Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1960's

- TRAVELING Q ~ til a, AND CAMPI NG WITH A MOTORCYCLE Story and Photos Ilf Cliff Boswell The rantastic stream or campers, trailers, boat s, station wagons and motorcycl es seen leaving Los Angel es on any gi yen l ong week- end is [it to boggl e the imagination. Where are they go i ng? Uttle preparation Is needed 1t one Is to make use of commerc1al tac1llties. Aside from maldng sure that the bike Is In good shape, that adequate cloth1ng 15 take n, and that a substantial amount of folding money Is In the jeans he has very little to concern himselt with. Proper Preparatio n The camper-outer, by contrast, must do some tall th1nk1ng ahead of time. He made, or where a $1.00 per night tax Is made. BLM campgrounds as well as U.S. Forest Service and National Parkcampgr ounds eharge a fee wblch Is payble with the " golden passport," the $7.00 annual Federal Recreation Area entrance permit. Right now at the going price this permit 15 a good value. How long It will stay thus , 15 anybody's guess - gOVE'J;nment bureaus being noted for their trisatlable hunger for ever larger contributions. In very hot weather, a wblte s hirt and light colored pants are Important. Long sleeves should be used to prevent sunburn and to guard against Insect stings. Protection against rain, cold and w1nd must be taken care of by a combination jacket and trousers of good quality. My preference Is for the English Barbour Sult which 15 completely dependable and long lasting, buckling tightly around ankles and wrists yet being light In weight. Others of similar value are sold, must start preparing and accumulating equlpment and trying It out, preferahly, several months before the date set for giving it a sustained work-out. It this mode of travel and existence is strange to him, several short shake-down trips early In the season may be required to accustom him to livi ng under the open skies both day and night. His equipment must be lightweight, strong, easUyhandled, yet adequate to afford protection against the elements and to insure the preparation of healthful meals. Gettin g ready to go Is al most as much fun as the going', Itselt. Whether camping or not, it Is fun to stt with a road map and wor k out details of a propos ed trip. Those going the commercial r oute may want to write ahead for reservations durPels, pans and small containers lor lood. Heavy Nbber bands cut lrom automobile Imer tubes make good lI..downs lor a motorcycle pack. Anywhere, just anywhere to get away from the smell ot gaso llne fumes , the heat of city streets, and the jangl e of elbow-to-elbow liVing in a city of a million people . Roads leading to the ocean , the deserts, to the mountains, to the Salton Sea, to the Colorado River, to Mexico are jammed to the hilt with vehicles all pointing in one dlrectioll-Out. Wending their way In and out of traftlc, breezing along In a calm and composed manner are to be seen the smaller bits of traffic , the two-waeelers , IUs atascinating spectacle to watch as they work their way through congested streets, then onto freeways and f1nal1y into the open country where more running room 15 available - where they can run with the wind, free to go where their fancies dictate. Like a tumblewood bouncing across the desert In a strong breeze, the motorcyclist is the most Independent operator on the road. Where to go depends upon how much time is ava1lahle and the lndlvidual 's particular fancies, but there 15no dearth of lnteresting places to visit In th1s country or In adjoining nattons, north and south. Whether r iding alone or with a buddy, whether single or two-up the choice of places to visit is completely uP to his spec1al desires. The cyclist can go deluxe or camper-class - he can stay In motels and eat his meal s In restaurants, or, with bedroll and cooking equipment, live close to nature. The former Is easler, but more expensive, while the latter is a little tougher but cheaper, and, to many, more fun. ---.. Ing the heavy tourist season. This Is especially important It resort areas are to be visited. Some of the chain motels like Holiday Inn and Johnsons' will make reservations t h r 0 ugh their computer system for anyone call1ng In. Others will turnish accommodations ahead of time, too, but it Is sometimes dltf icult to locate them. Letters to local Chambers of Commerce will solicit 11sts of motels and restaurants In almost any section of the country. Travel bureaus can offer good services here, too. Campers can more easUy plan accommodatio ns . Even though campgrounds in National Parks and National Forests may be crowded, a motorcyclist can usually find a place to squeeze in for an overnight