The end of each day on tour
Just to recap, I'm planning to try for 2,000 miles from San Antonio to New York in June. My first tour.
As I've been posting I've got the bike, bought the bags and equipment, found tires that work, and am putting in miles every day on the loaded bike. Pretty much everything I can think to do. I'd just thought I'd post here what I just did in a discussion on the "Regional: Northeast" forum to gather input from anyone interested. Here it is, all feedback re: the practicality of this approach is appreciated..... My approach to this tour is going to be about hours in the saddle rather than miles per se. Based up the 50- 100 mile rides I've done so far, what works for me is to divide the ride into two-hour intervals and then take at least a 30 minute break in between. So eight hours of saddle time translates to a ten hour period, which from a hypothetical 8am or thereabouts get me done around 6pm. Which oughta leave me about two hours of daylight to either find a campground, or a quiet spot to crash out, or last resort a motel. I have never been particular about where I sleep (I still sleep on a blanket on a tile floor at home), and three years in a remote African village way back when in the Peace Corps pretty much terminally cured me about being particular about what form my daily calories come in. Dry oatmeal in cold water would suit me fine as a low-cost reserve. If it were possible I would prefer to just crash out somewhere most nights wherever I happen to get done for the day. OTOH I ain't in favor of trespassing either, which I expect would preclude most stealth camping. A pity one cant merely sleep off road in the grass along the right of way. From what I understand small rural cemeteries often offer good compromises. Mike |
That's a valid approach. It's basically what I've done for years. Two hours in the saddle, then a break. Eight hours max in the saddle every day. Sometimes that means a 12 or 14 hour day, depending on other diversions--hikes, museums, doing things with new friends, tourist things.
When I planned my last 4500 mile ride, I thought in terms of 400 hours plus or minus in the saddle and that worked out great. It took exactly 50 days of riding. Add some raisins and walnuts to those oats and you have a pretty good muesli in my opinion. If you can find powdered milk, all the better. It's what I eat every day before I ride. "Stealth camping" has been the subject of lots of threads. I stay away from cemeteries, but there's often a town or county park nearby. State and federal lands are generally good places to camp for free. Very often locals will tell you a good place to camp, and that often turns into an invitation. |
Originally Posted by Sharpshin
(Post 16617912)
Just to recap, I'm planning to try for 2,000 miles from San Antonio to New York in June. My first tour.
As I've been posting I've got the bike, bought the bags and equipment, found tires that work, and am putting in miles every day on the loaded bike. Pretty much everything I can think to do. I'd just thought I'd post here what I just did in a discussion on the "Regional: Northeast" forum to gather input from anyone interested. Here it is, all feedback re: the practicality of this approach is appreciated..... My approach to this tour is going to be about hours in the saddle rather than miles per se. Based up the 50- 100 mile rides I've done so far, what works for me is to divide the ride into two-hour intervals and then take at least a 30 minute break in between. So eight hours of saddle time translates to a ten hour period, which from a hypothetical 8am or thereabouts get me done around 6pm. Which oughta leave me about two hours of daylight to either find a campground, or a quiet spot to crash out, or last resort a motel. I have never been particular about where I sleep (I still sleep on a blanket on a tile floor at home), and three years in a remote African village way back when in the Peace Corps pretty much terminally cured me about being particular about what form my daily calories come in. Dry oatmeal in cold water would suit me fine as a low-cost reserve. If it were possible I would prefer to just crash out somewhere most nights wherever I happen to get done for the day. OTOH I ain't in favor of trespassing either, which I expect would preclude most stealth camping. A pity one cant merely sleep off road in the grass along the right of way. From what I understand small rural cemeteries often offer good compromises. Mike on my tours, i found that getting going early in the morning was an impossible endeavor; something about sleeping in without the alarm clock...... anyway, arrivals at destinations were generally late afternoon. getting in early only presents an issue of having afternoon time to kill, which is easy to do: find a locla pub, take a nap, whatever.... |
Originally Posted by Sharpshin
(Post 16617912)
I ain't in favor of trespassing either, which I expect would preclude most stealth camping.
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Originally Posted by adablduya
(Post 16620565)
i'd say you might want to plan arriving at your destinations sooner than 6 pm. you'll need time to scout the area for camping / food, etc.,.
