With all this talk about camping, tents, sites ...

[STony G]

With all this talk about camping, tents, sites, sleeping bags and the like. Do you campers ever eat?

My buddy and I plan on camping for most of the trip to weSToc and we really don't have a milege plan per day.

What do you eat when you get to the camp site?
Buy in a town that is near where you camp, pack it from home or starve.

What about the required bonfire?

[Mellow]

Find a campsite..
Find nearest town..
Eat dinner in town..
Bring back chips and beer..
Make fire..
Finish beer..
Go to sleep..

Wake up at 2 am..

Go to sleep...

[STony G]

Find a campsite..
Find nearest town..
Eat dinner in town..
Bring back chips and beer..
Make fire..
Finish beer..
Go to sleep..

Wake up at 2 am..

Go to sleep...

Well damn, that was easy, thank you :bow1: .

[motomac]

I usually buy when I get to the campground and cook. A big can of Dinty Moore can make two meals if you have some bread or biscuits with it. Crackers work too. A lot of campgrounds are banning campfires because of the dry conditions. I would imagine you could have a fire in Texas though!!!!

[Mellow]

I usually buy when I get to the campground and cook. A big can of Dinty Moore can make two meals if you have some bread or biscuits with it. Crackers work too. A lot of campgrounds are banning campfires because of the dry conditions. I would imagine you could have a fire in Texas though!!!!

Yeah, if you can start a fire underwater.. LOL:cf1:

[dmulk]

Find a campsite..
Find nearest town..
Eat dinner in town..
Bring back chips and beer..
Make fire..
Finish beer..
Go to sleep..

Wake up at 2 am..

Go to sleep...

This is pretty much what I am planning to do. I don't plan on carrying anything with me to the camp grounds (other than maybe some breakfast or power bars). Since I am camping, I plan to spend my money on good food and decent microbrew in the evenings. Other than sleeping, my camp will be fairly simple I think....

The truth is that i have never done it before, so I am just going to "go with the flow"... :)

<D>

[Mellow]

This is pretty much what I am planning to do. I don't plan on carrying anything with me to the camp grounds (other than maybe some breakfast or power bars). Since I am camping, I plan to spend my money on good food and decent microbrew in the evenings. Other than sleeping, my camp will be fairly simple I think....

The truth is that i have never done it before, so I am just going to "go with the flow"... :)

<D>

It makes setting up and breaking down camp pretty quick.. Sometimes I'll bring my cooking gear but it's pretty much just a backpack stove and some small pan(s) and is just for heating water or soup/stew.. pretty easy clean up and all convenience stores have some stew.

[ConqSoft]

From what I've read, I thought it was customary to always camp in close proximity to a DQ.

[Gonzo]

If you are really into low weight, you might try a backpacking store such as REI. They have these little stoves which are not much more than a tripod, a grill, and a gas valve. You attach a small gas cylinder. They pack extremely small. Look for a small pan set where they all pack together and only take up the room of the biggest pan. For a couple of days you probably need only 2 or 3 pans, depending on how much you cook.

I once made an oven out of one of those 5 gallon cooking oil cans. I used to be able to get those for nothing until they all went to plastic. I used them for everything.

...which reminds me, I have to get some stuff for the chicken tetrazinni I'm making this w/e...

gonzo

[ParkerBill]

Joe pretty much got it right. In addition to the camping items like a tent, sleeping bag, Therma-rest, etc., I usually carry one of my small mountaineering stoves (either a GAZ Turbo 270 (propane/butane) when it's warm or MSR Dragonfly (white gas) when it's cold, a small titanium skillet and pot with lid, so I can cook if I want to.

I would recommend that if you want to cook on site, stop at a store along the way and buy it in the afternoon for the evening meal.

I always carry coffee bags (like tea bags) and an insulated travel mug for my morning coffee and I also always carry a freeze-dried meal or two, some cheese/crackers and/or something similiar from the grocery store so I can stave off starvation if I need to in camp (like lots of rain, snow storm, etc.).

