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Anybody do a lot of this kind of stuff?
After I bought my Multi I started really enjoying long weekend trips, which just weren't an option on the sport bikes I'd had prior. Hotels are great and all, but the idea of camping was more appealing so I started sorting out necessary gear. I grew up in the woods so I already had most of it. All in all I now have 57L of side bag storage, a Dry Spec D38 semi rigid bag on top, a bungee net to strap tent poles to the top of that, and a low profile tank bag. The amount of storage is crazy, but pretty necessary since it's normally myself and the girlfriend.
Typical load out is exactly what you'd expect. Mostly lower end backpacking gear, since I was keeping size in mind over weight. For cooking I have one of those simple stove tops that just screws onto a propane tank, though I've seen a ton of better options. Sea to Summit makes some awesome collapsible dinnerware. I usually carry 2L of water in a bladder but also carry a Sawyer Mini filter. I've been able to put together some pretty awesome meals (I love to cook), even with simple gear. The only thing I don't really have covered is a chair, considering a Helinox because sitting on the ground or a stump sucks, but it seems pricy. I do wish I had aluminum side bags to detach and sit on. An inflatable backpacking mattress was a huge improvement for comfort though.
I've done a few trips to upstate NY in the Lake Placid area and camped on Tripoli Road a couple times in the WMNF. Looking to stretch my legs some more this year. I'd like to avoid campgrounds for the most part, but finding free/secluded/legal/stealthy spots in areas I'm not super familiar with is proving tricky. I found Free Camping Near You | Go Camping for Free! which is pretty awesome. I'd like to get out more on class 6 / logging type roads as well, though I'm on Pilot Road 4's currently so nothing too rough, thinking about going to a more mixed use tire. The Hamster route on ADVrider looks pretty appealing. I emailed NH Fish & Game to see if they had any recommendations and basically got "Please don't do that" as a reply. Here in NH you can camp a certain distance away from the road free and legally in the WMNF, though I obviously don't want to abandon my bike and don't want to carry all the gear into the woods. As soon as it's warm enough I'm planning a 3 or 4 day lap around ME with a stop in Bar Harbor to start.
I guess the point of the thread is to see if anyone had any recommendations on gear, routes, must see places, good camp recipes, stories to share, anything really. I've read a lot on ADVrider, but there isn't a lot mentioned about motocamping around the North East.
Discuss...?