Originally Posted by
John N
Yes, I have and would again just show-up in LA, NYC, and other major metro areas as they do not have 100% occupancy and there are a TON more options to stay.
However, you still have not said what you would do if you could not get a campsite and basically saying I am an idiot for even considering illegal camping if no option exists. I sincerely love your vast geographic knowledge when it comes to bike touring, but you do have a slight tendency to give doom and gloom without a solution/alternative or downplay the cons of some of your suggestions. I was really hoping for something from you that I had missed if the PLANNED options fell through and was only left (in my eyes) with camping illegally. While all of your suggestions are good, none of them work in you can't make it to your reserved campsite with no viable option other than to illegally camp. Again, illegally camping is not my first or even second choice but my last choice. I was just hoping you had a pearl of wisdom on what to do if all planning is out the window and no options left.
This is the issue with these forums unless you are asking a question regarding the type of brazing rod used on your 1974 Olmo you usually get scolded and talked down to.
The major issue with the tour you have planned is it is a extremely popular place in a national park thus lots of people and given the national park status plenty of rules. That said stealth camp when you need to and plead your case if caught. The last thing a park ranger is going to do is throw the book at you given your low footprint and reasonable situation. These reservation sites sell out months in advance usually within hours of the booking opening so it is silly to think you must pre booking the whole trip.