The cheese crackers make for a good quick snack, as to power or granola bars, etc. I always carry at least one liter of water, too.

However, I normally plan to, as Joe says, get the camp site, put up the tent, etc., then go to a restaurant to eat. Or, of course, you can reverse that order if you like.:)

By the way, for camping in really warm weather I bought this really nifty "travel sack" from REI three years ago. It's rated for temps down to 55 degrees F, so it's great for summer or warm climates. The foot end has a draw string so it can be opened to walk around in it (using as a warming blanket) or ventilation. It stuffs down to virtually nothing and takes up practically no room at all. Something you might want to consider.

If it's going to be cooler than say 55, I may throw in my silk sleeping bag liner that will take it down another 10 degrees or so and if it's going to be colder than that I carry my The North Face Cornice (synthetic) that's rated down to 15 degrees. Below that and I'm using my TNF -10 dg down bag and perhaps the Cornice. I found the down TNF -10 bag kept me warm at -25 dg on Denali a few years ago, but I also had on some pretty good insulated long underwear. :D

[Raven]

Here's a great link to "camping" food:
http://www.freezerbagcooking.com/

You might also check out this little alcohol "penny" stove:
http://www.csun.edu/~mjurey/penny.html

[ParkerBill]

Here's a great link to "camping" food:
http://www.freezerbagcooking.com/

You might also check out this little alcohol "penny" stove:
http://www.csun.edu/~mjurey/penny.html

hmmmmmmmmm, I might check this stove out a bit more, but I find it hard to believe it can boil water that fast--alcohol supposedly does not burn as hot as white gas or propane/butane. I'd have to see it to believe it. :D

Meanwhile, I'll stick to my GAZ Turbo 270 or MSR Dragonfly, both of which will boil a full quart pot of water in about four minutes. The test in the web link didn't compare it to any white gas stoves.

[Mellow]

I have the GAZ Turbo 270 (http://www.motocampers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=660)
http://www.motocampers.com/forums/geek/gars/images/1/twister270.jpg

and the same Camping Gaz canisters will run the Lumostar C 270 Lantern (http://www.motocampers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=57)
http://www.motocampers.com/forums/geek/gars/images/1/2lumostar_c270_thumb.jpg

[Raven]

hmmmmmmmmm, I might check this stove out a bit more, but I find it hard to believe it can boil water that fast--alcohol supposedly does not burn as hot as white gas or propane/butane. I'd have to see it to believe it. :D

Meanwhile, I'll stick to my GAZ Turbo 270 or MSR Dragonfly, both of which will boil a full quart pot of water in about four minutes. The test in the web link didn't compare it to any white gas stoves.

Somebody on this site built one and gave a good report regarding heat and burn time (not to mention the beer) but I think it got lost in the great crash.....

For the price, it's tough to beat.

[ParkerBill]

I have the GAZ Turbo 270 (http://www.motocampers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=660)
http://www.motocampers.com/forums/geek/gars/images/1/twister270.jpg

and the same Camping Gaz canisters will run the Lumostar C 270 Lantern (http://www.motocampers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=57)
http://www.motocampers.com/forums/geek/gars/images/1/2lumostar_c270_thumb.jpg

Hey Joe, I have the little lantern, too. But both of mine are several years old and don't have the piezo starter. I think my stove probably also folds up a bit smaller than the new one, too. :)

[Mellow]

Yeah, I actually bought the lantern version with the piezo lighter.. nice to no have to fish around for a lighter before getting some light at the campground.

[BigTom]

Putt

Putt built the 'penny stove' and reviewed it carefully. I'm not sure how many beer cans were killed or wounded in the project.

Of course I don't remember the specifics. The crash was in September for crying out loud!

[Mellow]

hmmmmmmmmm, I might check this stove out a bit more, but I find it hard to believe it can boil water that fast--alcohol supposedly does not burn as hot as white gas or propane/butane. I'd have to see it to believe it. :D

Meanwhile, I'll stick to my GAZ Turbo 270 or MSR Dragonfly, both of which will boil a full quart pot of water in about four minutes. The test in the web link didn't compare it to any white gas stoves.

