Posts for days 5-8 will be coming
in the next few days but I wanted to do a quick post about the rig that took me
all that way.
This post will be a little different. Unless you’re a
motorcycle camping enthusiast it might seem a little boring.
Here is the rundown on what I used:
Bike: 2005 Honda
VTX 1300C with no performance mods at all.
Windshield:
Memphis Shades Fats 21” with the quick release hardware. I also installed some
National Cycle Hand Deflectors.
Saddlebags: Viking
Bags Large Slanted Bag with studs. Top
loading with locking hasp in the back.
Bolted to the bike over the sissy bar mounting rails.
Luggage Rack: Hondaline. Attaches to Sissy Bar and rated for 10 pounds (Mine held at least 3 times that much for
2300 miles)
Sissy Bar: I think
it’s the Hondaline short.
Tailbag: Viking
Bags Large Tail and Tunnel Bag
Gear Bags: SeaLine
Baja 51 Liter drybags (Black). These
were strapped to the passenger seat with separate rope winch style tie
downs. I strapped a cheap folding camp
chair to the back of these.
Seat Cover: Alaska
Leather large buttpad (sheepskin, low pile)
Phone Mount:
Kuryakyn Chrome handlebar mount for electronics
Phone: Samsung
Galaxy S2 with Cynogen mod version of Android
Helmet Intercom:
Scala Rider Q2 with bluetooth connection to phone
Clothing/Gear
Jacket: Tourmaster
Jett 2 (Blue of course)
Leather Vest: MC
Club style with no patches. (only decoration was my Grandfather’s Shriners tie
pin)
Hoody: Green and
Blue
Long underwear:
Gator Skins
Gloves: Leather
(should have bought some gauntlet style gloves)
Neck Gater
Boots: Timberland
Hiking boots (Spend the money, it’s worth it)
Camping Gear
Tent: Eureka Apex
3X
Mattress Pad:
ThermaRest Basecamp- X-Large
Towel: Sea to
Summit Tek Towel - Medium
110V heater
What should I have had
·
Garmin Zumo GPS
·
GoPro camera mounted to handlebars or front fork
·
Well tested phone
What Worked
The Motorcycle
It became an extension of my body. Comfy, fast and (completely) reliable, I
wanted for nothing on this bike. It was
really more like a horse than a machine.
I got compliments on the looks and respect on the highway. I couldn’t have chosen a better rig for this
trip.
The Drybags
These held most of my gear and clothing. They kept everything dry and compacted in a
way that I could rely on throughout the trip.
This is truly the best way to motocamp without a trailer.
The tie-down system
I used rope winches to lash down each dry bag. I crisscrossed each rope under the sissy bar
mounting bolts on the sides of the bike.
The rig never shifted an inch.
The tailbag.
This held quick snacks, weather gear, drinks, a change of
clothes, documents and a couple of MRE’s (Military meals-ready-to-eat). The most important thing in this bag was
paper towels.
The seat pad.
I would not have made all the miles without this seat
cover. I looked forward to each time I
would sit on the bike. It’s more than
comfort, it’s like having a Teddy Bear as an adult. Don’t think about it, just get one.
Long underwear.
You can be cold in
the late spring. At 80 MPH the temp
drops about 30 degrees. Plan for it.
The Tent.
Light, durable and easy to put up/take down. You will know where the money went.
Tent footprint.
This a tough liner cut to the exact shape of the tent. It
goes between the tent and the ground. I
had to camp on lots of asphalt/rocks on this trip. I didn’t want to worry about
holes in my tent floor
“Auto” Inflatable
mattress pad
Yes it will take up a whole drybag. Yes it is a pain in the ass to
inflate/deflate. Yes you absolutely need
it. I went with the extra-large for the
length.
Hand Deflectors
These are like small windshields for your hands. I’m not sure
I would have made it through the first day without them. You must have them in
cold weather. They also protect your
hands from rocks and bugs. I like the
look too.
MREs: Meals Ready to
Eat.
Yes it is three lies one BUT, they are compact, fairly tasty
and come with lots of snacky type stuff.
