Lessons in Camping

 

David:  First night camping. There are tradeoffs in terms of how and where one sleeps on a bike trip. Dana and Myron Bontrager went the motel route.  They were "self-supporting" riders and it lightened their load.  Chris is on a "supported ride," meaning I drive our car with food and supplies, including camping gear. Our first night at the KOA in St. Augustine highlighted the other option: it was full of RVs made in Elkhart County, driven to St. Augustine by folks from all over the US and Canada. Lacking the $250,000 entry fee for a Class A Motorhome, we just enjoyed the sights. 

We didn't enjoy our first night of tenting.  The tent itself was not a problem: we got a Coleman "easy set up" tent.  We wanted one we could stand up in - something about needing to stoop over in a tent doesn't work for either one of us.  Those choices meant the tent we purchased is rated for 6 people. That rating is a hoot!  As you can see by the picture, our two sleeping mats and assorted other gear covers a lot of the available floor space.  Assorted gear, in my case, includes a CPAP machine.  I love what it does for me - I hate lugging a marine battery, inverter, NOCO charger and 12 volt converter across the country for the times we don't have electricity handy. (Thanks to Mullet Battery in Goshen for setting me up!)  https://mulletbattery.com/ 

Also, a tip for first time campers, check your assumptions about which one of you will bring the bedding.  It's a little late on a cold night in Florida to uncover such assumptions.  Fortunately a local store had sleeping bags which we availed ourselves of the next day. And a few other items that "the other person" was going to bring. (I forgot to bring an extension cord along for my CPAP - no way that's on anyone but me!) 

Looking ahead: We did figure some things out over the next few nights. Sleeping bags and bedding don't need to be put back in their bags each morning: they pack in the van just as well folded and laid out in the back of the van.  I also figured out how to cook a passable stew on a Coleman camp stove. And the insulated thermos Chris got on sale keeps leftovers hot enough for lunch the next day.  We're still very much on a learning curve, but it seems possible we will figure this all out!