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Our dog died almost a year before we left the UK for Spain and it was the hardest time I’ve ever had and there have been a few I can tell you. The house was just different, it seemed empty and the life had been sucked out if it. My wife really struggled with it for a couple of years as he died right in front of her and I was about three hours away. I felt guilty for not being there and I think she felt I’d let her down. We both said we couldn’t go through that again and vowed not to have any more dogs but fast forward to Spain and here we are with two of the buggers………….wouldn’t be without a dog by choice. So, it’s Bertie and Lou (cross breed and Labrador) now and Fraser the Springer Spaniel from when we were in the UK.

When I had my first kidney stent I hated having to get up and out of the tent for a wee all the time. This is when I discovered the power of Lenor, the fabric conditioner. Nice wide neck for the well endowed, plenty of fluid capacity, waterproof lid and the first few wees smell of lovely meadow flowers.

It’s a pity she snores like a truffle hunting bush pig.

What could be better than sharing a tent with Fred and his bottle of piss?

We're down from 6 in 2009 to just 1. She's nearly 16 now and she'll be the last. We can't go through the losses anymore and we're now well past exercising them properly.

Ohhh, look at that smile I have the same thoughts now........NEVER again, can't do it........ But, I have a feeling that will pass and I will have another dog someday.....they are just so awesome!

No, I'm afraid not much point these days........dry bag probably sums it up perfectly!

I've stopped doing that as i 'missed' on a recent occasion and wrecked my sleeping bag

El cheapo tent from decathlon bought years ago for about 3o€ specifically for the Bol D'or ( i.e to be disposable) but still going strong. reasonably easy to put up and take down, rolls up small and into a bag that is narrower than the panniers and is held on with 2 bungees. For a 2 night trip I have a change of clothes and footwear in one pannier. sleeping bag ( a good one) and inflatable matteress ( back packing item) with wee stove in t'other. Top box has the rest of my gear ( chargers, torch, spare gloves depending on season, 1st aid kit, bog roll, maps, one meal worth of food, coffee, water bottle and book) in the summer i'd fit waterproofs in here as well, out of season jacket liner if not wearing it. I usually manage a small tool kit in there somewhere as well. A proper waterproof roll bag is better and bigger than a topcase if your using a soft pannier set up like yours I expect. I do regret not having a hammer or something to bash tentpegs in with on that trip, the ground was hard as bloody nails in places!

Camping on a bike with a tent , are you mad, drunk or both...check out the pic , its a room, notice the window , the white thing mounted to the wall underneath it is a heating device, this will keep you warm, also notice the comfy bed and tv on the wall . now go look back at the pic some one has posted of an excuse for a tent tied to a picnic table and his bike, i can smell the dogs piss and foxes shite from here.

On the odd occasion when I was doing a single night visit to a rally or other event I went for the lightweight option. Pain in the arse for getting in and out of without getting your knees wet though. But it packs up super small and dries quickly when you get home. Picnic table was pressed into service on one occasion.

Good memory... Yes, a Keeper of the Books by day and an international spy agent by night......

16 is damn good going Pete, all those trips to the vets are paying off!

It stings for so long Ive sworn no more dogs. Over the last two years Ive gone from five dogs to just two. I still dream about them often, that really they’re alive and well and its all been a big mistake. I tell my sons they dont need to be so sad, that dogs dont know how long they live, they just enjoy the present, that they are like butterflies, theyre here, they’re beautiful and they’re gone.

yes i have to say a nice warm dry room is what i would go for my arthritis wouldn't let me stop in a tent

Took Sofia’s best friend for her first ride on new year’s day, good fun, she’s great and enjoyed it a lot even though I am rusty riding with a pillion.

I was out for an hour or two! Nothing of any great note......spent most of my time having to pick off twats in motorhomes on one lane mountain roads!

quick couple of hours this afternoon as it was good clear weather again, too hot for the thermal liners really but I couldn't be arsed to take them out so I didn't stop much. nearly 15 degC. Rode west for an hour, then North for half an hour and then followed the "target" arrow on the compass home.

I got a piss bottle to fix that problem, its camping next to a snorer that gets me

For me there is nothing like sleeping in a tent, it's the best sleep I ever get . The only pain is getting out for a piss .

To be fair, I am a rural Canadian...... . It's just how us simple folk roll......

I knew that would pique your interest.

Perhaps? $250 CAD But it was a gift from one of my clients, so I don't mind.

I really like those but theyre all mummy bags apart from one thats not warm enough for me.

Speaking of Kettles.....I just spoiled myself and got the Kelly Kettle Scout Ultimate Kit It's a stick stove and boils water super fast...... ...and it has a whistle! This is not a bike camping kit, but still very nice!!!

I keep having "dog moments", feel like I have forgotten something, or should check on her and say hi..... Last night I thought I heard her drinking water in the kitchen, so weird. The house sure does take on a different feeling. I love my GoPros and making videos. I find it fun for myself, too look back at my adventures.

You’re reading a thread from someone asking advice on motorbike camping.. get yourself back to the “I drove a van somewhere” thread, thats far more informative

this picture is actually the inside of one of @Buckster panniers... the other one has an ensuite and a restaurant in it... when he puts his top box on he's gets use of the pool and bingo hall and various other entertainment facilities

TLDR I like camping. If you want to motorcycle tour but dont want to stick slavishly to a fixed itinerary then camping is an essential weapon. Reading tripadvisor reviews everyday before you book somewhere to make sure youre not handing over muchas moola for a bad hospitality is boring and its not many days before you get a bit fed up explaining to whatever hotel owner that day brings what youre doing and where youre going, usually they then treat you to an excruciatingly long life story letting you know just how awesome they are or sympathetic you’re supposed to be in their direction. Gets tiresome. And dont get me started on the food Tent- put it up and please yourself. £10 pls. Marvellous. The tea and coffees good, the bedding’s just right, the pillow is lump free, you dont have to be at breakfast at a specific time so you can lie in til you want to get going, you dont have to talk to anyone if you dont want to and its no big deal if you want to stay another day or two. It also means you dont have to book ahead and that means if you want an extra day to go and see something you didnt know about until you got there you can because your carrying what you need. Dont get me wrong if its miserable and pissing down then I wont argue about running to the nearest hotel but you want to go far or for a long period you soon get sick of hotels. Im guessing its detractors have never tried travelling by purely motorbike for extended periods. Money aside (if youre lucky enough to be able to put it aside) and the weathers agreeable the peace, quiet and flexibility of camping is surprisingly good.

Yes.....ride! Unlike you.......having panic attacks in a tent while clutching a bottle of piss!

Yes it blocks so much of the scenery

Twat

@XTreme store this some where ready for next years Twat of the year poll.

......lol, so true

For new years day we had Parma ham on melon for starters.............. Then Canneloni........... and then Lamb with all the trimmings.............

Fuckmine, you haven't heard Fred when he's had a skinfull

should imagine it would of wore off a lot quicker if you was spending endless nights away in a tent.

That's one thing i don't do is share a tent other than with the wife

Don’t forget a camping stove big enough to cook hedgehogs.

Yes, in better times!

He's a smoothy is our Pedro , he's got them lining up to gush all over him

So you're a camper then right? Well I for one would much prefer a tent to a bnb or hotel

Looked like a Beemer dash.

Think he might have been having an off day

Well Santa brought me a shiny new covid variant and closed borders AGAIN this year - bloody hell Santa, two years in a row? Not very creative. But, he also brought me brand new Gaerne trials boots to distract me, and it worked a treat. Yay! This means no more trying to ride trials in Sidi Adventure boots. Can't wait to feel the difference. Unfortunately my friend who owns the trials bikes - well he went out with his friends riding all over the mountains for about 7 hours yesterday (which is a Very Long Ride on a trials bike) and is now too exhausted to go riding again. He's on the lounge napping now, so looks like I'll have to wait for another day try out my new boots! Could be worse

If I stayed in a place like that I would still sleep in my sleeping bag, maybe even on the floor...... Hotel beds scare the heck out of me and beds are too soft.... It would also be too hot and stuffy in there..... Give me a tent any day.....

I gotta agree with Six on this! I have no wish to live like a homeless person......cos I know what that feels like!

Sorry about the dogless part My best hint is a 5 star hotel, the tip would be a B&B.