Our 2nd Bike Camping Trip

We finally were able to go on another bike camping overnight this past Monday. We’ve been meaning to for a while but life and weather has gotten in the way. It’s been 10 months since the first time we went. Our destination was the same lake as the first time. We both rode our Salsa Journeyman, each with rear rack, panniers and front basket. We carried our tent, sleeping pads, sleeping bags, a change of clothes, food and cooking gear. As for the temperature the high was near 90 and the low around 65. A little cooler than the first time.

We left home shortly after lunch time. Our route to the lake is about 21 miles and we zig zag our way there on a combination of paved and gravel roads. Once at the lake we stopped at the office/bait shop where we purchase our camping permit, beer and ice. We’ve brought along a soft cooler for the beer and ice. The lake was much busier now than previously when the lake was closed to boaters and swimmers due to an algae bloom. We circled the lake looking for a camping spot and decided to stay at the same spot we did last time which is close to the bathrooms/showers. This spot is convenient for middle of the night trips to relieve one’s self but of course means there will be more traffic passing our campsite.

Once at our spot we each have one of the beers we purchased which is Ska Brewing’s Mexican Logger. I really liked it and Nova thought it was ok. We then set up our tent, go for another ride around the lake, cook dinner, shower, have another beer and then go to bed. It was a miserable night just like the first time was. The small tent, narrow sleeping pads, wildlife noises, other campers and traffic all played a part in our sleepless night. On the positive side the temperature was much cooler overnight than last time.

The next morning we made coffee, ate breakfast and tore down camp. We rode back to the bait shop for more coffee which we sat and drank by the lake before our ride home.

Below is a list of everything we brought…

• 2 person tent
• 2 sleeping pads, air mattresses and pillows.
• Clothes for sleeping and for the next day’s ride home. Flip flops.
• 2 microfiber towels, soap, shampoo, toothbrushes, toothpaste, bug spray and sunscreen.
• Cook stove, fuel, 1 pot, 2 camp plates, mugs and silverware. Ground coffee, and collapsible coffee dripper.
• 1 package rice and beans, 1 small can mixed veggies, flour tortillas, pretzels and peanut butter.
• Bike tools, patch kit and 2 spare tubes.
• Phones, cameras, bike lights, battery pack.
• Soft cooler.

Will we do it again? Sure. Having never bike camped or really never camped at all, these first two trips have been to learn how to pack, set up camp etc… We’re anxious to do this in other locations now. Maybe even some car camping.

What would we do differently?
For the most part we had everything we needed and didn’t bring anything we didn’t need.
I’d like to have things a little more organized and ready to go on short noticed and be a little more organized in my packing.
I’m thinking of purchasing a wider air mattress which might help with a better night’s sleep for me. We noticed Nova’s is wider than mine and there is a couple inches of room in the tent for it.
After our first trip we had people comment with many good suggestions, one of them being ear plugs at night. As much as I don’t want to hear what’s going on around me I do want to hear what’s going on. so I don’t know, we may have to at least give it a try.
Bring hot sauce.
As with anything I’m sure the more we do it the more comfortable we’ll be with it. Especially if the occasions are closer together and not nearly a year apart.

Now I know one night of bike camping is no big deal to most people and there are people that live on their bikes with more finesse and less stuff than us but that’s them and we’re Randy & Nova.

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