Australian FJ Rally 19th March 2016.

[Arnie]

Atendees List ..............

Pete and Alf (ZRX)
Arnie & Fran with Mr Blackstock taking her place (sort of)
Tony Mac Whoo Hoo!!! Ill be in late on Friday. Save some beer for me!
Noel
The General
Fjools

Urban Legend
Harvy & Peta
Roverfj1200
Layback (Len)
Troyskie (no Bro, so spare bed, I've booked the 18th & 19th, departing 20th)
X-Ray
NotSo (Shane)
Voyager (Glenn)

[Urban_Legend]

Hi All.

With 4 weeks to go till the rally, I was thinking what do our long distance riders pack in the way of camping gear? I have started a camping bag that I can just throw on the bike and go. Kit includes - 2 man dome tent, compact camp chair, compact sleeping bag (it remains to be seen how warm this is), foam bedroll/mattress, camp stretcher, drop sheep and hammer.

Is there anything I have missed or should leave out? Ta

Mark

[Arnie]

Hi All.

With 4 weeks to go till the rally, I was thinking what do our long distance riders pack in the way of camping gear? I have started a camping bag that I can just throw on the bike and go. Kit includes - 2 man dome tent, compact camp chair, compact sleeping bag (it remains to be seen how warm this is), foam bedroll/mattress, camp stretcher, drop sheep and hammer.

Is there anything I have missed or should leave out? Ta

Mark

Compact camp chair, foam bedroll/mattress, camp stretcher, hammer are all superflouous IMO.  Take an air mattress instead of the foam roll.  You may want a small stove if you're not planning to eat in restaurants or from takeaways.  You won't (I'd guess) be hanging about a camping spot during the day, you'll be riding.
You will want a camelback or other water vessel.  You also want a GOOD torch (flashlight).  
Take a loaded credit card, you never know. :-)

One side of the tent gets tied to the bike wheels.  That not only eliminates the need for tent pegs, it also lets you know if someone tries to steal your bike.  The other side can be tied to a couple of rocks.  This will work fine for a self-supporting dome tent.   (Pup tents are even easier, you tie one end to the bars of the bike and the other to a tree, but you do need tent pegs or rocks :-/  )
I assume your "drop sheep" is supposed to read drop sheet, right?  Or are you planning a big BBQ?

Its only 2 days from Grafton to Harrietville.  You don't need to plan for a month away.

Arnie
 

[Urban_Legend]

Hi Arnie.
Just want to be prepared. My first real big ride, and XRay was planning to travel on the cheap. Not a real fan of camping in the ground but happy to make allowances. And yes, I mean sheet.  I don't do  the NZ thing

[Chromaxe]

Atendees List ..............

Pete and Alf (ZRX)
Arnie & Fran  "Mr Blackstock" will be taking her place (sort of)
Tony Mac Whoo Hoo!!! Ill be in late on Friday. Save some beer for me!
Noel
The General
Fjools   
Urban Legend
Harvy & Peta
Roverfj1200
Layback (Len)
Troyskie (no Bro, so spare bed, I've booked the 18th & 19th, departing 20th)
X-Ray
NotSo (Shane)
Voyager (Glenn)
Chromaxe (Glen & Nicky) - sorry have been offline - cricket commitments notwithstanding (again)

Looking forward to catching up again...I'll watch my footing this time.

[X-Ray]

Shane and Glenn are coming over tomorrow and we will probably sort out a bit of a plan for stopovers etc. The 2 nights accomodation in  Harrietvile aren't the cheapest so the 2 nights down and 2 nights back unless it's pouring rain, camping in a van park or similar should be ok on the wallet.

I just bought a nice compact 2 man hiking tent that fits into a pannier and will also get one of those wire frame camp stretchers from Anaconda $25.00. Should be fun, unless it's pouring rain and then I think we will be looking for cheap motels

[Arnie]

Ray,

Unless you're taking a very circuitous route or planning on very short days riding, its only 2 riding days down with a single overnight in each direction.  And, I agree that the prices in Harrietville are not cheap.

See y'all there

Arnie

[oz.fj]

Atendees List ..............

