What You're Going To Need!

[Finewest]

Tent... I'll be bringing my my little bitty tent, but might sleep out in the open. My wife Terri may come Sat. with her car. That way we can set up a bigger tent and she might bring some sodas and ICE!!!

Sleeping bag. Don't be surprised if it gets cold out there at night. The desert is a sneaky mother when it comes to temps.

Coffee in the morning... DON'T TOUCH MINE!!! lol.

[Finewest]

The sleeping pad I use is called a Big Agnes. I love it! I use to use the Therm-A-Rest pad, which was a revelation when it first came out in the 70's! Oh man! A backpacking pad that was actually comfortable! My backpacking days were changed!

Then I found the Big Agnes! Not only was it more comfy then the Therm-A-Rest but it packed smaller and lighter! Another revelation in the evolution of the backpacking sleeping pad! I highly recommend it!

Here is a pic and a link to REI about it...

http://images.rei.com/media/694341.jpg

REI - BIG AGNES SLEEPING PAD (http://www.rei.com/product/734150?ext_cat=REI_RELATED_ITEMS_PRODUCT_PAGE&vcat=REI_SEARCH)

[Finewest]

I have spoken to the ranger at the campground and he said there will be firewood for sale there. I myself like to bring those pressed logs, like Duralogs. They start easy, and burn clean leaving very few ashes. There will be firerings in the campsites and sitting around a campfire with buddies is one the best parts of camping.

[Mellow]

Oh yeah... there's gonna be a fire... I'm saving money for it right now... mmmmmbbubuuuuahahahaaaaaahhhhhh

[Finewest]

Tents!

Yeah! Tents! Can you carry a eight man tent on your bike? Well if you can then do it! I love lots of room in a tent! But keeping things light and small is the key to easy bike-camping. A two man tent will do. There are even very small tents called Bivouac Sacks that will fit just you and a sleeping bag. Often they are made from a breathable and waterproof material like Goretex for example.

I do like room in a tent though. Standing room, dressing room, etc. With a roomy tent you can even cook in it if it rains and your super careful! But honestly sometimes, if not most times, I like to just sleep under the stars. In the desert your weather enemy will be sun and wind. Shade from the sun is important for a comfortable desert camping experience, but wind!!! I hate it! Hard to cook in! Blows sand into everything! Just rips through you. A tent will save your sanity in wind!

[dmulk]

Tents!


But honestly sometimes, if not most times, I like to just sleep under the stars.



Believe Fred when he says that he likes to sleep under the stars.... I thought he was joking when he mentioned this a few days before WeSTOC 07 and when we got to Patricks Point, he simply unrolled his tent, laid it on the ground, blew up his big agnes and plopped right down on it....


22445


The guy doesn't mess around when it comes to camping.... :cool:


<D>

[Finewest]

Keeping it simple is the key to a enjoyable camping experience. Too much stuff can often fail, get lost, or just get in the way; like too much weight... BTW, I hate that picture! LOL.

[dteel]

I'm sure you'll have Fred blushing BES.

FWIW, I concur, hey you're having a good time. That looks good to me!

[Finewest]

I'm fat, I'm ugly, I'm old... Other than that I'm having a good time! LOL. Thanks Sue and Dana.

I do hope Sue that you try it. Getting close to the earth and sky is one our last remaining true human endeavors.

[George]

I've been known to sleep under the stars, sans tent, especially when making miles on the long haul. Sleeping bag only, no pad, no tent, no cot. Don the Aerostich and boots, crawl in the bag, sleep. 5 minutes in the Am as the sun appears and back on the road again.

[Raven]

Still a die-hard hammock camper, here!

More power to the tent folks.....
:bow1:


Too bad that weekend conflicts with my SO's triathlon.....wish I could be there!