Lots of calories too. You can’t
do better for space management and total nutrition. I spent about 75 bucks for a case of 12. I think I used maybe 6 of them on the
trip. Pretty cost effective. I even ate these on hotel nights when I was
too tired to go anywhere. Still, they
got a little old after 5 days in a row.
Full sized pillow
It’s a space hog but you need it.
Laptop
Movies and trip log.
It was essential. I wish I would
have taken more video blogs with it.
Cop-style canister of
Mace
I wore it on my belt at gas stops and in dodgy neighborhoods. I never had any problems but it was nice to
have it if the need arose. Glad I opted for this over a pistol.
My belt knife
Kershaw Shallet. I wear this damn thing everyday anyway but I
am amazed at how much I used it on the trip.
12V/110 Air compressor
for the “auto” inflatable mattress
110V Heater
The motorcycle trailer
on the return trip
It was a one-bike, fully enclosed trailer. It was amazing. We stored all the luggage and bike stuff in
the trailer. The car stayed nice and
clean. Because I had pulled the trailer
to Miami with all our luggage (the week before), J and the kids didn’t have to check anything
on the flight to Miami.
Tool Wrap, Spare Parts
See the full list at the bottom of this post. Whether you use it all or not, its good to
know you have it.
What didn’t work
Trying to use the
phone to do everything.
If it were working there would have been no problem. The problem turned out to be vibration from
the handlebars. It would knock the sim
card loose. The replacement phone they
sent me had many more problems (Bluetooth and wifi radios were defective). After the trip, they sent me yet another
phone. It worked and I am using it
today. The form factor is amazing. I was just using it past the limits of its
design. Lesson learned.
Making calls at high
speed.
My helmet headset just couldn’t handle the noise.
Phone GPS
I should have spent the cash on a good motorcycle GPS unit.
Taking pictures/Video: I just didn’t want to stop to do it.
Daily blog posts
No time, no energy, no brainpower.
My Schedule
Each ride took at least 50% longer than I thought
Conclusion
This trip went beautifully. I spent months preparing. Planning routes, testing gear…learning how to
be away. You have to love camping,
biking and tinkering to do something like this.
The prep can be as much fun as the ride.
Treat the whole thing like three different trips/projects:
·
Prep
·
Ride
·
Report
Make sure you have the right physical and mental tools for
all three. Be patient with your gear and
yourself. Be ready to be wrong and then
get right.
On a recent trip to the beach, I saw a Saturn (small car)
with a huge canoe tied to the roof. I
had just picked up two of my nieces at the airport. I said, “I didn’t think that was
possible”. One of my nieces said, “Anything
is possible, you just need the will”.
So true.
Here’s the full list of items:
Item
|
Type
|
Bag
|
Int Bag
|
Knife-spare
|
Camping
|
Dry Bag-Clothes
|
duffle
|
towel
|
Camping
|
Dry Bag-Clothes
|
duffle
|
light blanket
|
Camping
|
Dry Bag-Clothes
|
Loose
|
Pillow-Full Size
|
Camping
|
Dry Bag-Clothes
|
Loose
|
fire starter
|
Camping
|
Dry Bag-Tent
|
Bags
|
Plastic Bags
|
Camping
|
Dry Bag-Tent
|
Bags
|
Trash Bags-Lawn
|
Camping
|
Dry Bag-Tent
|
Bags
|
waterproof matches