BJFazio had one at CampSTOC II in Arkansas and he was able to boil water with no problem.. it did seem to take just a little longer but it would do it.

Here you can see it cooking eggs:
http://mellow.smugmug.com/photos/70779797-M.jpg

Close up:
http://mellow.smugmug.com/photos/70777712-M.jpg

[Finewest]

Find a campsite..
Find nearest town..
Eat dinner in town..
Bring back chips and beer..
Make fire..
Finish beer..
Go to sleep..

Wake up at 2 am..

Go to sleep...

+1. But... I would only change one thing... Go to sleep, wake up at 11pm, go pee, go to sleep, wake up at 1am, go pee, go to sleep, wake up at 3am, go pee, go to sleep, wake up at 5am, go pee, can't go back to sleep, stay up and take photos of sunrise, go pee...

[Mellow]

+1. But... I would only change one thing... Got to sleep, wake up at 11pm, go pee, go to sleep, wake up at 1am, go pee, go to sleep, wake up at 3am, go pee, go to sleep, wake up at 5am, go pee, can't go back to sleep, stay up and take photos of sunrise, go pee...

I have noticed if I have no beer or soda at the campground, or maybe just one.. I sleep through the entire night... :nuts1:

[dmulk]

I have noticed if I have no beer or soda at the campground, or maybe just one.. I sleep through the entire night... :nuts1:


You know what they say....once the seal is broken..... :)

<D>

[Finewest]

I have noticed if I have no beer or soda at the campground, or maybe just one.. I sleep through the entire night... :nuts1:

Not when you have the bladder of a three year old girl! :eek: :rolleyes: :D

[Raven]

Not when you have the bladder of a three year old girl! :eek: :rolleyes: :D

You really should give that back to her.....:eek:



Meanwhile check this out:
http://www.kellykettle.com/
http://www.kellykettle.com/images/kk_pint.jpg

I'm thinking about trying one because I like the idea of not having to carry fuel.

http://www.kellykettle.com/images/works.jpg

You can also get a pot holder to put on top of the chimney for cooking and you can get a little grill for putting over the lower fire bowl should you need more than just boiled water. Kind of a neat idea.
.

[pointpergame]

I just got home from a 5000 mile tour and I have a couple things I would say re: stoves / food.
Driving to a nearby town for food doesn't work very well. Campsites in the National forrests are usually VERY far from an eatery. I camped at several state parks in Illinois, near civilization, and it was a huge adventure finding even a convenience store.
Eating "right before" a campsite doesn't work either. There are plenty of places in the US where there just isn't a place to eat over a span of a couple hours. Granted, there is now one Subway and one DQ in every town with a population over 200. Still, sometimes I was searching frantically for a campsite at 8 pm, needing to put up tent before dark ( or getting shut out on the weekends and only the only prospective sites 2 miles down washboard gravel roads). Do you then ride 40 miles back and eat?
Your stove should be dead reliable. Gimmic stoves are fun when you're near home. If it's going to heat your first good meal in 20 hours, it's not worth the risk.
My MSR Dragonfly was 1) too bulky and fiddly and 2 ) WAYY TOO LOUD!!!. I wish I had taken a miniature propane head with a canister w peizo lighter. Way smaller, way less prep. Doesn't need a separate white gass bottle.
FOOD: I took 5 freeze dried meals. Granted they're not the best food. I did find a market close enough to a couple impending sites, I was willing to park, disrobe, shop...etc ( 30 minutes gone ). Chicken breast, roasted corn, baked potato. Great stuff.
But the freeze dried food was absolutely perfect for the 7 out of 13 desperation evenings. It was hot, fun, and a little magical. One hint: if you go this route, add to your main meal some vegetables ( green beans, corn ). It adds some nice variety and a second place to visit with your spoon. Canned beans, etc. work well, too, and are usually available in the state campsite store.

[dteel]

Ok, you guys all missed the obvious. Buy a frozen burrito place it in the right hand glove box around 3pm. Drive until 5pm and pull into campsite. Pitch tint, return to bike remove piping hot burrito and drink some cool water out of your camelback. Supper is now done!

