Can a brother bum a shower??

[MysterYvil]

The good news is it's not cluttering Legitimate GS related conversation.

ojstinson, you are a very SAD little person, the kind of person that makes our world a worse place, not a better one.

I hope that karma does not notice you...

[ben2go]

Lets try to keep it outta the tard farm.

[yamahonkawazuki]

I'm glad the OP asked about showers. Can't offer one myself 'cause I'm renting a room in a house (maybe if you were doing the trip on your bike though  ). But it would be useful to know about different ways of getting free/cheap showers while on the road. I'm planning a road trip soon so I'm curious about this. I like the gym and truckstop ideas (Ben, how are those truckstop showers?). Any other ideas out there? Public swimming pools? A lot of beaches have showers if you're travelling along the coast.

Last time I done the truck stop shower trick was in winter of 99.I was some where around Alcoa,TN.I've never been to a truck stop with dirty shower rooms.One of the big ones I went to in GA had an attendant just for the showers.It was awesome.They had full shower stalls that were enclosed,a stall with a toilet,a full vanity,seating,and a place to iron/press your clothes.They also offered full laundry service onsite.

even these you can pay to shower if need be. ive done this while travelling. 6 bucks or somehting liek that.

[yamahonkawazuki]

Lets try to keep it outta the tard farm.

i swear i think its his goal to get it in there. this was posted in teh correct area. in ODDS and ENDS. everyone but oj here. agrees on that. wasnt posted in teh gs discussion area. was posted in odds and ends

[ojstinson]

Damn, I've been in every state of the union on various car trips and taken thousands of pictures, but for some stupid reason it just never occurred to me that people on motorcycle forums would be interested in seeing them, as well as pictures of my car-----maybe it's not too late, I think I still have most of the photos.

[yamahonkawazuki]

Going to be embarking on a low budget road trip for the next couple weeks (by car, not bike).  Plan on heading out I-90 and hitting the major attractions in South Dakota, Montana, Oregon, Idaho, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, parts of California and Colorado.  Heading back to Baltimore via I-70.  Anybody in those areas care to let a fellow GS-er bum a shower??   

-Jessie

if you were coming through the southeast, i wouldnt have an issue with your request. but most truckstops will allow NON truckers to use the showers as well. as some have said, that, or campgrounds as well. just pull in like youre visiting someone there. randomly park, shower and be gone . have done this too. theres also YMCA's as well they have them. or bring a pair of swimming trunks. and find a local community center. walk in and use hteir showers at the pools. would say you COULD do a riverwash. but water at best can be mediocre lol.

[mister]

Thanks, Jessie, for posting a follow up with pics of your setup.

The cookers We use are a self contained units. Pretty much exactly like these...





They take a small butane bottle about the size of a can of WD40. Here's an inside look of one available on Amazon. Although their price is way Way WAY more than we can get them for. Down here the cooker is like $17 and you can get a three pack of gas cartridges for $6. When you are done you can take the gas cartridge out and it is sealed again. 



They take up bugger all space too. Awesome bits of gear. We also take them when our work sees us go into more remote locations. Fry up some grub or boil a billy. Can't go wrong. 

Michael

[Twisted]

Damn, I've been in every state of the union on various car trips and taken thousands of pictures, but for some stupid reason it just never occurred to me that people on motorcycle forums would be interested in seeing them, as well as pictures of my car-----maybe it's not too late, I think I still have most of the photos.

Make a thread post em up. You will find in the odds and ends section most people don't give a toss.

[ben2go]

Going to be embarking on a low budget road trip for the next couple weeks (by car, not bike).  Plan on heading out I-90 and hitting the major attractions in South Dakota, Montana, Oregon, Idaho, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, parts of California and Colorado.  Heading back to Baltimore via I-70.  Anybody in those areas care to let a fellow GS-er bum a shower??   

-Jessie

if you were coming through the southeast, i wouldnt have an issue with your request. but most truckstops will allow NON truckers to use the showers as well. as some have said, that, or campgrounds as well. just pull in like youre visiting someone there. randomly park, shower and be gone . have done this too. theres also YMCA's as well they have them. or bring a pair of swimming trunks. and find a local community center. walk in and use hteir showers at the pools. would say you COULD do a riverwash. but water at best can be mediocre lol.

When I go hiking or camping,I hit the creek or river for a bath.As long as the water is flowing and not still,it's pretty ok for a scrub down.

