BACK TO SIMPLE ADVENTURES MOTORCYCLE CAMPING

The hotels we stayed at during this last decade of moto travel weren't the constant highlights of our trips. Sure, some were situated around jaw-dropping landscapes. And yeah, getting out of the riding gear to grab a beer felt good. But nothing much was burned into our memories.

- Michnus Olivier

On the other hand, every time we camped at a remote location with no one around, a small fire and only the sound of the wind, the trees, the night noises, and stars to keep us company-those memories remain with deep-felt reminiscence. Not even the slickest hotel will ever beat the fragrance of fresh mountain air and pine trees, mind-blowing sunsets, and campfire smoke under the Milky Way.

Camping with the bare essentials is a minimalist activity that can have a remarkably positive effect. If you camp often enough, there are bound to be horrible days as well, but even amid the damp, cold sleeping bags, the smelly undertones of moldy canvas, the ice-cold nights where you can see the stars through the threadbare tent seams, camping still has an indisputable enjoyment and thrill. And for the adventure-minded who love camping, it often comes down to the old question, no matter how hard your night's sleep was: "But did you die?"

Of all the countries we've overlanded on motorcycles, the U.S. has the best campsites. There are options to wild/free camp on vast amounts of government land or in unique national and state parks. Our South African currency is a joke compared to the U.S. dollar, so when we planned our six-monthplus trip to the U.S. we knew camping would make up the biggest portion of our budget. However, we don't just camp because it's more affordable, we camp because we love it, and it allows us to stay in places with fewer people amid incredible scenery and surroundings.