like ammenities like running water, so I am taking slow steps. I am thinking about the future of more limited funds and retirement so I am trying to cut down travel expenses

      Delete
  2. Replies
    1. Nikos:

      Imagine you are on your bike in the middle of nowhere, and another biker notices your Tent. It has the visual effect of elevating my Adverturer status. Besides if I land on someone's doorstep I have my own room which I can set up in minutes

      Delete
  3. Replies
    1. HWL:

      thank you, but they were on sale and that was the only colour available. I would have purchased nearly any colour, even PINK as it matches my crocs©

      Delete
  4. I am with you! :)
    Kathee in Maine

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kathee:

      one day I may make it to Maine. I have a goofy buddy (Mike AT http://scooterthefun.blogspot.ca/ ) whom is daring me to come on over and have some of his delectible Italian offerings. He is Italian you know. It's just that it rains all the time and you have to drive 30 miles each way to buy bread. Mike has just purchased a sleeping pad for his BRW, and now I have the tent to go with it

      Delete
  5. As long as adequate consideration is made for the Pink Crocs, then, well, I think a tent is a good thing. Do you have future plans for a motorcycle excursion utilizing said tent?

    Jimbo

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jimbo/cpa3485:

      I can't leave my PINK Crocs© behind, can I ? I am experimenting with less expensive travel options to allow me to increase my range during retirement. You may not realize that one night at a motel is equal to 3 cold nights in a tent. If it doesn't work out, I may have a cheap, unused tent for sale soon.

      Delete
  6. Great looking tent there Bob.

    If you have the occasion to use it, it is a good idea to fit all of your riding gear into the tent with you. The tent keeps bugs and snakes out of gear. That is a good thing.

    When we camped at Crater Lake last year we had both sleeping bags and two persons worth of riding gear crammed in a 2-3 person tent. It worked but there sure wasn't much room in it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Trobairitz:

      I was hoping to "tag" along with seasoned camping mototravellers, sometime, to show me the ropes, as long as there is running water close by. The test may come as early as July, that is if you bring your tents too. I still have to purchase the "Jetboil" and figure out the food situation

      Delete
  7. Been there, done that. There is a wild romantic aspect in that, primarily if you camp somewhere in the Mediterranean. But in our vicinity, with all the things out there trying to steal your food or kill you, I rather say thank you, but no thank you.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sonja:

      I didn't even camp when we had a camper, but I see that this may be the wave of the future to cut down expenses. I have a big tour in mind and I need a year to practice. I think I have been reading too many ADVrider.com ride reports

      Delete
    2. Reading ADVrider.com ride reports is bad for your budget...

      Delete
    3. Richard:

      Most of the reports I read are to SA where accommodations are cheap. The grueling ones are by Colebatch with his Russian adventures on the BAM road, but one can dream . . .

      Delete
  8. That's what hotels are for! LOL I haven't campted since my 20's in a tent and I am seriously a diva when it comes to this no Moho no camping....

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dar:

      when I was young, pre-school, I had a Pup tent in the back yard. It was fun, but other than that I have never really camped. Maybe it's time, maybe not. I would prefer a Hotel/Motel but I thought it wouldn't hurt to have one just in case of an "emergency". Maybe I will like it.

      Hope you get your wheels fixed soon. Only ONE more week before I get to see your smiling face

      Delete
  9. I am shocked to see that you got a tent. Especially after many comments that match the title of this post. For those riding up to Alaska, I would recommend carrying at least minimal camping gear in case you aren't somewhere where there is a motel or B&B handy. Such as if your bike breaks down. If you are following Chris from EverydayRiding, you may have noticed that this main road is pretty lightly travelled i.e. one car per hout.

    As Sonja mentioned, there is the bear problem but so far, the only places I've been that it has been an issue have been Laird Hot Springs, Banff and several US national parks. In these areas, bears have gotten accustomed to people not being a threat. I don't think that there is an easy solution except don't keep food in/near your tent or on your bike. Hang it from a tree away from your camp.