[shezonit]

Ok, so it's camp and fires and all that.... I guess we all bring our own food? Is there a store near the campground? I will be coming up from Mazatlan after the Chabochis Rally at Copper Canyon just in time for SEASTOC. The 26th is a full moon AND my birthday, by the way! So SEASTOC is my celebration of 5 weeks on the road (probably 6000 miles), and from there it is a cold 1500 miles back to Montana. Advise re food? Will there be some pavement rides?

[Finewest]

Ok, so it's camp and fires and all that.... I guess we all bring our own food? Is there a store near the campground? I will be coming up from Mazatlan after the Chabochis Rally at Copper Canyon just in time for SEASTOC. The 26th is a full moon AND my birthday, by the way! So SEASTOC is my celebration of 5 weeks on the road (probably 6000 miles), and from there it is a cold 1500 miles back to Montana. Advise re food? Will there be some pavement rides?

Yes! Bring your own! BYO! There is a small town near the campground called Mecca, and another small town about 15 miles or so south of the campground called Niland that has a fairly nice Mexican restaurant. I will be providing a free spaghetti dinner Sat. night though.

This your chance to try out your camping skills which includes cooking and eating in camp. Some folks like to bring MRE's for their convience, and all other sorts of camping/backpacking foods. I gotta have my one cup of coffee in the morning so I bring a small stove and pots.

[Finewest]

CLOTHING!

Since it is a dry and warm desert environment proper clothing can make for a safe and pleasant visit. Clothing that will allow your body's natural cooling (perspiration) are a good choice, not to mention also protecting you from UV and sun-burn. I like cotton tees and such for that. Also keep in mind that nights can turn right down chilly! Sometimes as much as a drop of half in temp.! I'll be bringing my down jacket for those chilly nights. Layering clothes is also a great way to regulate your body's temp. I suggest a tee-shirt, then a long sleeve shirt and on top of that maybe a sweater with a jacket on top of that. That way you can peel layers as needed. One of those top layers should be wind-proof. Wind is the great robber of warmth! A simple and light nylon windbreaker can go a long way to keeping yourself warm! Over a sweater it can be very effective.

I have been watching the weather links and have been noticing that it could get pretty warm during the days at the event. Maybe even in the low 90's! Thank goodness there is a nice body of water nearby to jump into! LOL. I will also be bringing a water spray bottle to spritz my face now and then for relief. Keep in the shade as much as possible, and wear a hat! You might even consider getting a inexpensive water retention cooling riding vest for your rides through the desert. They can range in cost from as low of $30 to as high as $100. I have one of the $30 ones and find it quite effective! In fact just wearing it around camp would also be effective! You might look dorky in it, but then again you can watch some of the guys laughing at you drop in heat exhaustion! LOL.

Here is a link for various cooling riding vests. I keep mine in a waterproof stuff sack. That way I can fill it with water and it doesn't leak all over my stuff when I pack it, and when I need it it is ready to go!

COOLING RIDING VESTS (http://motorcycleinfo.calsci.com/CoolAndHeat.html)

[dteel]

Fred, I wish I had a waterproof stuff sack I could put mine in. Did it come with your vest or did you buy it separately?

[Finewest]

Fred, I wish I had a waterproof stuff sack I could put mine in. Did it come with your vest or did you buy it separately?

Purchased separately. Any good sporting good store, like REI-Sports Chalet-heck even Wal-Mart, should have them. Also called "Dry Sacks".

[Mark]

Don't ask me how I know; but, if you put a wet vest in a sealed container it can get moldy *very* fast.

I use a net and put it behind me either on the seat or on the givi rack if I don't have the topbox mounted.

Mark

[Finewest]

Don't ask me how I know; but, if you put a wet vest in a sealed container it can get moldy *very* fast.

I use a net and put it behind me either on the seat or on the givi rack if I don't have the topbox mounted.