|
Camping
|
Dry Bag-Tent
|
Bags
|
Ziploc Bags large
|
Camping
|
Dry Bag-Tent
|
Bags
|
Ziploc Bags small
|
Camping
|
Dry Bag-Tent
|
Bags
|
Pee Bottle
|
Camping
|
Dry Bag-Tent
|
Loose
|
Stakes Hammer
|
Camping
|
Dry Bag-Tent
|
Loose
|
air mat
|
Camping
|
Dry Bag-Tent
|
sleeping bag
|
Stakes
|
Camping
|
Dry Bag-Tent
|
stake bag
|
camp stove
|
Camping
|
Dry Bag-Tent
|
Stove Bag
|
camp stove fuel
|
Camping
|
Dry Bag-Tent
|
Stove Bag
|
fishing rod and tackle
|
Camping
|
Dry Bag-Tent
|
Tackle
|
tent
|
Camping
|
Dry Bag-Tent
|
Tent Bag
|
tent footprint
|
Camping
|
Dry Bag-Tent
|
Tent Bag
|
tentlight
|
Camping
|
Dry Bag-Tent
|
Tent Bag
|
velcro for hanging phone (to watch movies)
|
Camping
|
Dry Bag-Tent
|
Tent Bag
|
Charger- 110V to headset
|
Camping
|
L Sbag
|
Electronics
|
Charger- Phone USB
|
Camping
|
L Sbag
|
Electronics
|
Charger-110V to USB
|
Camping
|
L Sbag
|
Electronics
|
Charger-12V to Phone
|
Camping
|
L Sbag
|
Electronics
|
ibuprofin
|
Camping
|
L Sbag
|
First Aid
|
nyquil
|
Camping
|
L Sbag
|
First Aid
|
sudafed pe
|
Camping
|
L Sbag
|
First Aid
|
tums
|
Camping
|
L Sbag
|
First Aid
|
flashlights
|
Camping
|
L Sbag
|
Loose
|
kickstand plate
|
Camping
|
SB Bag
|
L Pocket
|
lighter
|
Camping
|
L Sbag
|
loose
|
Paper towels
|
Camping
|
SB Bag
|
Center
|
Storage bag for left saddlebag items
|
Camping
|
L Sbag
|
Loose
|
Movie Rental
|
Camping
|
Phone
|
Loose
|
Big Bag
|
Camping
|
R Sbag
|
Loose
|
extension cord
|
Camping
|
R Sbag
|
Loose
|
Heater
|
Camping
|
R Sbag
|
Loose
|
lighter
|
Camping
|
R Sbag
|
Loose
|
Paper towels
|
Camping
|
R Sbag
|
Loose
|
Storage bag for right saddlebag items
|
Camping
|
R Sbag
|
Loose
|
Masking tape to tape directions to windshield
|
Camping
|
SB Bag
|
L Pocket
|
ear buds
|
Camping
|
SB Bag
|
Backpack
|
cup
|
Camping
|
SB Bag
|
Drinks/Cond.
|
fiber
|
Camping
|
SB Bag
|
Drinks/Cond.
|
mess gear
|
Camping
|
Dry Bag-Tent
|
Loose
|
Note Pad
|
Camping
|
SB Bag
|
Folder
|
Packing list
|
Camping
|
SB Bag
|
Folder
|
printouts of directions
|
Camping
|
SB Bag
|
Folder
|
Reservations
|
Camping
|
SB Bag
|
Folder
|
Rain Gear
|
Camping
|
SB Bag
|
Loose
|
canon camera
|
Camping
|
SB Bag
|
Loose
|
floss
|
Camping
|
SB Bag
|
toiletries
|
razor
|
|||
sunscreen
|
Camping
|
SB Bag
|
toiletries
|
Armada Keys
|
Camping
|
SB Bag
|
toiletries
|
Bait-hot dogs
|
Camping
|
SB Bag
|
toiletries
|
Tie Downs
|
Camping
|
SB Bag
|
Under Cooler
|
boxers x 6
|
Camping
|
SB Bag
|
waterbottle
|
Dirty Clothes bag
|
Camping
|
Sissy Bar
|
|
jeans x 3
|
Clothes
|
Dry Bag-Clothes
|
duffle
|
LS Shirt
|
Clothes
|
Dry Bag-Clothes
|
duffle
|
paperback book
|
Clothes
|
Dry Bag-Clothes
|
duffle
|
shorts x2
|
Clothes
|
Dry Bag-Clothes
|
duffle
|
socks x 6
|
Clothes
|
Dry Bag-Clothes
|
duffle
|
t-shirts x 4
|
Clothes
|
Dry Bag-Clothes
|
duffle
|
flip flops
|
Clothes
|
Dry Bag-Clothes
|
duffle
|
Hoody
|
Clothes
|
Dry Bag-Clothes
|
duffle
|
Debit Card/Visa
|
Clothes
|
Dry Bag-Clothes
|
duffle
|
Hat
|
Clothes
|
SB Bag
|
Very Top of bag
|
MREsx2
|
Clothes
|
R Sbag
|
Pocket
|
chair
|
Clothes
|
SB Bag
|
Loose
|
MREsx2
|
Clothes
|
SB Bag
|
Loose
|
dish soap
|
Clothes
|
Seat
|
Under Seat
|
MREsx2
|
Food
|
Dry Bag-Clothes
|
Loose
|
coffee
|
Food
|
Dry Bag-Tent
|
Bags
|
creamer
|
Food
|
Dry Bag-Tent
|
Loose
|
Propel drink packets
|
Food
|
SB Bag
|
Drinks/Cond.