When I'm out in the hinterlands or small towns I've had more luck getting a free place to camp about an hour before dark (8 pm in June). People in rural areas really try to help you out because it's almost dark. If you show up at 6 pm they will direct you to a pay-campground at the state park, usually 8 miles down a gravel road because there is plenty of time to get there. However, a local cop will let you camp behind the police station for free, in town, where there are food options. This prevents you from an 8 mile return trip to the state highway from which you came. This technique might require a little practice. Just have the appearance of worry on your face when asking where to sleep. Somehow, it always works out. |
Originally Posted by boomhauer
(Post 16620896)
I guess everyone has a different experience.
When I'm out in the hinterlands or small towns I've had more luck getting a free place to camp about an hour before dark (8 pm in June). People in rural areas really try to help you out because it's almost dark. If you show up at 6 pm they will direct you to a pay-campground at the state park, usually 8 miles down a gravel road because there is plenty of time to get there. However, a local cop will let you camp behind the police station for free, in town, where there are food options. This prevents you from an 8 mile return trip to the state highway from which you came. This technique might require a little practice. Just have the appearance of worry on your face when asking where to sleep. Somehow, it always works out. |
Originally Posted by andrewclaus
(Post 16622302)
This is exactly my experience as well. Also, on the hot days of summer, I prefer to rest during the heat of the day, perhaps tour a small town museum, use the local library's internet, catch a movie or something in A/C comfort, then start riding again after dinner as the shadows lengthen and ride until nearly dark. Then see what happens. I've had the most fun camping that way, and have met some wonderful people and made new friends.
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I stealth camp the majority of days on my tours. Most days when I begin riding I don't know where I'll be sleeping that night. I don't follow any particular absolute regimen, except to get up start riding. However, most days I do something like your plans suggest: ride a couple of hours and take a break and then ride some more. When it gets late in the afternoon I start keeping eye out for a potential stealth site. At first I'm looking for something nice like a lovely patch of woods away from everyone. If I locate a good spot, I stop. As it gets later I do start lowering my "lovely site" standards. No matter what the site, I always try to be hidden and never do more than move a fallen stick. In morning I pack-up and return the site back to the state in which I found it, including moving back any sticks that I moved the night before.
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Originally Posted by Walter S
(Post 16620602)
Not really. In virtually all u.s. States you're not trespassing unless there's a posted no trespassing sign, or you're asked to leave and refuse.
Not really. There are other exceptions in many states, such as the presence of a fence or a residence. Someone does not need to put a "No trespassing" on their front lawn or ask you to leave in order to be able prohibit you from setting up camp in their front yard. Some states also have exceptions for cultivated farm land. No need to post or ask someone to leave. |
time is relative to latitude where dyou may have a sunset at 8 near the Equator..
if in the northern countries there will be more twilight time because the angle to the sun is lower .. those who stay in the tropics say the sun goes down like turning off a switch |
Originally Posted by fietsbob
(Post 16623487)
time is relative to latitude where you may have a sunset
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Originally Posted by Walter S
(Post 16620602)
Not really. In virtually all u.s. States you're not trespassing unless there's a posted no trespassing sign, or you're asked to leave and refuse. A good job of being stealthy, and you won't be asked. I setup camp around nightfall, but not in the dark. Then I'm gone before daybreak.
BB |
Camping in cemeteries is extremely uncool. It is disrespectful and don't expect any locals who have loved ones buried there to be sympathetic to your petty plight of not being able to find anywhere else to sleep. Use your head, there are many other places to stop for the night.
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Originally Posted by bbbean
(Post 16623977)
Note that regardless of your reading of state law, you should be prepared to be perceived as a trespasser (or worse) if you don't make a reasonable effort to get permission to camp on private property. Odd as it may seem to many urbanites, many of us in the country consider our farms to be akin to our living rooms, and we don't automatically assume the best about someone who simply makes themselves at home without asking.
BB |
Churchyards are good - never been refused!
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You need to get out of the USA, for a change.. how about Scandinavia ?
Freedom to roam - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Allemansret / Allemansrätt ("Everyman's right") - Scandinavia Files |
Respect for people(life) and earth(nature) are equally important. As world (cycling) tourists we need to pay tribute to both. Be nice and tread lightly.
