Team-BHP (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/)

-   Travelogues (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/travelogues/)

-   -   Seeking comfort in the SoCal desert | Tenting with a Motorcycle & a 4x4 Truck (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/travelogues/265764-seeking-comfort-socal-desert-tenting-motorcycle-4x4-truck.html)

I have been riding to the Anza Borrego desert in the spring for a couple decades now.


Last month I did motorcycle camping as I attended an adventure bike riding workshop. I had a great time riding and learning with Dusty Wessels from MotoTrek/West38moto.

I have this tent, sleeping pad and camping gear for years, but I have outgrown it. I am unable to sleep well, eat well, rest well, and that shows in the activity I do the next day.


Dusty doing his thing, dropping the bike, picking it up with grace.


I am a sucker for sunsets.


After this motorcycle camping trip, I got to thinking, and decided to step up my game. As both my kids are now in college, I intend to get out there more often. Possibly work from a wild open space instead of WFH. So here is what I did. Lots of Jugaad carpentry, custom designed for my height and preferences.
I decided to get a 4x4 truck with a bed long enough to fit a full sheet of plywood, and also fit me length wise. I am 6'1". A Tacoma would have been nice, but a Chevy is half the price with all the features I needed. Here is a pic of light off roading on tightly packed sand.


I am not sure if this should be in DIY carpentry, or here. None the less, I picked up a couple sheets of ply, and started drawing plans. Lots of juggad to fit the wood into the uneven surface of the truck bed


All I needed was a fridge, battery, water, stove, storage, and a bed. Everything else is a bonus. I still need to implement a lot of tweaks, but this trip was to get some initial feedback. Will the fridge last all night, are things accessible, will they stay in place, etc.


First outing to test the setup.


Another Sunset


The stove fit perfectly in the drawer, and makes heating food a breeze. I reheated some pudina peas pulav I carried in the fridge. Add some raita, and some chips, and thats a fine meal.


A USB fan, and LED lighting strips make it all cozy.


It was a gorgeous sunrise. I had slept well and was ready to get going.


I was eager to see how well the fridge and the battery had worked overnight. I must say it had worked too well. The milk was frozen rock solid. This means I can carry a tub of icecream for my next trip to the desert. I also carry other cold drinks I enjoy as an adult.


I gave up on eating cereal and made some Maggi and coffee, before heading for my hike.



I decided to do the Palm canyon hike. All the rains in the past month meant that there was a lot of flowing water in the desert.


And flowers


A welcome shaded area


I am thinking all this sunlight will be in my face while returning back. The good part about camping is that one can start these hikes very early.


More water




Some palms - aptly called Palm Canyon


Frogs getting some morning action


Big Horn sheep of Anza Borrego


With a patient eye, one can see a lot of beauty in the desert.


I am sure I will be coming back to these places again, and again. And, I intend to keep this thread updated with less chatter and more pics.

Looks like a great place to check out. Good call on getting the truck. I've realized as I grow older that I'm just not into riding my bike anymore, and prefer 4 wheels.

The next addition would be a usb rechargeable water tap, that pumps water out from any container. I will also add an electric switchboard, with hard wiring to everything - fridge, led lights and fan.

The jackery battery is very versatile. It can output 110v as well as 12v and 5v USB. I could run a microwave or a blender. It can also output while charging from a solar panel. If I decide to work while on the road, I may need these. So I will do the wiring with this in mind.

Keep updating this thread. Looking forward to more adventures

The entire ambiance reminds me of the film Tremors. What a great outback and what more than motorcycles, a flexback beers and goodies. Good times GG! Keep the shiny side up.

Cheers!
VJ

Wonderful! Beautiful DIYs too. Would you not need to 'lock' the fridge and other stuff in place - more so for the off road parts of the journey?

Good eye! I was so worried about battery life, that I carried the fridge in the backseat strapped into the seatbelt, connected to the 12V outlet of the truck. After I reached my camping spot, I moved it to its location in the camper, and hooked it immediately to the battery.

Of course I forgot to secure it for my return journey, and it had fallen down. I had to pull over, put it on the floor, between the bed and the cabinet, for the drive back home. It fits snug there, and does not move. I have many such lessons from this first trip, that I need to implement in the coming weeks. :)

This week I installed a water container, a fire extinguisher and a USB rechargeable water dispenser that pumps water out. I needed the space on its right to store solar panels. Still shopping for one that fits here.



Home ministry complained about the difficulty in getting into the truck. Today, I installed running boards I bought on Amazon, took me a few hours to understand the terse installing instructions. Wife now approves the truck for short rides. :Cheering:

I am rediscovering these hikes that I have done in the past. Now, at a favorable times of the day, and going further than before. I am able to do so, as I camp overnight very close to the trails, and reach the trail head early morning as the gate opens. Having a belly full of sambar rice, palya, curd rice, pickles, and ice cream for dinner, followed by good sleep, then a fine upma & banana for breakfast - means that I am lot more content and cheerful. I can't ask for more.

Prime parking, few minutes after gate is opened.


Happy cows, what a fine grazing pasture, lucky guys.


Lots of trees by the trail, if one needs some shade for a breather. No big deal for hikers in India, but not all trails here have big trees.


Not a soul in sight, favorable early morning temperature


Notice these tiny light purple spots?


They are the Mariposa Lily


Shortpod Mustard


Meadows galore, tall grass has started turning grey already.


Whats the point of a waterproof boot, if one is to go all in. The Santa Ysabel creek has a lot of water now. (For our Southern Cailfornia desert standards)


A lake formed because of all the water flowing through the creeks.


At the highest point of the Upper Creek trail.


The trail snakes up and down constantly. Some 6 miles, but I was exhausted. A super cold iced tea and strawberry yogurt was waiting for me in the fridge.

The stove and the gas cans used to rattle around the drawer, so I made some compartments for it.


I carried an old telescope with me this weekend. The night sky in the desert is amazing.


I stuck my phone camera in the eye piece and this was the result clap: 1 out of 10 tries.

I camped at Burnt Ranchita campground, & explored tiny part of PCH, pacific crest trail. I did a 10mile hike called the Big Laguna Loop. It's a popular mountain bike trail, but hiking it provides a much more detailed perspective. The trail is open to horse riders as well.
Big Laguna lake.

Took my mountain bike with me this weekend. It lay neglected for a while, installed new tires, lubed the chain, and it was back in action.

This rice cooker is a game changer. I take all the good food in the fridge, and after a hike or a ride, it simply feels amazing to eat food that is truly satisfying. This time, I took some, home made Mango pickles as well, for my mosaranna. Yogurt rice is mandatory for a good south Indian meal.


I had little experience riding in sand that is somewhat deep. I thought I could explore a lot as it was flat land. I was wrong, the front wheel sinks and does a death wobble way too easy. I returned back to camp after a couple hours.


Sunday morning I went back to Big Laguna trail. I wanted to ride the trail that I had hiked a few months back.



It was a cloudy, chilly day, hardly any one else. A fine day to ride nonetheless.

Spent the weekend riding in and around Death Valley National Park. The temperature was perfect for riding

Wildflowers have already started blooming.


The National Park view points were crowded with people, and I stayed away from them. Downside is that for a 3 day trip I have 4 pictures :)