On the road alone on ya Tenere...

[Dmcleane]

Unless your batched up with a gang I would say that is true, two riders are not in my opinion what i would call a gang. ......... ::026::

I wouldn't necessarily consider 2 riders, or even 10 riders as a gang either. My point was how much more approachable a solo rider is to the timid, non riding observer than a group of riders.

 

[snakebitten]

I recently camped across the southern states for about 40 days. Alone.
It is awesome if you are in the solitude mood. And makes it really easy to read a book. I read a lot.

I do find that the snowbirds and retirees are quick to approach and generally very polite and easygoing. I like that.
And it keeps the solitude from expanding into isolation.

However, there's a time to ride and camp as a group too. Far more energy and effort, of course, but we're social creatures. Sharing makes us richer!
Probably healthy to find a balance.

 

[Ramseybella]

I wouldn't necessarily consider 2 riders, or even 10 riders as a gang either. My point was how much more approachable a solo rider is to the timid, non riding observer than a group of riders.

Point understood.. ::026::

 

[longdude]

Ten Bob, great post and all the contributions help !
I'm possibly facing a ride into mainland Europe in May, June or July. It seems all my usual ridding buddies are doing other things. Having read all the above, it has made my mind up............ill go have an adventure off my own. After all, I have just bought a two year old XTZ12.

Thank fellas ::021::

 

[tenbob]

Well I've got 3 weeks off for Christmas so wonder maybe if I get some less than wintery weather I might give it a whirl n head off alone for a night at least. All the great points of view on here only spur me on to get on with it. Roll on the Spring! I know I need a long ride somewhere... Need some quality thinking time. N aboard me Tenere is the place to be for me for that...

 

[snakebitten]

Had the blessing of my youngest son graduating with his Agricultural Degree Friday. So I made the often traveled round trip Solo. It was magnificent. The solitude of the ~500 miles, combined with the social gathering of family and close friends for the event and celebration itself. Best of both worlds!

And down here in coastal Texas, it's this time of year we are rewarded for surviving the brutal summer. Glorious weather all weekend.

 

[longdude]

That sounds like a cool ride and the sun part is even better. Bring on our short but sunny sumer !

Nice looking set of wheels Snakebitten.

 

[Dirt_Dad]

Had the blessing of my youngest son graduating with his Agricultural Degree Friday.

Congrats, Snake.

 

[mhoy]

I do a lot of solo rides and I ride with my wife on the back seat, im also with 2 motorcycle organizations and we ride together a lot as well, variety is the spice of life and I love it.

 

[WRW9751]

Congratulation Snake!
Seems you folks get rewarded for the hotness, we are 25 degrees with 30 mph today. Got a chance to ride Sunday it was 50.
I think I'm going to head solo down to the southwest after the holidays. Probably middle January, really cold here.

 

[snakebitten]

Come on down!


Oh, and thanks for the congrats fellas.

 

[adventurelounger]

Here's my take on camping, from a post/ride report on my motoblog last summer (BTW it was written before I sold my F800GS for my '13 Tenere earlier this year):

"Let me just start by saying that I’ve got nothing against the TAT, Arctic Circle runs, the Baja 1000, butane stoves, TKCs, turkey jerky, muddy chains, or pup tents.

I dream of that stuff.

But I live in reality, and I’m a middle-aged New England dad with middle- (and high-) school kids, the typical midsection spread, middling riding skills, the middle GS, and an ultra rare mid-week pass to evaporate for two days (thanks, Liebe) to find my inner Long Way Around. Even if it was just a short loop up into Vermont.

And while I wanted my ride to give a stiff middle finger to domestic tranquility and workaday routine for two days (SUBJECT: Eff off, email…send!), I also wanted to sleep in a goddamned nice bed. With high-BTU air conditioning. In a cush place. With scalding hot showers and high thread-count sheets and nice hair and body products.

So sue me. Call me an adventure-lounger. Scoff at the incongruity between GPS-enabled dirt-path wandering and DirecTV-enabled channel-surfing.

I got 48 hours. And I’m voting with my ass.

Which means not signing up for self-imposed suffering on a neoprene camp mat with a can of Chunky Sirloin Burger soup. But instead, opting to ride all day and luxuriate all night on a crisp cotton duvet, my other BMW (Bulleit, Motrin, and Walgreen’s-butt-ointment) doing its medicinal magic.

This was to be my ride."


Here's the whole shebang if you're interested... http://longitudeandgratitude.com/2013/09/07/adventure-rider-not-exactly-roughing-it-1/

 

[Ramseybella]

You really do need to sleep in a tent and eat Chunky Sirloin Burger soup around a campfire with a bottle of IPA wake up in the morning with freezing condensation all around you and Chip Monks rifling through your food stash that you left out the night before!! ;D
It's not that bad!!

 

[snakebitten]

That's pretty funny advlounger.

Sissy city boy.

 

[bigbob]

BMW (Bulleit, Motrin, and Walgreen’s-butt-ointment) doing its medicinal magic.

