We usually are up and gone with the sun, put on 350-500 and start looking for a place to camp, relax and drink some beer. If we have the urge we will put on 8-900 in a day but after a long day like that we like a hotel and a bar.

 

Long ride down new roads, nice campground, tent's up and the first drink of the day.

 

+1

IMHO, no need for a chair; never carried one on any of my bike/camp trips.

 

I take a regular old folding chair from Wally World. I've tried the special camp chairs, but I've found over the years the loss of comfort just wasn't worth the gain in weight or size distribution. Over the last few years I've strapped the chair right onto my backpack which is then strapped to the sissy bar while sitting on the passenger seat. I can then put my tent and sleeping bag on the luggage rack. If all goes well I'll trade my Heritage for an Ultra, so I'll have a bit more room for gear.

As for cooking, not much better than an old fashion Cowboy Oven, also known as a Dutch Oven. The Cowboy or Chuckwagon version has three legs, a wire bail handle, and a rimmed lid so that coals from the cooking fire can be placed on top as well as below. Make sure the lid is concave so the coals don't role off. I've seen some cheap imitation Cowboy Ovens that have a flat lid and I have no idea how a fellow keeps his coals on top. By having coals on top and bottom you can get a more uniform internal heat. I use Match Light coals which can be purchased just about everywhere during the summer months.

It is amazing what you can cook with these things. You can get 10" and 12" ovens, and I prefer the 10" for taking on the bike. You can buy a plastic case for them as well, but I just pack mine in a towel. The 10" versions fit easily inside the saddle bag along with my utensils and shave kit. An Aluminum oven weighs around 3 pounds while the cast iron models will go about twice that weight.

The beuty of the Cowboy Oven is you can cook pasta, potato, meat (beef or chicken usually) and when I'm especially fired up (pun intended) a desert right in the same oven.

I've also been a "foil oven" cook over the years. This method doesn't use a pot/pan/oven but uses aluminum foil instead. It's amazing how much you can cook with a little meat, a few vegatables, some worchister sauce or other sauce and some foil. There are lots of spots on the web with recipes for both Cowboy Oven and Foil Oven cooking.

Okay ... here are a couple of my Solo-Trip recipes ...

Cowboy Oven Hens in the Pot
1 Cornish Game Hen
1 Potato
1 Small onion
1 small can corn
Seasoning (see below)
Virgin oil or vegatable oil
1 cup water

Start coals in pit and allow them to turn ashen. Warm CO and slightly coat bottom with oil (not too much). A little oil on your bird (so that it doesn't brown too quickly) and put it in the pot. Let the hen start browing on at least two sides.

Slice potatoes and onion. When bird is slightly browned pour in corn and water. Toss in potatoes and onion. Cover and put a half-dozen coals on lid. Allow to stew until potatoes are tender. Whole meal cost less than $5 and cooks in less than an hour.

Ketchup Pack Surprise
5 Packs of Ketchup from your local burger joint
1/4 to 1/2 Lb ground beef (how hungry are you?)
1 small potato
1 small pepper (green or red work well)
Small can of Ranch Beans

Start your coals (15 to 20 is usually enough). Crumble ground beef into pot while it heats. In the meantime cut potato and pepper into slivers. As beef starts to brown add packets of ketchup. When beef is "popping" add potato then pepper. Let steam for less than minute. Add beans (do not drain) and cover with lid. Add half of coals to lid (cools meat at bottom and starts uniform heat).

Best part of these meals is that if you know your own appetite and don't overbuy you'll have zero leftovers for the bears.

 

Punch up "Kermits chair" on google and take a look. I have one and really like it. It breaks down small enough to fit in a RoadKing saddlebag.

 

If I am planning on staying in one campground more than a few days, I use UPS to ship a large tent, air mattress, camp stove, folding chairs, and any other gear I think will make the stay more comfortable. Many campgrounds will be happy to work with you if you call and coordinate with them. Slip them a couple bucks and they will ship it back home for you at the end of the trip. This way, I don't have to load the bike down and have more room in the bags for necessities, like beer and Captain Morgan.

 

Man! You guys pack way too much! Why bother with a stove? MRE's come in many different meals including breakfast, and the new ones taste really good. They also come with a heater and are easy to pack. For water a small straw type water purification filter and a plastic bottle is all you need. If you cary a small tin cup you can warm water on a rock next to the fire and make your MRE coffee. Stoves, pots, utensils, and lets not forget food, take up alot of space. You guys need to take packing lessons from the U.S. Military.