One of
best ways to truly see United States is from saddle of a motorcycle. I have ridden through many states with trips over six thousand miles in length including two solo trips from New Jersey to Sturgis Rally in South Dakota, and to Pike's Peak in Colorado. I have found some tips and techniques that have worked well for me and I'd like to share them with you.
There are basically two ways to travel by motorcycle, probably one of more popular but less spiritual is what some call "credit card camping" which is basically rolling from hotel to motel for your sleeping accommodations and buying all your meals on road. I look forward to trying this method someday when my writing starts raking in big bucks. About only supplies you'd need for a trip like this (if your definition of comfort is not too demanding)would be:
- Rain Gear
- Camera/Film/Batteries
- First Aid Kit
- Change of Clothes
- Sun block (for those of us not clad in our riding jump suits)
- Sunglasses
- Map
Personally I look forward to trying a trip in this fashion with only my jeans, T-shirt, and boots. I've been wet before and most motels and hotels have some kind of laundry area and plenty of towels to wrap up in. I might bring an extra pair of sock in a zip lock bag though, dry feet are happy feet.
The other way to travel and personally my favorite is to camp out between destinations, this is cheapest and most immersing way to travel. Like they say it's journey not destination. All equipment you would need can be found at your local or online backpacking equipment supplier. In addition to above listed equipment, here is a list of what I usually bring for a typical solo long distance, or overnight trip:
- One person backpacking tent
- Ground pad for sleeping bag
- Sleeping bag
- Single burner multi-fuel backpacking stove
- Fuel bottle with extra fuel (can also be used for bike)
- Cooking kit (stove usually fits inside pot with lid)
- Cup for tea or coffee
- One meal for each days dinner and one energy or protein meal replacement bar for breakfast (grab lunch on road)
- Two water bottles one with measuring increments on it for cooking.
- Candle lantern with one candle for each day of trip
- Small LED headlamp for walking around site and digging through saddle bags
I chose backpacking/mountaineering equipment for two reasons, A: I already owned a bunch of it since that's my other favorite way to find inner peace, and B: backpacking/mountaineering equipment packs down small withstands tremendous abuse and is usually multi-use equipment ex: pot is used for bowl etc. Using a multi-fuel stove has several advantages, you will never be unable to prepare a hot meal because these stoves will burn just about any liquid fuel like gas, kersosene, jet fuel, and even dry cleaning fluid (if you can find that I don't think your far from fast food:) If you run your stove on regular gas or stove fuel you are in luck because your extra fuel bottle can also be used to feed your bike in case your in a jam. E don't mean enough my fellow travelers.
