Urban Camping

As a Dual Sport enthusiast, I suppose I fall under the category of ‘adventurous type’. I enjoy the challenge of navigating technical terrain at thrilling speeds, with a slight chance of death or great bodily harm thrown in for good measure. I don’t consider myself an anomaly; adventurous types enjoy taking risks – mainly risks that come from pitting themselves against Mother Nature rather than gambling on the Stock Market. Most adventurous types also tend to dabble in more than one discipline: snowmobiling, 4 wheeling, mountain biking, snowboarding, skiing, sky diving, climbing, and camping. Camping? That’s right. Camping.

One of the premises of this site is that you don’t have to travel far from home to find adventure. Just like riding a Dual Sport, camping can be extremely exciting without venturing far away to some picturesque wilderness. For those looking for a real thrill I suggest looking within city limits and giving Urban Camping a try.

To many people camping conjures up peaceful images of a tent pitched in a serene setting. Perhaps a meadow where dragonflies mingle in lazy flight patterns. Or beside a cool mountain creek with clear water trickling softly over mossy rocks. Maybe next to a tranquil lake where the water laps quietly at its shores. But anyone can hike a few miles to a pleasant spot in the woods and spend a few days gathering firewood and heating up Mountain House meals. For those who crave real adventure, go set up a Marmot tent under a decrepit train trestle or in a debris strewn easement next to an old railroad siding – then get ready to acquire a whole new set of survival skills.

Think fending off mosquitos in the backcountry is hard? Try fighting off some psychotic transient who just consumed a hobo happy hour cocktail of Lysol and rubbing alcohol and is intent on stabbing you for a Cliff Bar.

Urban Camping also offers fresh alternatives to the mundane activities of camping in the great outdoors. Tired of tracking truffles? Scour the sides of parkways for redeemable containers; watch out for truckers throwing urine filled plastic bottles at your head. Bored with cave exploration? Try dumpster diving instead – you never know what modern relics you might unearth. Disillusioned with panning for gold? Spend a few hours talking to yourself on a street corner pan handling for change.

Then, after a long day of urban adventure, gather ’round the burn barrel to swap tales of reckless abandon along side charismatic vagrants with names like One-eyed Pete, Itchy Pits, and Step-toe. Share a bottle of McCormick’s Whiskey (90% neutral grain spirits, 10% bourbon flavoring) with your new friends until you pass out. Wake up to find yourself lying in broken glass, wondering if someone crapped in your mouth. Greet the new day with trembling hands, stained underwear, no shoes and a split lip. Remember that life can be an adventure no matter where you are.

Oh, and if you do go Urban Camping, make sure to leave your bike at home.