We as adventure tourer motorcycle riders loves to explore and travel a lot to distant locations, which are unexplored, less crowded. Specially myself, I live in a metro and we all know how crowded any metro city can be. While travelling, we all are in pursuit of peace with nature.
I hate travelling to crowdy destinations like cities or mall roads, instead I love to explore distant secret villages or top of the mountains where I can feel my bond with nature. But, there is one challenge while travelling to such places that is, accomodation.
It is diffcult and sometime impossible to get an accomodation like hotel or even homestay at these unexplored locations. There it seems that I could fly a bit more but somebody has cut my wings.
Every problem comes with it’s own solution. There is nothing better than living in a tent on top of a mountain, close to the edge of the river or middle of a jungle. Camping can allow you to experience such bliss and wisdom.
Is it easy or difficult, AND what are the risks ?
Camping is easy as well as fun and at times risky as well as crazy. It all depends on factors like location, weather, planning, preparedness, willingness, and passion.
Every human has some basic life functions to perform like
- We need food to eat
- We need shelter to sleep
- We need clothes
- Addtionally we need to feel safe
If you want to camp on edge of a river or top of a mountain, it might be that there won’t be anything to eat, sleep and ofcourse it could be dangerous. Some of it have easy solutions and some where there is always risk involved.
- Food – You can carry food ofcourse limited but it is possible to carry food on a motrocycle inside your top box, panniers, saddle bags, tail bag, tank bag etc., But, there is always going to be a limitation in terms of quantity as well as quality. The choices are limited compare to a homestay or hotel.
- Utencils – If you have to eat, you need an utensil and you have to carry those too. This again is limited to items like plates, glasses, spoons, cookware, gas stove, mini gas cans, table, chair and so on. Choice is your the more you add, the more you need to drag on your bike. You don’t have to carry any of this if you stay in a homestay or hotel so, are you ready to drag all of this ?
- Stay and sleeping stuff – To stay and sleep in the night you need atleast a sleeping bag and a tent at times, not to forget a matress or atleast a matt. The size and weight depends upon type of weather, the colder it is the more you need to carry. It won’t be as cozy as a hotel bed so, are you ready to compromise ?
- Nature’s call – You need to decide upon how you will manage nature’s call. Some carry nothing and some carry toilet tent, seat and so on. This again going to be different than a toilet in a homestay or hotel. You may have to spent a day or two without a shower specially when it is too cold. So, are you ready to handle your nature’s call differently ?
- Safety – While camping, you are close the nature and other living beings, camping near a river in a jungle or close to one, could be an invitation to predators. Camping on edge of the mountain or river sometimes could be risky due to extreme weather situations. So, are you ready to take the risk to enjoy the thrill ?
- Weather– Nature is not in our control and weather could play as a friend or an opponent. Weather could turn around overnight on a mountain, rain could spoil your camping setup. A cold and windy weather could test you through the night and give you sleepless night. So, are you ready to play a game of chess with weather ?
- Cost – It is definetely going to cost you in the beginning if you try to buy camping stuff however, it is a one time cost and eventually, you will save compare to homestays and hotels. I recommend, you rent everything for the first few times, and only buy if you think, you are passionate enough towards camping.
- Storage – Camping is like a home in open, and there is no limit to camping stuff. I have 2 tents, 2 sleeping bags, chairs, table, stove, gas cans, tarps and what not. All of this require storage space and a lot of storage space. So, so you have additional space in your home to accomodate another home ?
- Planning and Preparation – Camping requires lot of planning and preperation. One wrong decision could spoil your complete tour. Whether it is wrong choice of place or stuff. Example – On my 1st camping trip to Kashmir, we took a low quality sleeping bag and tent from a local vendor. However, we literally frooze that night due to cold weather as our stuff was not meant to support such extreme cold temperatures. It did hover our minds for long and we avoided camping for atleast a year, until we were fully prepared.
- Effort – Ofcourse, camping require more effort, it is unlike simply checking in to a hotel and get on to your bed. After a full day of ride, you have to setup your tent, mattress, sleeping bag, manage and cook your food, wash utensils, manage your lugguage and clothes and so on. Reverse and repeat all of this when it’s time to say good bye.
- Hygiene – Although homestay or hotel both cannot gurantee the hygiene they promise to offer, but comparitively it is difficult to manage better hygiene specially while camping at distant and discreet locations.
- Location – Not every place is a camping place, sometimes it’s a private land or a public with restricted access. You must make sure to choose a place where it is allowed to camp. Keep in touch with locals if any around, just in case for any adverse situation, where you might require their help.
Overall, camping needs investment in terms of money, time, effort and interest. It cannot be forced upon somebody unless the person is really passionate about it. Take above factors in to consideration before you decide to go on a motorcycle camping trip.
Even after so many strings attached, camping community is on the grow. Every body like to push their limits, reach as close as possible to the nature and to enjoy the fantasy of nature, but one must be ready for the challenges it throws at you.
You can never compare being on the mount everest with watching it on TV from a camera. Yes, it does take some serious effort to climb but, it is worth a lifetime. Difficult roads leads to beautiful destinations.
If you are interested in motorcycle camping and want to know more about it, then go through our camping guide in the guides section.
