Camping on the side of the road.

[Mgbgt89]

Originally Posted by Mr_Gone

Sometimes I will roll into a town late (too late to spend too much time looking for a campsite) and I always look for an apartment complex. There are usually flat, empty spaces next to the buildings.

If someone asks what you're doing, tell them you're "testing my camping equipment." They'll assume you live in one of the apartments. As long as you're gone early, no one will bother you and it's doubtful you'll run into the manager.

It's not ideal (traffic, loud "neighbors") but finding an apartment complex will work in a pinch. And as long as you're not building a bonfire, the cops will leave you alone, too.

That might work for you, but i wouldn't want to be in a tent at any apartment complex I've ever been to or lived in. Hell, i wouldn't want to be at them after dark period, let alone with a bike.

I try to camp out of sight and as far away from populated areas as possible. When planning a days riding i try to shoot for a national forest, they always have plenty of places to camp for free.

[Mr_Gone]

Originally Posted by Mgbgt89

That might work for you, but i wouldn't want to be in a tent at any apartment complex I've ever been to or lived in. Hell, i wouldn't want to be at them after dark period, let alone with a bike.

I try to camp out of sight and as far away from populated areas as possible. When planning a days riding i try to shoot for a national forest, they always have plenty of places to camp for free.

Dude, where have you lived?

The apartment complex I live in now is filled with retired people and very quiet after 8 p.m. Location, location, location.

As far as camping goes, I'm pretty much the same: I'd prefer to be out of town and in a nice quiet isolated forest location. Sometimes, though, the end of the day just finds me in a city. It's not ideal, but it works.

[damurph]

Here in Newfoundland camping on public ground is not only legal it is accepted and common. I have camped in communities all over and in a few places people have asked why i would camp on the beach? We have a room with a bed if you want.

[bigphish]

I am leaving in June on a 5 or 6 week excursion through the western U.S. Solo. Should I have any concerns with undesirables finding or bothering me camping on Natl. forest lands??

[David R]

I stayed here once. Chestertown NY . The folks at the pizza place said just camp anywhere. There were thunder and high wind warnings. I grabbed this. Packed up my stuff and was gone by 5:30 AM.



David

[David R]

Wall mart tent, Dillion shooting mat under the el cheapo coleman sleeping bag.



I camp because I am cheap.

Hotel if the weather is bad, nobody likes to wake up with everything wet.

I will pay for a state camp site so I can get a shower.
Private camp grounds are usually more than the state ones.
All I want is a place for my tent, a fire and shower.

This was in BATH NY this summer. I wanted to ride route 10 from one end to the other, about 150 miles. NOT along side the road, in a private campground . $28.00 for the night.



David

[rocker59]

Originally Posted by Mr_Gone

Dude, where have you lived?

The apartment complex I live in now is filled with retired people and very quiet after 8 p.m. Location, location, location.

As far as camping goes, I'm pretty much the same: I'd prefer to be out of town and in a nice quiet isolated forest location. Sometimes, though, the end of the day just finds me in a city. It's not ideal, but it works.

I would not want to camp at most of the apartment complexes over here in Fayetteville, and Fayetteville is a safe town...

Like you said, "location, location".

If you don't know your location, it seems like a pretty big risk to sleep out in an apartment complex...

[Bushav8r]

Originally Posted by cavebiker

Witnessing the transformation of twilight over a lake is always a good way to end the day.

Indeed. You find some pretty nice places to camp in your travels.

[High Country Herb]

Originally Posted by bigphish

I am leaving in June on a 5 or 6 week excursion through the western U.S. Solo. Should I have any concerns with undesirables finding or bothering me camping on Natl. forest lands??

Apartment complexes are not good in California either. If they are, they probably also have a security guard that will kick you out as soon as tent touches the ground.

National Forest Land is good, though. Most hoodlums in the west don't venture into the forest much. If they do, you'll recognize their party spots by the abundant trash they leave behind. Homeless people tend to stick closer to town to access soup kitchens, welfare offices or whatever.

It would be exceedingly rare to be bothered in the forest. You will be more likely to be invited to join fellow outdoor people for fresh coffee or something. Just don't dress like a 12 point buck.

[duck]

Originally Posted by High Country Herb

Most hoodlums in the west don't venture into the forest much.

They do in Washington - to cook meth - and then leave a bunch of toxic waste around.

[treeguy]

Originally Posted by High Country Herb

National Forest Land is good, though. Most hoodlums in the west don't venture into the forest much.

http://home.nps.gov/news/release.htm?id=814

[High Country Herb]

Originally Posted by treeguy

http://home.nps.gov/news/release.htm?id=814

That was in 2008. Pot is legal now in Washington. They are probably growing at home now.

In California, they hire illegals who like to get paid, but don't like to shoot people. They often drop their guns and run when stumbled upon by hikers. I have heard the hippies in Northern California are dangerous, but I have not heard of any actual cases. The only time I've been confronted is when I twice accidentally turned up a driveway. A u-turn satisfied one guy, the other guy gave me a tour of his off-the-grid homestead. He turned out to be a local historian.

[Rauven]

Hmm... some camping on the side of the road experiences. In 2010 with my better half we took a 12,5k km long trip around the coast of western europe. As quite poor students we were gathering money for a whole year to afford that. And because the budget was not to big we spent most of the nights sleeping by the side of the road or pitching the tent on gas stations. It was fun, I learned how to shower in a sink in a gas station toilet ;)

One night we got a bit lost on a small road in Spain, Sierra Nevada national park. Took a wrong turn somewhere. We decided to pitch a tent by the side of the road. It was pitch dark.

We woke up to a view like that:






Rest of the nights was mostly spent like that:



BTW. Quite... interesting story about sleeping on this parking lot. Huge truck stop on the spanish coast. We went to sleep next to the bike, around 2am I get woken up by moaning. First thought 'Well.. it's a truck stop. Probably some local working girls earning some cash'. After 15 minutes it continues. I get bit annoyed, get up to grab a smoke, and I see a rather stunning scene.
5 truck drivers, standing around one laptop, watching porn... ekhem... "enjoying themselves" (to keep it SFW)... I know one gets lonely on a long road, far from home... but seriously ?

[astrolump]

this weekends ride....
a little stealth beach camping along A1A

[hugemoth]

Having little money I camp free exclusively, rain or shine. Riding in the eastern part of the US doesn't interest me so there is no need to be creative in finding stealth camping spots in populated areas. Instead I plan to end each day in a national forest or BLM land where I'm pretty proficient at finding great places to camp. I can usually find a nice spot next to a creek or river that has been used over the years with an access road or jeep trail and a fire ring. When I find a new spot I mark it on my GPS for future reference.

A few years ago when traveling on a Goldwing I discovered that the low ground clearance prevented me from getting to many of these great camping spots. Got rid of it and now have a bike that can roll over obstacles without getting hung up. Aside from gas and tires, motorcycle touring in the west is enjoyable and cheap.