Experimenting with Loading the Bike for Camping

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This is the first of what I hope to be various adventures with my bike. Saturday, June 4, 2006- Since I finally got my bike back from the shop after 2 weeks and it was looking to be a nice weekend for a change, I decided to do some bike camping. My original plan was to go to an official campground such as one in Bull Run Regional Park or Prince William Forest, VA. However, my wife Nancy suggested that we camp out in her mother's back yard in Catlett, VA. Since this campsite was FREE, I decided, why not! Previously, I had done some research on motorcycle camping and found some great results at various web sites. I had purchased a t-bag, which is basically a backpack that goes over the sissy bar on a bike and a small cargo net that strattles the passenger seat and would hold my ground cloth, sleeping bag and sleeping pad. So I packed up the bike and it looked pretty good. I packed it with solo camping items but threw my bigger tent, Nancy's sleeping bag and pad as well as other amenities into her van. We then headed over to her mom's house. We got there mid afternoon. I got Nance to sit on the bike for the first time and pose for a picture. She looked good! Like a 'Biker Babe'. We then set up the tent, visited with her mom a bit, then took off for dinner and to run some errands. One of the things we had to do was let out Nancy's son Kevin's chickens over at his house since he and his lovely wife Rosanna were away for a few days. It was interesting watching the chickens. They always go back into their coup at dusk. We got back to Nancy's mom's house right at dark. We watched a little TV with her and then went out to the tent to go to sleep. I had placed the tent cover on the tent as there was a chance of rain that night. We read for awhile and then dozed off. Sunday, June 5, 2006- It ended up being a great night to camp out. However, neither of us slept well that night. I was still sore from a fall that I had taken on a hike last week and could not sleep on my left side very long. My ear would hurt if I slept on my right side too long. So, needless to say, I didn't sleep well that night. I got up around 6ish. I took a walk down to the end of the country block and back that my mother-in-law lives on. It's about a mile. Nance stayed in the tent and read a magazine. We then had a nice leasurely Sunday morning breakfast with Nancy's mom, packed up the tent and went home. This excursion was a good test run for future motorcycle camping trips. Mike C

Back view of t-bag and cargo net. By Mike Calabrese. Front view of t-bag and cargo net. By Mike Calabrese. Nancy C- biker babe. By Mike Calabrese. View of tent and bike. By Mike Calabrese. Nancy C- camper babe. By Mike Calabrese.