Coming out of the Rockies and mountains we had to adjust to the heat and flat ground; we also had to restrategize our camping. The great thing about the mountains is that there are lots of RV or USFS campgrounds to support the recreational tourist. Coming out of mountains cut into our usual supply of formal campgrounds, so instead we are using city parks. But there are a few things you should know about camping in a city park.
First, traveling as a biker does incite compassion in some and as we aren’t from the area we are bringing in tourist money. And for some of these towns we are the only thing keeping it alive (Jefferson City, WY for instance). The only requirement for staying in the parks has been to contact the sheriff and let him know what’s up.
Second of all, don’t set you’re tent up by the play set. This is for a couple reasons. One is that you kind of look like a creep hanging out right next to a play set where little kids are playing and you smell like a hobo too. I know you’re in expensive spandex and using high quality bikes and gear. You think you’ve got a Ferrari right next to you and surely the money would show you’ve got a degree, job, and a stable and healthy lifestyle, but dude, the greater public still doesn’t understand our spandexs after all these years.
The second reason for avoiding the play set is that in the day it’s a great place for kids but at night its where the drunk high schoolers go to sort out their love lives. So if you want a good night sleep, find the most boring section of grass you can.
In Ness City, KS we had our first time camping with other bikers, who were three Germans. After a few hours of sleep, a misconstrued lover-boy decided it was a good time to explain to his girlfriend (who I hope is now ex-girlfriend for her sake) why he was talking to another woman. And the best place for this was in the ball diamond. I woke up to his yelling thinking there was a fight and was comforted by the fact that two trees down there were three Germans (most likely not sleeping) who were quite capable of taking out this one kid if things got out of hand. But he was just on the phone and didn’t stay too long.
In a park before this we had Rachel talking to her boyfriend about her friend’s boyfriend. I nudged Josh pretty hard because he had fallen asleep during their riveting conversation. I thought they were coming toward the tent but thankfully it was just their car headlights as they turned around.
Thirdly, beware of the sprinklers. Scott City, KS has a beautiful park right across from Dairy Queen (we do all measurements based on DQ or Casey’s). The reason the park is so pretty is because a machinegun of a sprinkler system turns on a quarter to 1 each night and pelts the grass with hydration goodness. Josh woke up very startled and concerned, sure that this water gun would rip holes all over our tent.
The nice thing about staying at the city park is that its free and usually close to the swimming pool which is also sometimes free to bikers.
Tonight Josh and I are back in Illinois. We rented a car and drove back for a short intermission and reprieve because my sister is getting married! We will be partying it up with family, friends, and food the next couple days and won’t be back on a bike till Monday. We left our route in Eldorado, KS with a total of 2,526 miles.
First, traveling as a biker does incite compassion in some and as we aren’t from the area we are bringing in tourist money. And for some of these towns we are the only thing keeping it alive (Jefferson City, WY for instance). The only requirement for staying in the parks has been to contact the sheriff and let him know what’s up.
Second of all, don’t set you’re tent up by the play set. This is for a couple reasons. One is that you kind of look like a creep hanging out right next to a play set where little kids are playing and you smell like a hobo too. I know you’re in expensive spandex and using high quality bikes and gear. You think you’ve got a Ferrari right next to you and surely the money would show you’ve got a degree, job, and a stable and healthy lifestyle, but dude, the greater public still doesn’t understand our spandexs after all these years.
The second reason for avoiding the play set is that in the day it’s a great place for kids but at night its where the drunk high schoolers go to sort out their love lives. So if you want a good night sleep, find the most boring section of grass you can.
In Ness City, KS we had our first time camping with other bikers, who were three Germans. After a few hours of sleep, a misconstrued lover-boy decided it was a good time to explain to his girlfriend (who I hope is now ex-girlfriend for her sake) why he was talking to another woman. And the best place for this was in the ball diamond. I woke up to his yelling thinking there was a fight and was comforted by the fact that two trees down there were three Germans (most likely not sleeping) who were quite capable of taking out this one kid if things got out of hand. But he was just on the phone and didn’t stay too long.
In a park before this we had Rachel talking to her boyfriend about her friend’s boyfriend. I nudged Josh pretty hard because he had fallen asleep during their riveting conversation. I thought they were coming toward the tent but thankfully it was just their car headlights as they turned around.
Thirdly, beware of the sprinklers. Scott City, KS has a beautiful park right across from Dairy Queen (we do all measurements based on DQ or Casey’s). The reason the park is so pretty is because a machinegun of a sprinkler system turns on a quarter to 1 each night and pelts the grass with hydration goodness. Josh woke up very startled and concerned, sure that this water gun would rip holes all over our tent.
The nice thing about staying at the city park is that its free and usually close to the swimming pool which is also sometimes free to bikers.
Tonight Josh and I are back in Illinois. We rented a car and drove back for a short intermission and reprieve because my sister is getting married! We will be partying it up with family, friends, and food the next couple days and won’t be back on a bike till Monday. We left our route in Eldorado, KS with a total of 2,526 miles.