|
splenda
|
Food
|
SB Bag
|
Drinks/Cond.
|
snacks
|
Food
|
SB Bag
|
Drinks/Cond.
|
Napkins
|
Food
|
SB Bag
|
Drinks/Cond.
|
Back up glasses
|
Food
|
SB Bag
|
Food
|
Laptop DVD ROM
|
Food
|
SB Bag
|
Loose
|
Mouse
|
Food
|
SB Bag
|
thermal
|
Laptop
|
Media
|
SB Bag
|
Backpack-Front pocket
|
Laptop charger
|
Media
|
SB Bag
|
Backpack-long front pocket
|
Bike Cover
|
Media
|
SB Bag
|
Backpack-main
|
Bike Cover
|
Media
|
SB Bag
|
Backpack-main
|
bandanas
|
Riding
|
Dry Bag-Clothes
|
Loose
|
Maps downloaded to phone
|
Riding
|
Dry Bag-Clothes
|
Loose
|
Drying Towel for bike
|
Riding
|
L Sbag
|
Loose
|
Tripod
|
Riding
|
Phone
|
Loose
|
All Paperwork
|
Riding
|
SB Bag
|
Left Pocket
|
Water/drinks
|
Riding
|
SB Bag
|
Loose
|
Passport with $100 cash, Copies of Driver's license, Health
insurance cards, auto insurance
|
Riding
|
SB Bag
|
Main
|
brush or comb
|
Riding
|
SB Bag
|
Main
|
cologne
|
Riding
|
Seat
|
Loose
|
deodorhant
|
Toiletries
|
SB Bag
|
toiletries
|
ear plugs
|
Toiletries
|
SB Bag
|
toiletries
|
skeeter spray
|
Toiletries
|
SB Bag
|
toiletries
|
toothbrush
|
Toiletries
|
SB Bag
|
toiletries
|
toothpaste
|
Toiletries
|
SB Bag
|
toiletries
|
Repair Manual
|
Toiletries
|
SB Bag
|
toiletries
|
extra key
|
Toiletries
|
SB Bag
|
toiletries
|
Blinker bulb
|
Toiletries
|
SB Bag
|
toiletries
|
fuses
|
Tools
|
L Sbag
|
First Aid kit
|
Headlight bulb
|
Tools
|
L Sbag
|
Spares
|
allen wrenches
|
Tools
|
L Sbag
|
Spares
|
crescent wrench
|
Tools
|
L Sbag
|
Spares
|
diags
|
Tools
|
L Sbag
|
Tools
|
duck tape
|
Tools
|
L Sbag
|
Tools
|
electrical tape
|
Tools
|
L Sbag
|
Tools
|
inflator
|
Tools
|
L Sbag
|
Tools
|
locktite
|
Tools
|
L Sbag
|
Tools
|
metric ratchet set
|
Tools
|
L Sbag
|
Tools
|
multitester
|
Tools
|
L Sbag
|
Tools
|
needle nose pliers
|
Tools
|
L Sbag
|
Tools
|
pliers
|
Tools
|
L Sbag
|
Tools
|
screwdrivers
|
Tools
|
L Sbag
|
Tools
|
shrink tubing
|
Tools
|
L Sbag
|
Tools
|
tireplug kit
|
Tools
|
L Sbag
|
Tools
|
wire
|
Tools
|
L Sbag
|
Tools
|
wire ties of different sizes
|
Tools
|
L Sbag
|
Tools
|
extra pull straps
|
Tools
|
L Sbag
|
Tools
|
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