Motorcycle Camping Adventure
Going to experience motorcycle camping for the first time ever and it’s a double whammy because this will also be my first. Time. Camping. Period. So… what should I bring for maximum good times?
Update: Camping was a huge success!
My top three items that came in clutch were:
The Nemo Quasar sleeping pad, hands down. It was SUPER easy and quick to inflate, it kept me off the ground and very comfortable all night and is very pack-friendly.
The Stanley flask was a hit. No leaking, kept my drink chilly and is rather sleek.
Comfortable clothes (quick dry and thermal lined).
The weather was perfect and riding with my pals was more fun than ever now that I have a bike that can keep up! We had a late lunch at Whitewater’s lakeside location (highly recomend the Chimichurri Veg Wrap, their gin, hard soda & sour beers) and made it to our beachside camp spot without issue. As soon as we arrived, we set up our tents and got down to business: celebrating our friend’s 40th!
Photo taken by Kim M. on Saturday, August 13th, 2022.
It was relaly nice seeing pals I hadn’t seen in over 10 years. Singing songs by the campfire, making new friends and enjoying delicious food (did I mention that the hosts own a diner in Pembroke? Yeah, they know how to cook!) It was such a great night… even though I totally sucked at cornhole, haha.
The quick dry top I usually wear swimming doubled as a comfortable riding shirt on the super-hot and sunny trip while my thermal base layer made great pyjamas when it got rather chilly in the tent (dropped below 9°C). In terms of ‘luggage’, I probably over-packed. My small, soft-sided cooler broke so it didn’t make the return trip. If you can recommend any compact coolers that are moto-packable, I’m all ears.
Now that I know that I am not just capable of camping (I tented all by myself!) but actually enjoy it; I can’t wait to see what new adventures lay ahead.
Thanks again to all who shared tips on what to pack. Feeling confident in the journey is an important part of it. If I didn’t have a few crucial items (listed above), I wouldn’t have had as enjoyable an experience. The company also made this one epic weekend I won’t soon forget! That’s valley folk for ya.
Original post:
I’m 36 and I have never, ever been camping. Loads of my friends have - actually - pretty much everyone I know has… and now that I’ve got a motorcycle I can really trust (sorry Suzuki! you weren’t tuff enough!), I’m thinking of easing into the world of MotoCamping.
I’ve been invited to a friends birthday party in my hometown next month and I’m taking this as my sign to pop a tent and see what this is all about. Like I said, I’m going to ‘ease’ into this because maybe camping won’t be my thing (and that’s okay).
Have you been moto camping before? On a bike, you are limited in what you can pack so please hit me with your packing/camping tips! My top interests for this adventure include: Good times. Good vibes only. Comfort. Safety.
August 4th Update:
Shoutout to my buddy Marc from Prairie Moto (Manitoba) for writing:
“Bring a headmounted flashlight, pack light (essentials only), have tools, ride safe.”
With that in mind and also knowing my body/chronic pain situation, I decided to get a few extra creature comforts like a NEMO Quasar 3D sleeping pad, YETI Rambler Insulated Water Bottle (*which has since proven to NOT be leakproof though I’m not giving up on it yet… I’m going to try and use it again with greater success) and one Stanley Flask because, believe it or not, I have never owned a flask! I was always afraid of them tasting ‘too tinny’. I’ll let you know how these items work out. All were purchased from our Ottawa SAIL location and it was truly a great customer service experience from start to finish (lowest prices around and yes I checked online).
Having something to look forward to is important.
I have tools, I have a tent, flashlights and other necessities but I don’t want to go overboard. I am travelling by moto and am very much looking forward to experiencing the freedom of getting by with what I can carry. On that note, I did make apply some minor upgrades to my Triumph.
I’ve been riding since 2017 and have finally found the side bags that suit my style, whether or not they suit my needs will be determined over the next few months (haha). They are KAPPA Ramblers (RB100 Saddlebags) and I ordered them from Fortnine after scouring the local moto-shop scene to no avail.
Renfrew Children in Need of Play Structure
Young students attending this Renfrew, ON, public school will not have a play structure this year unless something drastic comes together last minute.
I was contacted through my work’s facebook page by a concerned citizen from the valley. Being from the valley and having gone (very briefly) to school in Renfrew, Ontario, I immediately took interest in what this person had to say.
“Hey, just wondering if you can make a post or something to help my Kids school get a play structure.. the old one was deemed unsafe and with COVID they did not allow us to fundraise so now we are scrambling as they decided to tear it out and replace it with a mound of dirt... can you Help spread the word. Here is a go fund me page for it.”
Essentially, this public school which teaches students from Junior Kindergarten up to Grade 6 is currently without any sort of play structure for ANY of it’s students. How can this be? I am all for the safety and wellbeing of our kids and if the district deems something ‘unsafe’ then demolish it. There should be a replacement plan ready to go to ensure that kids have SOMETHING to make their recess time special.
Being a radio host living in Ottawa now, I am obviously not an expert in the ‘playground structure & safety’ world but I would like to learn more. Ultimately, I would like to see the children have a new structure at Central Public School by the time school starts in September.
Growing up in a small rural town, I can tell you that these playgrounds aren’t just for school time. I used to enjoy the one at Beachburg Public on evenings and weekends with my family and friends, too. Those are long gone but at least there is something shiny and new in their place.
If I had a Million Dollars...
I've seen the house I grew up in get put on the market a number of times over the years. I always google the address wondering if I'll see updated pictures showing what the new inhabitants have done to the house we left behind. Shortly after my parents sold it (when I was 17) I went to a Halloween party hosted by the people who bought it. That was an interesting experience to say the least. It has since been bought and sold a few times and the new owners appear to have made some incredible upgrades.
If I have the means, I would buy back this house in an instant. I know you can't buy back memories, which is probably a good thing in my case as I was very, very sick as a child, but this place has a hold on me.
Whoever ends up buying this place, please tell the ghosts in the second floor bedroom closet that Amy says "hello".
Not telling you which bedroom...