[The Buddha]

Yea that $6 a shower is pretty nice or it can be, just get a little desensitised to seeing huge hairy truckers nekkid and you're good.
BTW Iowa does have that I-80 truck stop, the biggest in the world. The time I went through to spokane I didn't even stop there, I got there about 2-3 pm and just kept on going. Way back to NC I stopped there but it was a bit too much to negotiate with me pulling my bug. So I got outta there with just a couple of pics.
Cool.
Buddha.

[BaltimoreGS]

Hey Guys and Gals,

Thanks again for all the suggestions.  I have been reading them but with limited time and limited internet accessibility I haven't been able to respond to each individually, just know they are appreciated     That is a cool little stove though Mister!

Didn't reach my goal of Sioux Falls, South Dakota today.  Spending the night just shy of the SD border at a little motel in Minnesota.  Whichever one of you said there was nothing to see in Iowa was right!!  (my apologies to anyone that lives there).  Nothing but corn and soy beans for miles on end.  I did get to see a person hauling a very large chandelier on the roof of an old Dodge Dart    Wish i could have snapped a pick of that.  I did see a bunch of wind farms which are rare in my home area.

Gotta do a little exercises, eat and get some sleep, Sioux Falls awaits in the morning!!

-Jessie

[BaltimoreGS]

Damn, I've been in every state of the union on various car trips and taken thousands of pictures, but for some stupid reason it just never occurred to me that people on motorcycle forums would be interested in seeing them, as well as pictures of my car-----maybe it's not too late, I think I still have most of the photos.

Make a thread post em up. You will find in the odds and ends section most people don't give a toss.

I agree!  I lived vicariously the last few years while I worked my ass off so I always liked seeing fun things other people were doing     Even if the trip isn't by motorcycle it may give others ideas where to take their motorcycles to.  I'm glad I didn't ride on this trip, most of the roads west of West Virginia have been pretty boring.  Hopefully some nice ones will be coming up   

-Jessie

[yamahonkawazuki]

Damn, I've been in every state of the union on various car trips and taken thousands of pictures, but for some stupid reason it just never occurred to me that people on motorcycle forums would be interested in seeing them, as well as pictures of my car-----maybe it's not too late, I think I still have most of the photos.

Make a thread post em up. You will find in the odds and ends section most people don't give a toss.

except for that oj guy lol. yeah post em up. well look and ocmment. we enjoy doing it. the O&E sections is for EVERYTHIGN non gs. so everythign BUT porno is welcome here.

[yamahonkawazuki]

Going to be embarking on a low budget road trip for the next couple weeks (by car, not bike).  Plan on heading out I-90 and hitting the major attractions in South Dakota, Montana, Oregon, Idaho, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, parts of California and Colorado.  Heading back to Baltimore via I-70.  Anybody in those areas care to let a fellow GS-er bum a shower??   

-Jessie

if you were coming through the southeast, i wouldnt have an issue with your request. but most truckstops will allow NON truckers to use the showers as well. as some have said, that, or campgrounds as well. just pull in like youre visiting someone there. randomly park, shower and be gone . have done this too. theres also YMCA's as well they have them. or bring a pair of swimming trunks. and find a local community center. walk in and use hteir showers at the pools. would say you COULD do a riverwash. but water at best can be mediocre lol.

When I go hiking or camping,I hit the creek or river for a bath.As long as the water is flowing and not still,it's pretty ok for a scrub down.

that is true.  if my health holds out for another year. am plannning on a cross country motorised bicycle trip.  am planning on my rout being along some river/creek areas

[yamahonkawazuki]

Damn, I've been in every state of the union on various car trips and taken thousands of pictures, but for some stupid reason it just never occurred to me that people on motorcycle forums would be interested in seeing them, as well as pictures of my car-----maybe it's not too late, I think I still have most of the photos.

Make a thread post em up. You will find in the odds and ends section most people don't give a toss.

I agree!  I lived vicariously the last few years while I worked my ass off so I always liked seeing fun things other people were doing     Even if the trip isn't by motorcycle it may give others ideas where to take their motorcycles to.  I'm glad I didn't ride on this trip, most of the roads west of West Virginia have been pretty boring.  Hopefully some nice ones will be coming up   

-Jessie

head south into NC, then into TN via hwy 129 aka the dragon.  then into hte norris area and hit the area near brushy mtn penitentiary. VERY twisty there

[Adfalchius]

For the Ladies-

I'm planning to do a similar trip next year via the GS- so I've been analyzing camp areas in terms of a woman travelling alone.  We tented at a KOA (Kamping of America) site last night.  It was the first time I tried one of these.  If you're not familiar...there are KOA sites across the US.

