Yeah, PA liquor/beer laws threw me when I rode the GAP a couple of years back. I kept stopping at grocery and convenient stores for beer, and they didn't have any. Just as well, I suppose. I had a couple stashed in my cooler that I had picked up in Ohio, and I drank the last one in Rockwood and was in Maryland the next day.

All of that. Rain can be a downer if it doesn't let up. When it's warm, a fleeting shower doesn't bother me. When it's not, it can ruin the day.

And I can't blame my boss, who never hassles me about when I take leave and how I use it, but I only have so much, which gets divided between some persistent, annual events and vacations with my wife, and as a result, I take shorter trips. Shorter trips require more rigid planning. I've had to make some creative changes to my plans a couple of times to get where I needed to when I needed to. Or I've had to ride right up to and beyond dark to make mf goals. By the time I'm getting into the groove of the trip, it's time to head back. I need to plan shorter days, but then I feel like I haven't gone anywhere.

Or, of course, I need to plan longer trips where I can be more flexible about how much a ride, but a longer trip keeps me from home longer.

I will say that I generally sleep okay unless there are extenuating circumstances, like really bad weather or some unplanned stealth camping in a questionable location. Other than that, if I've biked all day and got my hammock set up comfortably, I can sleep pretty well. Sometimes it seems like I sleep better than at home.

If you ever ride it again, there is a bar/restaurant in the east end of Rockwood that sells takeout beer.

I don't get the title of this post.

its a take on a line from the film, "Apocalypse Now".
A pretty whacked film about a pretty whacked war.

and an aversion to those whatsit thingees that we pee onto that are put in urinals to combat smell I imagine, they look like a hockey puck, sort of (what can I say, I'm Canadian eh)

I relish the alone time, I'm never lonely. I once went almost a whole day without talking to anyone. Great to dial down the hum and bustle of life. Unplug. Get in tune with the wildlife and sunrise/sunset. I'm a pretty chatty guy, the loaded bike is always a conversation starter. Follow your nose for lunch or dinner. On my last trip I stopped at a campground for directions, found out my destination was closed. They had $ 20 overflow tent sites, hot tub/pool/showers/laundry. Plus it was grilled corn night, 2/buck. Winning.

My job is the biggest inhibition.

Else it's the worrying over making whatever goal I set myself for each day, whether it be a destination, sight to see, what have you. When I'm already out there I tend to not worry as much.

Bad bumpy narrow roads and headwinds kill my spirit. Inability to find a place to camp is a downer. Back in the day when I rode my motorcycle on long tours, I could just sleep on a park bench or a picnic table for the night. Those days are gone. I'm older and more paranoid now.

hey there NC, did you see my p.m?

Sure did. I answered it too... at least it seemed like I did... I'll just send you a PM.

Sometimes having to ride for long distances on heavy traffic, no shoulder roads. Or even those with shoulders. Don't like it. As long as the route is on low-traffic roads, it's fine. We sleep well, don't drink, and enjoy each other's company. And only have the one bike, so we can't get separated or have to deal with all the stuff associated with two or more bikes trying to ride together.

Funny how someone who commented here has never toured.

I've lost track on here, who?

He's been claiming this (falsely) about me for several years now. Just ignore the trolling.

Of all the things to make up, I would think bike touring experience would be pretty low in the fake credentials category.

Exactly.

Some people have a weird sense of propriety and prejudice concerning supposed posers. Brush it off, WG.

I've always been WYSIWYG to the point of recklessness.

(OK, maybe not with the avatar.)

A medium-sized gatorade bottle (empty) takes care of the midnight pizzing dilemma for this ol' fella. :thumb:

Even in a downpour, the empty bottle trick in the vestibule still works dandy.
It's still better than having to go out in the rain.

I hope (& assume) you guys properly dispose of the pee & the bottle --> separately. When I see pee-bottles tossed on the side of the road, from truckers(?), I ask myself --> can someone be more self-centered.

Yes. Poop bottles, since they would be really difficult and unpleasant to empty prior to recycling.

I wasn't referring to you. And if you remember Squeezebox and BT Hobo you will remember that it's high on the list of some.

I love the time I get to spend living on a bike. I've done a couple month-long solo tours and a few week-ish ones since I got into it in 2016. The only thing that gives me slight pause is the time I spend not working. I'm self-employed. So when I'm touring, I'm not earning. I've only got about 15 years of working left in me, so one could argue I should be saving for retirement. I guess really though, I'm not waiting. I'm going on a freind's advice. He said you should retire early and often.

As for the hardest part of being out there, for me, it's that there aren't enough hours in a day. I love the time in the saddle the best and don't usually want to stop, but am forced to by the sun going down.