    ReplyDelete
  10. I should probably add that I enjoy camping while on road trips. For our many trips up and down the highway, we commonly camped two days then stayed in a motel on the third. When we had a travel trailer, we didn't bother with the motel but there was a lot less flexibility when we were looking for a place to stop. A tent gives you a lot of flexibility but consumes more time (setting up and tearing down camp). Similarly, we usually planned on eating one restaurant meal per day and the others came out of the grocery store. On most days, this turned out to be lunch.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Richard:

      I was thinking of flexibility & planning for emergencies. Meals for one are not necessarily cheaper than going out, esp in the 'States where food seems to be much cheaper. Setting up the tent is easy, but tricky in the rain with the mesh panels, those rain days would be motel days. Do I presume you are carrying a Tent on your tour South ?

      Delete
    2. Yes, I'm planning on bringing the camping gear even if I only use it while traveling through Canada. Once you hit the border, camping seems to be much more difficult as all the campgrounds want reservations or are RV only concrete pads. I was thinking about dumping the camping gear at my mom's house in Oregon before continuing on down to California. Also switch out my riding gear for the warmer weather.

      If you are thinking of a stove, I use MSR multi-fuel stoves. I don't need to carry a separate fuel supply as I can just drain gas from the bike into the stove. My first MSR stove is almost 35 years old and still works fine. I just picked up a new one from REI since I can't get spare parts for my old one anymore. The old one was extremely reliable and it'll burn very hot. In fact, I used to use it for wok cooking as it was a lot hotter than home ranges...

      Delete
    3. Richard:

      I was originally going to buy the MRS Whisperlite (or Internationalle) but the only advantage would be cold weather so I will most likely end up with the "Jetboil", but I am still thinking . . .

      Delete
    4. Don't forget the "fuel thing". The Jetpower fuel is an isobutane/propane fuel mix. I don't know where you plan on travelling but the MSR multi-fuel stoves, you can burn just about any liquid fuel (gasoline, kerosene, jet-A, etc.). I used mile 32 years ago when bicycling in Mexico. Just pull into a gas station, buy a pint of whatever they had and be on your way. (Back then, that was about 2¢) I'd rather not deal with specialized non-refillable fuel canisters.

      The Jetboil is a slick system.

      Delete
  11. Well! Okay! You're almost there! A Tent! A Tent! Fantastic.
    So, it's only about 3,100 miles to Maine. That means a mere 2 days camping.
    What could be easier?
    And today..... it was NOT raining. Well, okay, it drizzled this morning, but that doesn't count.
    Besides, it's not Seattle where everyone has gills.
    You know, your trying to fit into the tent reminds me of my friend Giaovanni, who is an airline pilot. He hates to fly into JFK because the runway is sooo short, and much, much, much too wide!
    Keep up the good work.
    Next week: The stove!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mike:

      only a mere 2 days and 10 hours but that is going continuously, 58 hours at 10 hours a day means 6 days on the road. And I don't believe your rain has stopped, you are kidding, aren't you. Go ahead and get your Aprilia SportCity 250 and I'll meet you in the middle, somewhere around Corvalis, Oregon. I would imagine that BRW will be a day or so later on her "handmedown" OLD, 110cc

      Delete
  12. Well there you go a? Wonders never cease, next thing you know we will be reading ride reporst from you from Outer Mongolia. I want to get one to, never been a mad camper but soo many great paces to visit here I think I should try. Also we have the advantage that we dont have anything that can kill you...no beers/snakes/cros/spiders....

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Roger:

      you just needed a little "push", go ahead and get a tent, you know you have been thinking about it. You have the perfect bike, and you can set up in the middle of nowhere. Many of the best places are off the beaten track

      Delete
  13. My choice is Camp Hotel... where ever it may be! LOL! Have fun. Looks like you got yourself a wonderful adventure ahead of you. I will live vicariously through you though :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Katy:

      I also like Camp Hotel better, but this is just a test. We'll see how it goes. I envy those who can be self sufficient

      Delete
  14. Bob:
    Forgive me but I think that all this talk about "elevated adventure riding status" is all smoke and mirrors! You feely admit to a dislike of roughing it so I think it's really a contingency for when Yvonne kicks you out of the house for excessive frivolous expenditure (for example, tents) :-)

    Anyway, when you and Sonja buy a couple of Street Triples, thoughts of adventure riding will be banished forever.....

