Camping Preparation

​Although we’ve been mostly focusing on prepping for our road trip through the Great Smokey Mountains, we decided that we NEED a getaway this upcoming Memorial Day weekend.  We chose moto-camping to be sure and keep costs down, while still experiencing all we can during this ongoing pandemic.  

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So to be sure to social distance to the max, I used one of my favorite sites – Hipcamp – to discover truly “off the grid” camping spots which are usually areas on privately owned land, that the owners set-up for people to bring their tents and rough if for a few days.  Having used this site for all my camping endeavors the past few years, I can attest to finding some beautiful gems that are remote, and allow visitors to experience nature at it’s finest.  Even this close to Memorial Day, we were able to secure a site in New England just for a brief overnight. 

This past weekend we decided to practice our camping skills, and let me tell you, we have one COZY, yet portable set-up.  After hours of research, we decided on the Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL 2 mtnGLO tent.  This is portable enough to strap on the bike yet roomy enough for two people, plus a small amount of gear.  The tent is ridiculously lightweight and took all of three minutes to set-up.  There’s a built-in LED light strip at the top of the tent which is a great bonus once the sun is down.  The rain fly covers the entire tent and leaves covered area outside the tent – another handy feature allowing gear to be stored and somewhat protected outside the tent as well.  There’s also plenty of interior storage for cell phones, small towels, and other necessities one might want at her fingertips.  I can’t say enough stellar things about this tent – looking forward to testing it out in the wilderness (beyond my backyard).

Another essential - the REI Trailbreak 30 sleeping bag which provides enough cushioning to keep me insulated and warm, and can pack-up nicely as well.  I’ve used this sleeping bag for moto-camping before, and it was perfect – especially for these Northeast nights which can get pretty chilly.  I don’t need any extra blankets or padding, although my significant other WILL be using a sleeping pad along with his Trailbreak sleeping bag.   I love how this sleeping bag wraps around your head like a hood upping the level of coziness and eliminating the need for a pillow.  The less I have to bring, the better!  I think the key to a successful moto-camping experience is to bring as little as possible, while always preparing for the rain.  Yes, most of our gear is waterproof – thanks to Kreiga’s AMAZING dry bag system!
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Stay tuned for an update on our Memorial Day weekend moto-camping experience.