For all of you that have bothered to insulate your glove box, don't worry, that didn't work anyway, the burrito will still be piping hot! :D

[Tor]

Find a campsite..
Find nearest town..
Eat dinner in town..
Bring back chips and beer..
Make fire..
Finish beer..
Go to sleep..

Wake up at 2 am..

Go to sleep...

thats it...

[Tor]

+1. But... I would only change one thing... Go to sleep, wake up at 11pm, go pee, go to sleep, wake up at 1am, go pee, go to sleep, wake up at 3am, go pee, go to sleep, wake up at 5am, go pee, can't go back to sleep, stay up and take photos of sunrise, go pee...

you've got issues.

[John H2]

We used a jetboil for coffee every morning (we're die hard fanatics and don't trust the "on the road stuff". We just made it in our motel room. These are great compact units and would be great for cooking as well.
www.jetboil.com

Since we travel two up a lot. I haven't been able to figure out a way to take all our "stuff" and also have room for camping gear, so we're moteling it on our journeys.

[Imrubicon]

I pretty much go the route of pitch and go eat dinner ,pick snacks and beer inroute back to tent,
But almost always carry the sterno stove and sterno for warming something if needed . Wont cook very fast but will warm up a nice big can of chunky soup pretty well in a pinch and will make tea in the little pot w?lid for tea or instant coffee.
Easy to carry and the can last pretty much forever or at least 4 years as I just opened my reserve one as I notice I have never cycled that one and it worked JMHO

[dmulk]

Ok, you guys all missed the obvious. Buy a frozen burrito place it in the right hand glove box around 3pm. Drive until 5pm and pull into campsite. Pitch tint, return to bike remove piping hot burrito and drink some cool water out of your camelback. Supper is now done!

For all of you that have bothered to insulate your glove box, don't worry, that didn't work anyway, the burrito will still be piping hot! :D

Dana, I don't carry anything in my lockable pocket. I think I am going to try this on our trip up.....just for kicks.... :)

<D>

[KrazyKooter]

For all of you that have bothered to insulate your glove box, don't worry, that didn't work anyway, the burrito will still be piping hot! :D

On the first season of Feasting on Asphalt, they had some container that they strapped to the muffler for a couple of hours to cook it. Also, they had a small oven that worked off the 12v outlet that they got at a truck stop (that one didn't work as well as the muffler stew.)

[kooler2]

I've had one of those little spirit stoves for around 25 years now and it still works great but have been thinking of updating but haven't seen anything that impresses me and is the same size so still waiting:cool:

[Mark]

On the first season of Feasting on Asphalt, they had some container that they strapped to the muffler for a couple of hours to cook it. Also, they had a small oven that worked off the 12v outlet that they got at a truck stop (that one didn't work as well as the muffler stew.)

I saw the 12v cooker at "love's" truck stop the last time I went to SoCal; it wasn't very expensive...
The way I remember the problem he had with it is he found out the hard way that the 12v socket he tried to use wasn't powered when the key was off... So the food didn't cook at all.

Mark

[travlr_45]

Find a campsite..
Find nearest town..
Eat dinner in town..
Bring back chips and beer..
Make fire..
Finish beer..
Go to sleep..

Wake up at 2 am..

Go to sleep...
Mellow always has a good plan................:)

[Keith R.]

For sometime now I like bringing it all along. One thing I did was I made up my own cooking platform that sets up in minutes to make cooking easy and prepare my own meals. I can usually carry enough food keeping what needs to be kept cold cold for 2 day's easily. Did this just a couple of months ago and only bought one meal out and that was breakfast 1st day out of my 8 day trip.

Here's a tasty and easy to make meal, Salmon and steamed veggies.

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d59/ownst1100/DSCN6754.jpg

But here is my latest for those times when no table is available or you've found that perfect place that just doesn't have one. Folded flat its just 9.250 X 12.500 and less then an inch thick at a couple of the mounting tabs. Made from .050 6061 aluminum it weights almost nothing and sets up in a few minutes.