Pros: they are everywhere!, usually right off the main roads, great restroom facilities, electricity options, other perks might be available (like a pool), washers, sinks
Cons: more expensive (a whopping $26 for a tent site), right off the main roads, crowded (mostly RV's).

If I were travelling alone, I wouldn't hesitate to stop here if I needed something closer (and didn't mind spending more) to civilization than a super primitive site way off the beaten path.  They do have a good website listing all of there camps.

mister- that little stove is pretty cool- very compact, that would be great for a motorcycle.  Anybody else have some good gadgets?

oj- your 'bum' complaints sound bold and judgmental to me- especially after knowing that baltimoregs has helped out alot of members on this forum- he has hauled bikes for people, given away spare parts to strangers, driven to the homes of strangers to help fix their bikes, has opened his own place for large throngs of motorcyclists, loaned out his motorcycles for people to practice and take the test on, and has never expected anything in return.  There is no shame in his request except that he might see other people as having an equal idea of generosity.  Look through his posts and you'll see that he gives his experience and advice freely and kindly- and will probably be remembered that way.

[The Buddha]

Oh I'd pretty much say the KOA and motels and anything of that sort is overrated.
Last year on my 13 day NC to spokane and back trip - over 6K miles, 5 days of working on bikes and cars with my friend in spokane, numerous flea market and good will stops on the way, and this years 1000 mile run to NYC and back in april, I never checked into motel or a KOA. I slept in the back of my truck and even with a bike tied to the wall on the way back both times, it still was fine. Nothing beats a full size truck as long as it will stay warm you are golden.
Cool.
Buddha.

[yamahonkawazuki]

For the Ladies-

I'm planning to do a similar trip next year via the GS- so I've been analyzing camp areas in terms of a woman travelling alone.  We tented at a KOA (Kamping of America) site last night.  It was the first time I tried one of these.  If you're not familiar...there are KOA sites across the US.

Pros: they are everywhere!, usually right off the main roads, great restroom facilities, electricity options, other perks might be available (like a pool), washers, sinks
Cons: more expensive (a whopping $26 for a tent site), right off the main roads, crowded (mostly RV's).

If I were travelling alone, I wouldn't hesitate to stop here if I needed something closer (and didn't mind spending more) to civilization than a super primitive site way off the beaten path.  They do have a good website listing all of there camps.

mister- that little stove is pretty cool- very compact, that would be great for a motorcycle.  Anybody else have some good gadgets?

oj- your 'bum' complaints sound bold and judgmental to me- especially after knowing that baltimoregs has helped out alot of members on this forum- he has hauled bikes for people, given away spare parts to strangers, driven to the homes of strangers to help fix their bikes, has opened his own place for large throngs of motorcyclists, loaned out his motorcycles for people to practice and take the test on, and has never expected anything in return.  There is no shame in his request except that he might see other people as having an equal idea of generosity.  Look through his posts and you'll see that he gives his experience and advice freely and kindly- and will probably be remembered that way.
[/quotewell said. like i said i know his history and it wouldnt bother me at all to open my home to him or to you, buddha or anyone else who is well known enough around here. and is respected

[yamahonkawazuki]

Oh I'd pretty much say the KOA and motels and anything of that sort is overrated.
Last year on my 13 day NC to spokane and back trip - over 6K miles, 5 days of working on bikes and cars with my friend in spokane, numerous flea market and good will stops on the way, and this years 1000 mile run to NYC and back in april, I never checked into motel or a KOA. I slept in the back of my truck and even with a bike tied to the wall on the way back both times, it still was fine. Nothing beats a full size truck as long as it will stay warm you are golden.
Cool.
Buddha.

agreed. i drove a box truck to canada. with my friends furnishings, and his guns lol. yes we got em in. anyways most of the time i had slept in the truck when he and his wife wanted some alone time. front seat was around 6ft wide so i fit perfectly. and adfalchius if your route is in teh southeast lmk can at least get you luch or a hot shower if you need it. as long as im not in the hospital or on dialysis etc. ill be @ home lol

[ojstinson]

 "and will probably be remembered that way".

Adfalchius, poor guy hasn't even completed his trip yet and it sounds like you're writing his Eulogy.


Guess I'm far too hardened and cynical, I was a Miami cop for 27 years and have seen waay too many nice, trusting, and well meaning folks, ripped off, hurt, and even murdered-----occupational hazard, guess I'm stuck in a permanent - better safe than sorry - mode.

You all were right about BaltimoreGS, I was wrong, sounds like a straight up terrific guy.