Mark

I agree with Mark, except the "very fast" statement. I do practice care with my method... If I see that I will be needing the vest on that day's ride, I will fill the dry bag with the dried vest in it with water. Later that afternoon when it starts getting hot I'll take out the vest, wring it little, and put it on. In the meantime I have turned the dry sack inside out and place it in a spot to dry out. Never store the wet vest in dry bag for long periods of time; like days for example. Haven't had the moldy issue... yet. Maybe it's something about Mark's body? I don't know... :eek: ;) :D

[Mark]

Haven't had the moldy issue... yet. Maybe it's something about Mark's body? I don't know... :eek: ;) :D

Very good Fred... :)

I had the fully wet vest in a zip lock in a side bag for a long day ride. I didn't need it (hot; but, we were moving so I didn't want to stop to put it on).
When I got home it smelled funky... I let it dry outside and the next time I went to use it, it would not absorb any water... completely dead...

ymmv... but, it cost me a vest... now I carry the miracool vest wet and net it to the back of the bike. The miracool holds so much water I've never had it dry out in a day.

Mark

[Finewest]

Very good Fred... :)

I had the fully wet vest in a zip lock in a side bag for a long day ride. I didn't need it (hot; but, we were moving so I didn't want to stop to put it on).
When I got home it smelled funky... I let it dry outside and the next time I went to use it, it would not absorb any water... completely dead...

ymmv... but, it cost me a vest... now I carry the miracool vest wet and net it to the back of the bike. The miracool holds so much water I've never had it dry out in a day.

Mark

I hear ya. I wonder how many other vest owners have had this issue? So far your's is the only one I've heard about. But I can see how it could happen. Sorry about the "crack"... "crack is wack!" :crackup

[Finewest]

FIRST AID!

I won't even attempt to list the contents of a first aid kit for desert camping, so I'll just list a few possible causes and issues that may arise...

BURNS! Oh boy! Do these hurt! Usually caused by hot campfires, stoves, cooking and hot water (steam will burn ya), lanterns, candles and the good 'ol matches/lighters, and trying to hold and smoke a very small burning filterless hand rolled cigarette butt between your thumb and finger. Don't ask! Keep all burning material in its proper designated containers. Watch those hot pipes too!

And this brings us to SUNBURNS! Imagine that! In the desert! Sunburns! Hard to believe it happens, but it does! Be prepared!

CUTS, SCRAPS AND SCRATCHES. All kind of desert and camping things are just planning right now to snag ya! Vegetation, wood tables, knives, glass on the ground, and that unkind axe murderer who always seems to haunt campground; especially right after fireside story telling and when you go to bed inside your tent! He's pesky! And if you stab yourself touching a cactus full of sharp needles, well... you just asked for it... :rolleyes:

SPRAINS AND BROKEN BONES! To be avoid all costs! Keep calm! Don't move around! Inform someone!

SNAKES! How do these guys dare to live out there and invade our space! It is just beyond me, the gall! But they are there! Snakes will be out in the morning time trying to catch some sun warmth because these dudes are COLD BLOOD! Shudder... They seem to like be right on the other side of that rock, ledge or log when you step over it and inside that dark black hole your kid just seems draw to put in their hands! Insidious. Take Rattlesnakes for example. They are the only poisonous snake this side of the Mississippi River, so I've read,and it is the only poisonous snake in this desert! What's on our side though regarding this low ceiling creature is that THEY ARE MORE AFRAID OF YOU THEN YOU ARE OF THEM! So if encountered keep your distance (they can only strike the length of their bodies) and stomp the ground, kick sand in their faces! They will split. Side note: did you know that they are also the only poisonous snake that warns you? They have rattlers on the end of their tail hence the name. DUH! If bitten inform someone RIGHT AWAY! DON'T FREAK OUT AND RUN AROUND! STAY CALM! Or the vermin will just work its way to your heart a bit faster. The rangers know what to do and can get help to you pretty darn fast! It's rare to die from this!