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d59/ownst1100/DSCN8323.jpg

I won't bring it along everytime. But if I know there might be a need like at a rally with many people and tents and not enough tables to go around im all set.

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d59/ownst1100/DSCN8324.jpg

:D Espresso anyone?:D

[Highrider]

Keith
That's neat - almost turns the GS into a catering vehicle.

When I am riding for a 1 or 2 week trip, I bring RTE's or camp food packs to cover dinner for about 1/3 of the planned days. I have spent a lot of time in some petty remote areas and this has worked out well. Meals early in the day can be addressed a number of ways on the road. Dinner always seems to be the meal you need to plan ahead for.
A small stove takes care of my needs just fine. If your traveling in a small group, the planning is less critical and hauling what little food you need can be shared.

[BamaRider]

My first 3 cross country tours I cooked at the evening campground, but abandoned that notion several years ago. Stopping at a grocery store for the evening meal just got to be too much of a hassle. Unless a guy buys 4-5 cans of Chey Boyardee and hauls the cans around for 3,000 miles (another hassle) he has to stop to shop and that irritated me.

Currently I set up camp and if a town is nearby then go look for a cafe. For the times I'm in a remote spot, I have a can of chicken, bread, and peanut butter and jelly.

It has been my experience it costs no more to eat out, (unless ya eatin outta a can) then cooking steaks at the campground, and whole lot less trouble.

[Mark]

We are close to your method Guy; but, we still shop.

Chris and I stop at a grocery store and buy some fruit, meat (last time it was smoked salmon), cheese and wine.
And because it is all ready to eat there isn't any prep or clean up.

Mark

[skidlid1300]

For sometime now I like bringing it all along. One thing I did was I made up my own cooking platform that sets up in minutes to make cooking easy and prepare my own meals. I can usually carry enough food keeping what needs to be kept cold cold for 2 day's easily. Did this just a couple of months ago and only bought one meal out and that was breakfast 1st day out of my 8 day trip.

Here's a tasty and easy to make meal, Salmon and steamed veggies.

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d59/ownst1100/DSCN6754.jpg

But here is my latest for those times when no table is available or you've found that perfect place that just doesn't have one. Folded flat its just 9.250 X 12.500 and less then an inch thick at a couple of the mounting tabs. Made from .050 6061 aluminum it weights almost nothing and sets up in a few minutes.
:D Espresso anyone?:D

Ok, this campsite must be a studio shot... No campground cooking area is that NEAT! :D Where's the empty beer cans and Doritos bags?

[Mark]

Ok, this campsite must be a studio shot... No campground cooking area is that NEAT! :D Where's the empty beer cans and Doritos bags?

The glass is vodka and seven... :)

[sandman]

Don't forget a good book, or in Bamarider's case the DVD player, for those nights on the road alone.

Let's face it I love looking at the stars and enjoying caveman TV as much as the next guy but when it's raining and I can't sleep an LED headlight and a book make for a very entertaining evening.

Gordon

[kooler2]

Don't forget a good book, or in Bamarider's case the DVD player, for those nights on the road alone.

Let's face it I love looking at the stars and enjoying caveman TV as much as the next guy but when it's raining and I can't sleep an LED headlight and a book make for a very entertaining evening.

Gordon

I think you cant go past a good MP3 player with an Audio book in it, nothing like kicking back under the stars with some guy reciting a Stephan King novel in your ears and no one else around:22yikes:

[LeeWonnacott]

+1. But... I would only change one thing... Go to sleep, wake up at 11pm, go pee, go to sleep, wake up at 1am, go pee, go to sleep, wake up at 3am, go pee, go to sleep, wake up at 5am, go pee, can't go back to sleep, stay up and take photos of sunrise, go pee...

Well, that's a lot of wandering through the dark night .. have you thought of asking your doctor for a prescription to purchase Flomax? It's one drug that really works.... keeps you in the saddle longer during daytime rides too!

Or, you could emulate our NASA astronauts and wear a diaper....:eek: