I have always enjoyed a solitary exploration of the wilderness. Hiking and camping was something I used to do quite often. At times, you could find me heading for the hills every weekend, for weeks on end.
Things tend to get in the way sometimes. I had not been on one of my alone in nature adventures in several years. This year I had decided to take up trail bicycling, and wanted to incorporate some camping into it. It turns out I'm not alone in this, there's an entire culture of bikepackers out there. I got my first taste of this with my friend Mat when he lead me on a tour of the Saint Marks National Wildlife Refuge.
I learned a lot on that ride. "Backpacking" on a bike is not the same as backpacking on foot. Load distribution, for one, is much different. I tried carrying the weight on my back, as I used to do while hiking. It turns out that it's much better to carry the weight on the bicycle whenever possible.
I also discovered the joy and comfort of hammock camping. I utilized what I learned online and put together my own hammock kit. The Saint Marks trip, and a few since have helped me learn what I should and should not try to pack onto the bike, what was needed, and what could be left at home.
My most recent expedition has proven that I have learned a thing or two since that painful experience south to Tallahassee. My report about this trip can be found here....
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