stoP. State Parks In Calltornta are hardly to be considered In the summer because ot their outlandish prices and their heavily used conditions. This outfit turns away a half -million vehicles each year to fend for themselves where no other tac1llties may be available, and charges motorcyclists the full $3.00 fee along with trailers and fam1lles with campers and tents. Some locations are less expensive, but the $3.00 fee Is standard at all state parks where hot water and showers are available. A more fr iendly attitude Is exhibited by the Bureau of Land Manageme nt (BLM) in its acceptance of responslb1llty towards the public where cyclists and campers In gener al are encouraged to use its fac1lltles wherever available. Many of its campgrounds are primitive and uncrowded with no charge being Camping beside the r oad Is alm ost a thing of the past. This sad state of affai r s has come about through population gr owth and through state la ws which frown upon people doing just that. It Is hardly a good Idea, anyway, as truck and other traftic hardly permit much sleep, and very little It any wtnd and storm protection is available. Many sections of the west , especially, are s till open for getting off the road behind a clump of trees or high busbe s . Also , more s mall towns and more county gover nment fac1lltie s are being made available for over nlghtstops . Sometimes local parks will permit sleeping on the grass although tnls Is not always a good idea fr om the standpo int of privacy . Service cl ubs are building cam ping spots In many sections of the country . Roadside cam ps are available in some states, and state and county parks are fur nished In pro ximity to mai n highways elsewh ere. Brochur es are ava1lahle In all s tates listing public cam ping fac1llties along all highways . They are furni shed fr ee upon request. Letters should be addressed to the Highway Department or the Bureau of Tour ism , state capitol; What To Wear? Whether going deluxe or camperclass (I do not rate the latter as "second class" by any means) the problem of adequate clothing is equally important. Obviously, some particular wearing apparel is necessary to this speclal1zed mode of travel In order to add to the comfor t and safety of the rider. In general, we can say that it 15 better to select cloth1ng of comparatively lightweight variety In order to fac1lltate the addition or removal of pieces to take care of changes In temperature. A light woolen shirt and a thin sweater , for example, are more usetul than a single heavy bulky sweater or jacket, as they can be worn together tor warmth or removed one at a time to take care of warmer temperatures. too. One should not be tricked into buyIng a tlImsy one - or two-piece suit of light plastic materials; for nothing but disappointment can r esult. The ones I have had experience with are too fr agUe to withstand hard usage In wind and raln over a prolonged period of time . One wblpped Itselt to shreds up to the knees with1n 150 mil es of riding. Seams leaked, and It plaster ed against the skin . Along with an adequate raln sui t(val uahl e In cold or windy weather, as well) should go a comfortable pai r of r iding boots of eight or ten- inch height, prefer ahly the latter. U they are waterproof , s o much the better, although few of them are. A light pair of rubber over s hoes can be carried It neces sary. Rider s who expect freezing weather may want to use insulated boots , as they are very warm In cold weather an d affor d pr otection against hot sun as well. In the latter case woolen sox should be worn to abso rb sweat. A good helmet is a prime requis ite for comfortable and safe cruising. My preference is for wblte, as It is highly reflective of heat, and Is easily seen by drivers of other vehicles In the daytime or at night. The full-cover age types although offering better protection to the sides and back of the head, are hotter, and less comfortable than the ones with leather ear and neck coverings- heavier too. They cut down on hearing somewhat. No matter wblch type is selected, though, it will be a great fr iend In hot or cold weather and will add to a rider's confidence. A wblte nylon scar! 15a welcome addition to the usual riding habit, as it helps to prevent a sunburned neck, and otters welcome protection against wind, rain and cold. Trousers should fit as snugly as practical around the lower part of the legs to keep trom wblpping. Nothing takes the place of a leather jacket wblch can be light In weight or heavy, as the wblm of the rider declares. In large measure a leather jacket can protect against rain. CampInc In the deserl can be dU Sty. Ferry to cross Sacramento River In Della country.

• Cover