Pete and Alf (ZRX)
Arnie & Fran  "Mr Blackstock" will be taking her place (sort of)
Tony Mac Whoo Hoo!!! Ill be in late on Friday. Save some beer for me!
Noel
The General
Fjools   
Urban Legend
Harvy & Peta
Roverfj1200
Layback (Len)
Troyskie (no Bro, so spare bed, I've booked the 18th & 19th, departing 20th)
X-Ray
NotSo (Shane)
Voyager (Glenn)
Chromaxe (Glen & Nicky) - sorry have been offline - cricket commitments notwithstanding (again)
oz.fj (Darran & Danielle) - Unfortunately we wont be on a FJ this year.... But close... FJR 

[X-Ray]

Ray,

Unless you're taking a very circuitous route or planning on very short days riding,

Arnie

That's exactly it Arnie. After the rush to Jindabyne last year, I wanted to take our time and look at the scenery etc, stop and take photos etc etc. planning on a leisurely 500kms per day, maybe more depending where we are, how we feel, arrive in Harrietville either Fri morn or afternoon. 1500km trip one way for us

[Arnie]

Ray,

Unless you're taking a very circuitous route or planning on very short days riding,

Arnie

That's exactly it Arnie. After the rush to Jindabyne last year, I wanted to take our time and look at the scenery etc, stop and take photos etc etc. planning on a leisurely 500kms per day, maybe more depending where we are, how we feel, arrive in Harrietville either Fri morn or afternoon. 1500km trip one way for us

Yeah, I shoulda realized you old guys need to take it slow.  

Take time to stop and smell the roses.  Enjoy  

[roverfj1200]

Hi All.

With 4 weeks to go till the rally, I was thinking what do our long distance riders pack in the way of camping gear? I have started a camping bag that I can just throw on the bike and go. Kit includes - 2 man dome tent, compact camp chair, compact sleeping bag (it remains to be seen how warm this is), foam bedroll/mattress, camp stretcher, drop sheep and hammer.

Is there anything I have missed or should leave out? Ta

Mark

Less is more Mark. I have travelled for years with out a chair I would just use my jacket to sit on. When stealth camping most of the time there is a picnic table nearby to use. I would ditch the stretcher as they a shit to sleep on but you may find them comfortable. I have used a tent or swag for most of my travels and lately added a light weight tarp to use as a shelter over my swag. I have also removed my mattress and now have a hiking self inflating mattress to save space. The rule I use most of the time is camp but if it looks like rain pub room. As Arnie has said the trip to the rally is a 2 nighter at most so if your not going to use the gear regular then it would be more cost affective to get a room. Most pubs are $40 to $60 a night and van parks can be as high as $30. See how the numbers stack up. Camping only works out cheap if you free camp. Stealth camping can be very rewarding and make a ride super cheap but the cost of gear over the length of stays is the best guide. Hope that helps you Mate.

[Urban_Legend]

Thanks roverfj. My last camping experiences involved a Camper and everything from the carpet to the kitchen sink. Will trim the packing

Ta

Mark

[Arnie]

My comments weren't really trying to be narky.
Most of my camping background has been either backpacking or bicycle camping.
In both of those you set out everything you think you want to take, and then eliminate 1/2 of it.....twice.
Both of those require you to minimize both space and weight of what you carry.
On a motorcycle, space is the biggest problem.
You're really not far away from civilization should you actually NEED something you didn't bring.

My wife and I went bicycle camping along the eastern shore of Lake Huron and camped in OPParks.
We'd roll in, register, and then start setting up our little pup tent while being amazed at the RV's who pulled in next to us.  The first thing they did was erect the TV antenna :-)
We kept looking at each other in disbelief.

I'm now older and much less fit, so most of my camping is in a cabin or motel room.

[X-Ray]

Well, after setting up my new little ultralight 2 man hiking tent, I've realised the camp stretcher is a tad to large to comfortably get in out of the tent. Grabbed the self inflating mattress down from the rack and it's great . A bonus is both the tent and rolled up mattress both fit neatly into the top box, leaving the side panniers for everything else .  That is all the camping gear I am taking.

[X-Ray]

And heres a couple of pics --- Tent, and tent + mattress packed.