Or, “I don’t think this tent sleeps two.”
Sport-Touring.Net’s Region 6 fourth annual Meet-and-Eat (also called the “Burger Run”) was dutifully and expertly organized by Garry for Sunday, April 26th. Over a hundred motorcyclists and their bikes were planning to show up for lunch at Denny’s Beer Barrel Pub in Clearfield, PA, a place best-known for serving the largest hamburgers around, including a 100-lb burger that takes 9 hours to cook. Todd and I took it as an opportunity to ride all weekend and initiate ourselves with motorcycle camping. I had meant to meet up with Darek last year for a few rides but our plans fell through, so I invited him to join us on this short adventure.
Todd and I wasted no time, both heading out after work on Friday. Todd had reserved a tent camping spot at the Harrisburg East Campground, a privately-owned campground just 5 miles from downtown Harrisburg, PA. We met at the Wendy’s at the intersection of Rt 283 and S. Eisenhower Boulevard, where I spent several minutes wondering why this Wendy’s didn’t have apple pies before realizing that Wendy’s never had apple pies - I was thinking of Burger King’s pies.
From there, the campground was only a few blocks away. We located the bathrooms across the road in the RV section of the campground, and got to work setting up camp. Arriving after dark, we were glad we brought our head lights (lights we wore on our heads) as we set up our tents and unloaded the bikes. Luckily there was only one other tent in the area, and it was way on the other side; the tent sites are right on top of each other at this campground.
My tent went up easily enough - I had practiced putting it up inside my apartment last year - but it is much smaller than I had previously realized. The labels says “Sleeps 2″, but it is also labeled as a “Junior” tent, so I’m assuming that means it sleeps two kids? Anyway, despite Todd’s laughing and finger-pointing at my diminutive shelter, it was big enough for my 5′6″ body along with some of the gear I wanted to keep close and protected. My riding jacket and helmet slept with me to keep them warm and relatively dry, and all of my valuable electronics (cell phone, camera, video camera, GPS) were kept within the tent, secured by the zippered door.
I slept very well, thanks to several comfort items that will go on my permanent camping list. The big blue Wal-Mart tarp under the tent kept the tent floor dry and warm. The Therma-Rest pad further cushioned by body from the ground, even though I skimped and bought a short one figuring I don’t really need padding under my legs. And then there was the compression pillow I picked up at REI - absolutely invaluable. Todd whined about how his makeshift pillow - a rolled-up jacket liner - just didn’t do the job. Todd brought his own useful items though, not the least of which being a white-LED lamp that, when hung from the ceiling, lit up his entire tent very well.
Saturday morning we headed west. The plan was to meander on two-lane roads to the Path Valley Family Restaurant in Spring Run, PA where we would meet Darek for lunch. I pulled up the restaurant’s waypoint in the GPS, and used it as a general guide as we wandered along the two-lane roads that parallel the PA Turnpike. I really wish I had turned on the GPS’ tracking feature, because we did find some nice twisties here and there.
Darek was making his way across the PA Turnpike from Philly when Todd and I made an unusual roadside discovery…