So which of the three works better?

 

[Dmcleane]

Here's my take on camping, from a post/ride report on my motoblog last summer (BTW it was written before I sold my F800GS for my '13 Tenere earlier this year):

"Let me just start by saying that I’ve got nothing against the TAT, Arctic Circle runs, the Baja 1000, butane stoves, TKCs, turkey jerky, muddy chains, or pup tents.

I dream of that stuff.

But I live in reality, and I’m a middle-aged New England dad with middle- (and high-) school kids, the typical midsection spread, middling riding skills, the middle GS, and an ultra rare mid-week pass to evaporate for two days (thanks, Liebe) to find my inner Long Way Around. Even if it was just a short loop up into Vermont.

And while I wanted my ride to give a stiff middle finger to domestic tranquility and workaday routine for two days (SUBJECT: Eff off, email…send!), I also wanted to sleep in a goddamned nice bed. With high-BTU air conditioning. In a cush place. With scalding hot showers and high thread-count sheets and nice hair and body products.

So sue me. Call me an adventure-lounger. Scoff at the incongruity between GPS-enabled dirt-path wandering and DirecTV-enabled channel-surfing.

I got 48 hours. And I’m voting with my ass.

Which means not signing up for self-imposed suffering on a neoprene camp mat with a can of Chunky Sirloin Burger soup. But instead, opting to ride all day and luxuriate all night on a crisp cotton duvet, my other BMW (Bulleit, Motrin, and Walgreen’s-butt-ointment) doing its medicinal magic.

This was to be my ride."


Here's the whole shebang if you're interested... http://longitudeandgratitude.com/2013/09/07/adventure-rider-not-exactly-roughing-it-1/

Wow, Lounger, that really does sound sweet. What Luxury!!!

Problem for me, where I often want to ride doesn't offer the option you just described. As a result, I carry the tent, cot, pad, pillow, chair, stove, etc, etc. I relish climbing into my bed when I get back, but then I lay there and dream of the stars, the coyotes, the fresh clear air and the experience I just had without the luxuries.

A room with a ballgame on the tube is pretty nice too though. ::015::

 

[adventurelounger]

I kid, I kid. Sorta. Maybe this summer I'll try a little roughing it. Wanna do a trip to Maine, and plenty of camp options. I actually love campfire cooking, too.

It's just that riding has such an "exposed to the elements" aspect that I'm not wanting for more fresh air at the end of the day. I'm jonesing for a shower, a drink, and some genuine stretched-out comfort.

That's just me. But I have a feeling that's also a lot of other folks too; yet somehow adventureriding and adventurelounging seem like strange bedfellows.

Someone has to stand up for lying down in a bed!

 

[Ramseybella]

I kid, I kid. Sorta. Maybe this summer I'll try a little roughing it. Wanna do a trip to Maine, and plenty of camp options. I actually love campfire cooking, too.

It's just that riding has such an "exposed to the elements" aspect that I'm not wanting for more fresh air at the end of the day. I'm jonesing for a shower, a drink, and some genuine stretched-out comfort.

That's just me. But I have a feeling that's also a lot of other folks too; yet somehow adventureriding and adventurelounging seem like strange bedfellows.

Someone has to stand up for lying down in a bed!

Two or three nights when you start to stink, then hit the Hotel and a Hot shower AC big aSS king size bed and More beer!!

Then plan your next two days in the woods before heading home.. ::008::

 

[snakebitten]

I have been known to chide and harass anyone I ever witnessed trailer their Tenere.
I also have championed those that loaded theirs up like a pack mule and then set out for an adventure, including tent camping.

This stance was self-serving, of course, as I myself spent many of nights doing just the same.

But now I must suffer the humiliation, that I so deserve, for my hypocrisy. I now am guilty of BOTH trailering, AND sleeping comfortable.
Crow taste better than I thought though. 8)

 

[tenbob]

I have been known to chide and harass anyone I ever witnessed trailer their Tenere.
I also have championed those that loaded theirs up like a pack mule and then set out for an adventure, including tent camping.

This stance was self-serving, of course, as I myself spent many of nights doing just the same.

But now I must suffer the humiliation, that I so deserve, for my hypocrisy. I now am guilty of BOTH trailering, AND sleeping comfortable.
Crow taste better than I thought though. 8)

Looks like ya been kicked out of the house mate! Tiz a great set up ya got there, specially the teardrop caravan. ::008::
Mind, not bothered about ultimate comfort to be fair. Spend most of my time pampered by four walls, beds, heating, hot baths n good food, so find it a nice change / challenge existing more minimal on bike camps. As long as I'm dry n my mat is well cushioned so I sleep well, I'm a happy bunny... Good coffee sat under clear skies is what makes it a little more special for me if the weathers kind. Can't see the stars sat in a hotel... Being balanced can see other benefits of using lodgings, just I guess the child in me still likes to build n play in dens...