INSECTS! Shudder! ICKY! Scorpions... Most desert ones (this desert anyway) are mostly harmless. Sting no worse then a bee-sting (I'll talk about those guys next). But a few can be deadly! I can't remember if it is the dark ones that kill, or the light yellow color ones? I don't care! I hate 'em! Avoid. They like hanging out in dark crevices, like inside the shoes you put outside your tent! :22yikes: Bees are, I think, are more seasonal (they like flowering plants) and they STING too! Most people survive their first bee sting, but some folks are allergic! If that is you be sure to bring your antidote medication. Trantulas... Ugliest suckers on this fair Earth!!! But! COMPLETELY HARMLESS! That's it! No harm at all! I just like looking at them and shuddering! I think that about covers the I-don't-play-fair insect life out there.

MAMMALS! Well, what can you do? They are there too! But! Not in great numbers or size! After all the desert is a harsh mistress for mammals who need to eat alot and stay warm when it's cold and cool when it's hot and most of all they need WATER ALL THE TIME! Hard to get out in the desert, water that is. So size and type is effected and limited. No bears! No Mountain Lions! No deer! No wolves! No raccoons! No beavers! etc. COYOTES are there, but not in great numbers. And they are very very leery of us! We've been kicking their butts for so long now that I think they have learned to try to stay clear of humans. What will attract them is food! And even then they would have to be super hungry to come into a camp to collect on the buffet! Unlikely and something I have never seen except in Joshua Tree National Park where the park's regulations protects them, and visitors, thinking they are cute, feed them. I have seen Coyotes walking nonchalant into my and other campsites and grab garbage right in front of your widen eyes! In fact I think I even remember a small child disappearing there once on the way to the outhouse. Body was found years later, what was left of it. And pets! They just love small pets! Be aware! They don't like tackling big people. I can't think of anything else... don't pet the mice and rats and you should be OK. If bitten let someone know and we'll get the rangers for ya. In my humble and experienced opinion the scariest mammal you got to watch out for is your fellow human! :eek: :rolleyes:

DEHYDRATION AND HEAT EXHAUSTION! This is one that creeps up on ya and before you know it you're desert dust!!! Two best remedies are SHADE! Wear a hat! Proper clothing! The second and best remedy is WATER WATER WATER!!! BRING IT! DRINK IT! LOTS OF IT! I've heard of tales (my Aunt Suzie was a ranger in the Borrego State Park before she retired) of people just parking their car and getting out for a short walk without any proper body covering and not bringing any water ("just a short walk dear! We'll be right back.") and found later that day DEAD! Within sight and walking distance to their car! I cannot stress this enough! WATER WATER WATER!!! BRING IT! DRINK IT! LOTS OF IT!

VEGETATION - As far as I know there are no poisonous plants like Poison Oak and such. If you see me eating a small bright green cactus button I found growing on the ground don't fret and harsh my mellow. And don't came at me with a waving flashlight and telling me you saw God! That just freaks me out! Don't ask! :22yikes: ;) :D

Well that's the worse of what I can think of right now. Anything heavier than the above will probably just kill ya anyway.

Oh yeah! I almost forgot! SHARKS! Somebody had released baby sharks in the Salton Sea years ago and now they are full grown and hungry! ...GOTCHA!!! There are no sharks or harmful fish in the Salton Sea! You should of seen your eyes and mouths drop! Oh man! That was funny!!! :22yikes: :crackup

RIDE SAFE!!! Take your cell phone with you!

Buddy systems! Tell people where you are going and when you'll be back!

Don't leap before looking! Don't run around with scissors in your hands!

Don't run around the pool! Don't hit your sister! Pick up after yourself!

DON'T HARSH MY MELLOW, OR ANYONE ESLE'S FOR THAT MATTER!

Be Aware! Be Prepared! And for God's sakes don't worry and HAVE FUN!!!

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/193/499990641_8bc3637355.jpg?v=0

I CAN'T HEAR YOU!
:)