I sit writing this on April 28, 2019. My wife, Sandy, and I just returned from a relaxing spring break trip to the Smoky mountains only to be greeted by this:
Not exactly late April weather and especially harsh after nearly a week of camping in close to 80 degree weather, with some very nice hiking and biking to boot.
So as I sit here pondering the day and watching the snow melt, I thought I would share some of the tools that I have come to rely on when working on itineraries, routes and camping. I personally love planning trips like this. It gives me something to focus on and look forward to during the winter months (or on a snowy day in late April). This particular trip posed a number of challenges with regards to routing and locating viable camp sites. In the numerous trips I have done, I have grown to dislike most privately owned or commercial campgrounds but also want pretty regular showers too, so that can be a limiting factor. The good thing is that I discovered a few websites and apps that really helped bring these plans to fruition.
Nearly every motorcycle camping trip I have planned has gone through multiple revisions as I look at daily mileage, routes that limit high speed highway segments, the availability of camping and the evolving conversations with my brother or with others who may be joining the ride. I meticulously track of all revisions so that everyone has the most up to date info. For this trip I am currently on version 3.1 and this is pretty much final, since almost all camp sites are now reserved.
Although I am still a fan of paper maps when looking at the big picture (and still ride with a paper map on my tank bag), there are some key resources that have made planning much easier and so much better. To start with, my newest find is a website and set of iOS apps that make campground research easier than ever. Ultimate Campgrounds has probably the most comprehensive database of public campgrounds in the US and Canada that I have ever seen (and the web based version is totally free). It is a map based system so it is relatively easy to navigate, and clicking on the icon gives you detailed info on number of sites, cost, amenities (bathroom type, showers, etc), nearest town, etc. All of the overnight locations for this trip were chosen using this site.
Final routing for this trip will be different than I have done in the past. I have previously created GPX files with Garmin software and used a mounted GPS on the motorcycle. Over time, I found the Garmin to be less user friendly than I liked and began to search for options to use my iPhone instead. I know that some people may be a bit hesitant to mount their phone on a motorcycle and I was initially cautious as well. I found this case a couple years ago and it also allows my to tether the phone to the bike for a secure (and waterproof) solution. As far as routing with the iPhone, you can get somewhat acceptable motorcycle directions using Google maps with the avoid highways feature but you can't be as specific as I would prefer and you are ultimately at the mercy of cell coverage. What really made the iPhone my GPS of choice was the discovery of two apps. Ride With GPS, which is a free web based platform and offers amazingly easy routing and export of GPX files. And Scenic, an iOS app that features multiple routing options (fast, short, curvy, efficient) GPX import, turn-by-turn directions and offline capabilities. Just a note that Scenic is not a free app but well worth the cost - I even purchased the "Premium Forever" version.
For this trip, I decided not to create detailed GPX files for each day as I have done in the past. I have been impressed by recent updates and the quality of the routing done by Scenic so I am going to rely solely on that (along with my requisite paper maps as backup). The only prep work on Scenic that I needed to do was to make sure all the states and provinces we are riding through are downloaded to my phone, so they are available offline, and then save all the waypoint locations for our campsites, and a few additional side destinations along the way.
60 days and counting till departure...
Not exactly late April weather and especially harsh after nearly a week of camping in close to 80 degree weather, with some very nice hiking and biking to boot.
So as I sit here pondering the day and watching the snow melt, I thought I would share some of the tools that I have come to rely on when working on itineraries, routes and camping. I personally love planning trips like this. It gives me something to focus on and look forward to during the winter months (or on a snowy day in late April). This particular trip posed a number of challenges with regards to routing and locating viable camp sites. In the numerous trips I have done, I have grown to dislike most privately owned or commercial campgrounds but also want pretty regular showers too, so that can be a limiting factor. The good thing is that I discovered a few websites and apps that really helped bring these plans to fruition.
Nearly every motorcycle camping trip I have planned has gone through multiple revisions as I look at daily mileage, routes that limit high speed highway segments, the availability of camping and the evolving conversations with my brother or with others who may be joining the ride. I meticulously track of all revisions so that everyone has the most up to date info. For this trip I am currently on version 3.1 and this is pretty much final, since almost all camp sites are now reserved.
Although I am still a fan of paper maps when looking at the big picture (and still ride with a paper map on my tank bag), there are some key resources that have made planning much easier and so much better. To start with, my newest find is a website and set of iOS apps that make campground research easier than ever. Ultimate Campgrounds has probably the most comprehensive database of public campgrounds in the US and Canada that I have ever seen (and the web based version is totally free). It is a map based system so it is relatively easy to navigate, and clicking on the icon gives you detailed info on number of sites, cost, amenities (bathroom type, showers, etc), nearest town, etc. All of the overnight locations for this trip were chosen using this site.
Final routing for this trip will be different than I have done in the past. I have previously created GPX files with Garmin software and used a mounted GPS on the motorcycle. Over time, I found the Garmin to be less user friendly than I liked and began to search for options to use my iPhone instead. I know that some people may be a bit hesitant to mount their phone on a motorcycle and I was initially cautious as well. I found this case a couple years ago and it also allows my to tether the phone to the bike for a secure (and waterproof) solution. As far as routing with the iPhone, you can get somewhat acceptable motorcycle directions using Google maps with the avoid highways feature but you can't be as specific as I would prefer and you are ultimately at the mercy of cell coverage. What really made the iPhone my GPS of choice was the discovery of two apps. Ride With GPS, which is a free web based platform and offers amazingly easy routing and export of GPX files. And Scenic, an iOS app that features multiple routing options (fast, short, curvy, efficient) GPX import, turn-by-turn directions and offline capabilities. Just a note that Scenic is not a free app but well worth the cost - I even purchased the "Premium Forever" version.
For this trip, I decided not to create detailed GPX files for each day as I have done in the past. I have been impressed by recent updates and the quality of the routing done by Scenic so I am going to rely solely on that (along with my requisite paper maps as backup). The only prep work on Scenic that I needed to do was to make sure all the states and provinces we are riding through are downloaded to my phone, so they are available offline, and then save all the waypoint locations for our campsites, and a few additional side destinations along the way.
60 days and counting till departure...
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