Traveling Fool

[MrDralas]

So,
On Tuesday I embark on the great wandering of 2019. I have a few destinations I wouldn’t mind seeing and one I have to go to, mostly I wake up pick a distance I want to ride and then look for a free campsite then head out.

7/9/19 Day 1

Woke up bright and early, got my wife up and sent her on her grumbling way to work. Attempted to take photos off my phone, while they where copying over I got a coffee and crepe at the local crepe store. Came back to seeing the photos didn’t copy over tried again while eating and again and again... gave up and finished packing.

Packed all my gear on the bike and ready to go at 9am which is was 2 hours later then expected.

Drove for a long time in the terrible heat wishing I was further north, in cool weather. Did a mix of secondary roads and interstates, days total mileage 421 miles average fuel economy 55 us mpg. Called it a day around 7pm camped out in Ouachita National Forest.
Learned to setup my hammock for the first time and discovered what I forgot to pack. Carabiners and my axe.

After setting up I made some soup ate it and then laid in the hammock escaping the bugs waiting for it to cool off which never happened
Not too bad for my first time setting up I don’t think

Yummy soup

Waiting for morning to roll around or for it to cool off

The view of the bike from inside the hammock as the sun was setting


I ended up falling asleep and waking up at midnight to brush my teeth and use the bathroom, I was lucky enough one drove by on the dirt road with straight pipes wide open.....

 

[MrDralas]

07/10/19 Day 2

Woke up soaked due to the heat, took a baby wipe shower and changed. Packed up, drank up and headed out. Drove back roads for a while and then bombed down the i40 for a while.
Rained some in Nashville and got held up due to accidents, people hydroplaning and smashing themselves and other people up. Another miserably hot day, drove 561 miles, average fuel economy 48.9 us mpg.
Stopped in Spring City TN planned on staying at a place called rhea springs, but it was closed. Stopped in at a convenient store and asked about the other spot called Jackson island, the girl behind the counter said that place is dirty and I should stay away unless I want to get stabbed by junkies. She showed me a nice spot by the lake further down the road from where I was originally planning on staying. I picked up all the trash that was in the camping area, set up sat down for a bit then laid in bed.
Yes that is 36 degrees Celsius (97f) at 830 at night.

All set up, very close to the water.


Nice view of the lake at night

All packed up watching the sun rise.

My feet fit bit from the bugs, I’ll have to remember to wear socks or put big spray on them. Itchy feet in the morning.

 

[MrDralas]

07/11/19 Day 3

No photos today, drove from Spring City heading north and east still.
Another hot day today, drove on the blue ridge parkway for a bit, but the slower speed and heat wasn’t agreeing with me. So steered back to the interstate, pulled in a rest stop for a top up of water and some gear wetting. A older fella with a CB900, chatted with him for a bit. Says he was gonna head to Memphis but heard they were gonna have a hurricane so decided he was gonna head south to Florida instead. Asked about the Himalayan some and if it was British... “yeah, maybe, but not really, it’s made in India.”
“India like the country?”
“Yeah”
“Oh....”. And then went on his way.
Went another so many miles then the sky opened up, next 40 miles took 2 hours with the speeds every one was driving on the interstate, so I pulled off and got a hotel in Staunton VA. Unloaded my gear, took a shower, started a dryer load looked outside and it’s sunny again..... it’s alright, I have the Ac set as low as it’ll go and am standing in front of it without a stitch enjoying it to the fullest.
See how far I’ll make it tomorrow I have 1000 miles left to my parents hopefully make it by Saturday, early stop today made sure it wasn’t going to be tomorrow.

 

[MrDralas]

07/12/19 Day 4

Drove 547 miles, camped out in some national forest in Vermont. There were some other campers, I made sure to stay clear of them and camp some place away from people. Was a little chilly in the morning at 17 degrees C, tolls where a killer, a couple of the toll booth people commented they liked the Himalayan.

 

[Kiwiscoot]

Sound like you are having an adventure.

 

[TN_twowheeladdict]

07/12/19 Day 4

Drove 547 miles, camped out in some national forest in Vermont. There were some other campers, I made sure to stay clear of them and camp some place away from people. Was a little chilly in the morning at 17 degrees C, tolls where a killer, a couple of the toll booth people commented they liked the Himalayan.

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Why do you have a wrench showing on the display?

Do you have an insulation layer on the outside of your hammock?

 

[CarstenB]

Why do you have a wrench showing on the display?

Do you have an insulation layer on the outside of your hammock?

 

[MrDralas]

Sound like you are having an adventure.

I am trying yes.

Why do you have a wrench showing on the display?

Do you have an insulation layer on the outside of your hammock?

The bike thinks it’s due for a service, getting the gauge replaced threw off the counter. So I’m waiting till I service it to reset it to see if it makes it match again.

I have a insulation mat yes, I wasn’t using it 17 degrees C isn’t worth blowing it up for. Using a better sleeping bag would have been a better choice.

 

[TN_twowheeladdict]

I am trying yes.



The bike thinks it’s due for a service, getting the gauge replaced threw off the counter. So I’m waiting till I service it to reset it to see if it makes it match again.

I have a insulation mat yes, I wasn’t using it 17 degrees C isn’t worth blowing it up for. Using a better sleeping bag would have been a better choice.

Mmm. Don't recall seeing a wrench on my bike. Guess it is small enough not to notice if not looking for it.

I like the insulation that hangs under the hammock so it still provides insulation. a sleeping bag gets compressed and provides little insulation underneath.

The first time I slept in the hammock on a cool night I ended up putting my riding suit in the hammock and laying on top of it in my bag. I was a lot warmer then.

 

[MrDralas]

Mmm. Don't recall seeing a wrench on my bike. Guess it is small enough not to notice if not looking for it.

I like the insulation that hangs under the hammock so it still provides insulation. a sleeping bag gets compressed and provides little insulation underneath.

The first time I slept in the hammock on a cool night I ended up putting my riding suit in the hammock and laying on top of it in my bag. I was a lot warmer then.

An under quilt would be handy yes, but more expensive then I want to spend. My hammock is a double layer and will take a mat that I usually don’t use. I haven’t used my sleeping bag yet either just the liner for it.

 

[MrDralas]

After I left Vermont I headed to New Brunswick for a bit of visits and a wedding.
Hit up a lot of dirt roads and 4 wheeler trails, camped out in a spot called Martin Head.

 

[MrDralas]

After 3 weeks in New Brunswick I headed off to pei.


I am enjoying this twig stove, it helps keeps the bugs away.