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Originally Posted by fietsbob
(Post 16624031)
You need to get out of the USA, for a change.. how about Scandinavia ?
Freedom to roam - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Allemansret / Allemansrätt ("Everyman's right") - Scandinavia Files I've spoken to Scandinavians about these laws, and they are not a carte blanche. |
Unfarmable,
Throwing your tent up on a solid granite shore of a small pond cut from the Glaciers was OK dis used switchback after the road was re routed, bag of rocks as a tent stake substitute helps.. sheep pasture the residents were able to graze around me . the British Fish in the stream as royal property translated down to the smallest land holder did make some curious discussions all else fails Ask ,,, used the lee side of someones house on a really windy day in Ireland , and they even brough out a Hot Pot of Tea. |
Originally Posted by Walter S
(Post 16620602)
Not really. In virtually all u.s. States you're not trespassing unless there's a posted no trespassing sign, or you're asked to leave and refuse. A good job of being stealthy, and you won't be asked. I setup camp around nightfall, but not in the dark. Then I'm gone before daybreak.
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Just my opinion, but... My take on the stealth thing is that:
1. It is at least a bit sketchy. 2. It is better to camp in plain sight where possible. 3. Other options are usually possible (dispersed camping in national forests or camping in plain sight other places are not stealth camping). 4. Stealth should be reserved as a fallback plan when there aren't other better options. 5. Stealth is best used in locations where confrontation, conflict, and even detection are VERY unlikely. Personally I use stealth camping VERY sparingly, since I seldom find it to be the best answer for the situation. |
Originally Posted by staehpj1
(Post 16625129)
Just my opinion, but... My take on the stealth thing is that:
1. It is at least a bit sketchy. 2. It is better to camp in plain sight where possible. 3. Other options are usually possible (dispersed camping in national forests or camping in plain sight other places are not stealth camping). 4. Stealth should be reserved as a fallback plan when there aren't other better options. 5. Stealth is best used in locations where confrontation, conflict, and even detection are VERY unlikely. Personally I use stealth camping VERY sparingly, since I seldom find it to be the best answer for the situation. And how do relax and enjoy yourself when you sneak into an area and set up camp? |
I deleted some stuff that was getting political. Let's keep that in the P&R forum, please.
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Originally Posted by BigAura
(Post 16622392)
I stealth camp the majority of days on my tours. Most days when I begin riding I don't know where I'll be sleeping that night. I don't follow any particular absolute regimen, except to get up start riding. However, most days I do something like your plans suggest: ride a couple of hours and take a break and then ride some more. When it gets late in the afternoon I start keeping eye out for a potential stealth site. At first I'm looking for something nice like a lovely patch of woods away from everyone. If I locate a good spot, I stop. As it gets later I do start lowering my "lovely site" standards. No matter what the site, I always try to be hidden and never do more than move a fallen stick. In morning I pack-up and return the site back to the state in which I found it, including moving back any sticks that I moved the night before.
I don't stealth camp just anywhere. It's going to be out in the country and forest land well away from anybody's home or farm land or equipment. If anybody has a problem with that, I wish them luck accepting that I don't care. |
Originally Posted by Walter S
(Post 16625996)
I don't stealth camp just anywhere. It's going to be out in the country and forest land well away from anybody's home or farm land or equipment. If anybody has a problem with that, I wish them luck accepting that I don't care.
You should be aware that your idea of "well away from anyone's home or farm land or equipment" and what the owner's may be two very different ideas. It's so easy to simply ask for permission that it seems a shame to risk causing problems for yourself (and the next cyclist who comes down the road) by desiding you know what someone else should or should not care about. FWIW, we used to allow hunting on all our farms. We don't do that any more, because a few people took it on themselves to decide what might be OK and not OK on our farm. Now no one hunts, and the land gets posted during hunting season. BB |
While touring through Nova Scotia I met some landowners who invited travelers to camp on their property:
http://ziligy.com/photos/posts/FreeC...InTheShire.jpg |
Don't worry too much about planning your bike tour. Make those plans but keep in mind that things happen to make them useless very often. People treat us very differently when we are on a loaded bike. We are no longer tourist, but are travelers and most give us respect we would not usually get. You are going to be very surprised at the positive responses you will get if you take the time to talk to people.
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