Camping at weSToc

[STony G]

I thought I would try camping at westoc, but, I have never bike camped. Is anyone else going to camp (dumb question, I know)? I need pointers. I have the important things sleeping bag, tent. Do you guys & gals cook or eat out, so on, etc?

Any thoughts and ideas would be helpful :bow1: .

[Mellow]

Tony,

Typically, I will either eat out or bring something back to the campsite but I'll always try to make sure I don't have anything left over for bear or other critters to munch on.

I've heard of bears tearing apart a bike to get at food in saddlebags and trunks. That being said, I sure wouldn't store any food in your tent while sleeping.

Joe

[Horst]

My usual is to set up camp nearby - unless a rally is in a county fairgrounds for example, which WeSTOC is not. Many BMW rallies are though :D

So, here's what you do - set up a small tent / sleeping bag arrangement in a KOA or something like that. Your free to roam around all day, eating out and going on rides, and come home to crash at night. Coffee is often available.

[nm6r]

Get yourself a dome tent that measures no more than 24" long in it's bag. Put the tent down the center of your rolled sleeping bag. Put everything into a 12" round x 24" long duffle bag. ROK Strap the duffle bag to the rack on your ST.

Clothing gets laid out in Coleman Spacesaver bags. Save more space by stuffing your socks in your shoes if you're bringing a pair of shoes. You can fit a lot of crap in the saddlebags if you pack right.

Ray
http://www.frontiernet.net/~st1300rider/smile04Bikerwheelie.gif

[Don-STOC237]

If you look on the WeSTOC website, www.stocrallies.com/westocx there are some camping recommendations on the bottom of the hotel page.

Don -- WEC, WDT

[jnsgardner]

Being a veteran of a 25,000mi 6 month trip around the US, Mexico, and Canada, I have some recommendations.
1. Get a tent you can stand up in. Getting dressed wriggling into your clothes laying down gets old fast. The poles shouldn't extend outboard of your STeed's bags.
2. Get a good air mattress (a queen size if you have a significant other along) and a 12v. pump. You want volume not pressure so a pump for the tires won't work.
3. Down or down-like sleeping bags are great. 3-season should be good enough. Zip together is a nice feature (see queen size reference above). Bun-gee them on top of your bags.
4. Forget cook gear for short trips. A propane mantle light is nice and takes the chill off at night.
5. Think ahead about what you might need in a hurry like a rain-suit and carry those things in a tank bag.

Go quality like L L Bean, Eddie Baurer, REI, etc.

Have FUN