    Yours helpfully,

    Geoff

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Geoff:

      I think being in that "Retirement Village" of yours, gives you too much time to think. Roughing it is a matter of semantics, it's not roughing if you like it. I'm still in the deciding if I like it phase & it's nice to have contingencies and options . . .

      I've always admired Striples. I often scan the adverts for used ones, but there are not that many for sale and our bikes cost much more than those in the USA. We shall see . . .

      Delete
  15. I like camping. In a Marriott hotel. Or a Best Western. Even a Motel 6. In a tent? Nope.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Gary:

      So far I have resisted the Camping Temptation, perhaps it's time for a change. I don't know yet. I'm more of a Best Western, Holiday Inn type myself

      Delete
  16. "Running water"?

    Tents can have running water...just wait until you camp in a big ol' rain storm! LOL

    BTW, love your Crocs! I live in mine, though I sadly don't own any PINK ones...*sigh*

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Deb:

      OH NO, that's not the kind of water I want to remember. I mean the heated running water that comes out when you "turn" the tap. You'll have to post a photo of your Crocs© one day, so we can see them. Our blogger reunions are more about showing off your Crocs© , you should try the PINK before they are discontinued

      Delete
  17. Bob, looks like a pretty compact tent! The problem is, all the other gear one ends up taking along that takes up space....gear that makes life more comfy while camping.

    dom


    Redleg's Rides

    Colorado Motorcycle Travel Examiner

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dom:

      the tent is probably smaller than the sleeping bag and ground pad. I'm still trying to figure out where to put the Kitchen Sink.

      I am sure there is lots of room in the "sidecar"

      Delete
  18. Carry less stuff, enjoy riding the bike more. An attitude that kills ferocious consumerism I know. When i'm traveling I carry a small blanket for picnics or naps. When I need to sleep and don't want to pay for running water I sleep on the blanket and use my courier bag as a pillow. True adventure and making double use of the crap I do carry. Let the future take care of itself. Who says you will ride when you retire? You may take up walking to live longer pain free. Worry about that instead of paying for trips.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mr Conchscooter:

      You forget Mon Amie that you are living in the land of good weather and sunshine, how I wished that all I needed was a blanket with the stars above for light. I am learning to pack lighter but I still need my cameras, chargers, laptop & iPhone.

      Trips don't happen without planning. Whether or not they turn into trips is another thing. If I don't ride, then I will drive, either way I am working on it. Money doesn't grow on trees and one day I shall make it to Mile marker 29

      Delete
  19. Need a different title: I was NOT a camper. Youre gonna have to sleep in it at least one night... Or is it going to sit wrapped up until "it is time"?? Please don't put it on the shelf with the boots and jacket and helmet. ;)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lori:

      OKay Smartie . . . you know I keep everything wrapped with the tags still attached. today I added something new to the new and unused pile, and I am still looking for a new pair of riding pants

      Delete
    2. LOL. So the tags can still be on the tent...but honestly, how did you get it out of the bag? They usually have clips to prevent stealing anything inside. How'd you get the tent out? ;)

      What new was added??

      Delete
    3. Lori:

      NO tags on the tent, but tags still on my new Jacket & Boots. It stressed me greatly to have to cut the tags from my new helmet

      Delete
  20. Congratulations! I have three tents (largest, adequate and smallest). The most recent (the smallest) cost me $5 and fits in my top case with my sleeping bag. That's all you need, but a self-inflating mattress pad makes a big difference in comfort & insulation from the ground. Enjoy camping! Jennifer & I might invite to team up with us sometime, but you have to bring your own tent & sleeping bag. We'll manage the rest (stove, dishes, cooler, etc.) By the way, most places we camp (but not all) have running water.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Robert:

      I still have that small blue tent you purchased for me a couple of years ago. I did set it up once or twice.

      Delete
    2. Hi, I was simply checking out this blog and I really admire the premise of the article and this is really informative. I will for sure refer my friends the same. Thanks
      riding gear california

      Delete
  21. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete