Quote from: LimaXray on April 02, 2006, 06:41:54 PM
I see some people are also bringing a car to carry their stuff.  What is everone else doing?  It's gonna be hard to carry a tent, sleeping bag, beer, etc on the back of a bike. 

For carrying my stuff, here is my plan:

I am renting a cabin for both nights. Chris/Weazelnoze is splitting it with me on Saturday. This is only a couple bucks more than renting a tent (like $4 per night more) so that saves me from having to pitch, haul, or take down a tent. Easy and affordable! Of course it takes a little away from the "tent camping" experience, but I figure I can do that whenever. One less thing I have to haul! As mentioned, they do rent tents too!

I am not going to haul beer/food/etc. I'll just buy that stuff when I get there! I figure I'll get to Sandy Valley on Friday evening, drop off my crap in the cabin, and then go back out and get the food/beer/etc  There is also a General Store on the campsite grounds where we could buy our burgers, smores, and beer if we'd like too!

To carry the stuff I do have to transport - sleeping bag, change of clothes - I am using my bungee cargo net to secure an "overnight" luggage bag and the sleeping bag to the bike. The small stuff - cell phone, maps, wallet, hygiene stuff, etc - will go in my tank bag. If you don't have a bungee cargo net - it is one of the best and cheapest things you could get for your bike. You can prolly get it at your bike shop for about $5-6, they are expandable, and a great way to carry things!

Also - for you tenters - I was poking around at Walmart and they have a cheap $17 dollar "Junior" tent. It is for kids it says, but will accomodate anyone under 6 feet tall and 5 feet wide....best of all, it is very small and would be extremely easy to transport. If you want to go that route.

We can all go food shopping together when we get there, or just a small group could go in someones car.  That's one way that having at least one car around will be helpful. 
Let's make a grocery list now...

Marshmallows
Hersheys bars
graham crackers
hotdogs
buns
burgers
buns
water
soda
watermelon (if we have a car)
HUGE PACK OF TP!!


what else??

OH! AND...
From now until the trip everyone should steal extra ketchup packets from fast food places and bring them with you, so we don't have to buy that...lol.


Add to the list

Why am I following this thread? I don't know.

Be sure to get all your cooking stuff too. I went camping recently and here's some suggestions:

cooking oil
butter
pancake mix (add water, pour, cook!)
syrup
ICE
seasoning
pork chops (mmm, everyone loves pork chops. Easy to cook, too.)
fruit (apples, pears, oranges. Good healthy snacks that taste delicious )
lunch meats (sandwiches are always good)
lettuce
mustard
ketchup (or catsup for you freaks)
canned goods (green beans, corn, pork 'n beans, etc...)
chips (snackage)
milk
macaroni and cheese (goes great with pork chops)
soup
boneless chicken (barbeque chicken grilled over open flame is DELICIOUS)

So yeah. Suggestions

Don't forget the little sticks for the marshmallows!


Could also use a TV, satellite dish, XBox, PS2 and some assorted movies and games.  I don't know about everyone else, but I'm willing to rough it without the surround sound system.


Alpha you're making me hungry... not good, not good at all...

Aside from food - which is making me hungry  , there are also other things we should consider packing / bringing:

Map / GPS / Mapquest Print Outs

Contact information of other members going. (we'll work on this when we get a little closer). It would also be good to have the contact information for Sandy Valley on hand.

Emergency contact information on your person (just in case!)

Cell phone w/charger. The cabins have electricity, and some of the tent sites do too. A dead cell phone isn't very useful.

License, registration, proof of insurance. Cops love to pull over GS biker groups  

Rain gear if you have it or atleast something to keep your stuff dry. If it rains when we are there, I am sure there will be some room in the cabins to come in and hang out or put your stuff in there so it doesn't get wet.

Hygiene stuff (deodorant, toothpaste/brush, razor etc)

As mentioned, a bungee cargo net really is a fantastic device for cheap. You can't really go wrong with it.

Camera and either batteries (digital) or extra fiilm (film..) or a disposable camera!

Let's add to this as well. it is helpful for those who need to plan what they will need to pack in order to figure out how they are going to pack and transport it  

amanda, i doubt its only 2 hours from  you. 

Chris it's only 3hours for me...and I have to practicly dirve all the way accross and then up PA to get there.

If the buge net dosn't hold everything a great alternative is to get an internal frame back pack. I've been backpacking before for 15days and It's amazing how much "junk" they can hold...and you also realize how much "junk" you really don't need. Think about it.....you can eat everything with a spoon.... who needs a knife to cut the steak? Hello were in the wood dime to act like savages....and the fork...ya the prongs break off and it's worthless. So ya long story short I will fit  everything I need in it. FYI i'm refering to the ones with a hip belt and are a little more heavy duty than school back-packs.

Quote

Marshmallows
Hersheys bars
graham crackers
hotdogs
buns
burgers
buns
water
soda
watermelon (if we have a car)
HUGE PACK OF TP!! ---cha-cha-CHARMIN

*Italian Susage*
*potatoes*
Da heck w/ it pick up a pizza from the town

what else??

OH! AND...
From now until the trip everyone should steal extra ketchup packets from fast food places and bring them with you, so we don't have to buy that...lol.

don't forget swim gear and a volleyball---LMAO Mr. Wilson

Reminder:  I can not wait for this trip!

Quote from: SuZuki10 on April 05, 2006, 01:10:52 PM
Reminder:  I can not wait for this trip!

fyi: you're making us more anxious 

Quote from: JetSwing on April 05, 2006, 04:24:49 PM

Quote from: SuZuki10 on April 05, 2006, 01:10:52 PM
Reminder:  I can not wait for this trip!

fyi: you're making us more anxious 

BTW:  GOOD!   

We should all be anxious, according to Jetswing's countdown calculator:

http://gs500.variders.com/countdown.swf

We have only 79 days left.

For those of you that have not made your reservations, I strongly advise that you do so before the spring campers and vacationers take all the spots.

And for those of you who haven't totally committed to coming, I think you should just give in and come with us. We're gonna have a lot of fun 

Quote from: Phaedrus on April 05, 2006, 06:24:38 PM
And for those of you who haven't totally committed to coming, I think you should just give in and come with us. We're gonna have a lot of fun 

It's like, 1700 miles one way... Otherwise I totally would.

Quote from: AlphaFire X5 on April 05, 2006, 06:34:10 PM

Quote from: Phaedrus on April 05, 2006, 06:24:38 PM
And for those of you who haven't totally committed to coming, I think you should just give in and come with us. We're gonna have a lot of fun 

It's like, 1700 miles one way... Otherwise I totally would.

you can totally crash at my place...and make it 800miles per day. not too bad huh? 

18 days and counting... 

YESSSSSSSSSS

Just got off the phone with the little bitty at Sandy Vally...We're in cabin 30!! WHO TOOK 31? 

It was funny b/c at first I didn't mention the group to see what price I might get..and the first thing she says is "ok I only have one cabin left"  Then I say okay I'm going to be coming in with the GSTWINS group and she's like "ooooooooh ok let me see here...ok that's a motorcycle group? I remember the gentleman."  Then all of a sudden she had more to offer...Did you sort of reserve a couple cabins Rich? 
She also told me that she thought we were going to be a bunch of sets of twins...as in brothers and sisters that look alike...lol  I said no, that's our motorcycles...cute little ol' lady!  She's got a lovely smokers hack to boot. 

PS  When you guys call to reserve, she asks for a credit card right over the phone so be prepared unlike me who had to dig through my purse for 5 minutes.  Or you have the option of sending her a check which you only have 5 days to get to her.

S.O. exactly how many do they have left? did you take the last one   

I didn't ask...just mention GSTWINS GROUP and it seems to work wonders.  I hope she doesn't think we are some big bad biker gang coming through.  shaZam! now that I think about it, I bet we could have gotten a group rate! oh well...$80 is not too shabby for electric and being off the ground. 

I can't wait to meet all of you in person!

Alright, I've been giving some thought to our GSTWIN GROUP RIDE on SATURDAY. How does this sound to everyone?

1. We'll start the ride sometime mid-late morning on Saturday FROM WHITE HAVEN, PA (Sandy Valley Campground to NESQUEHONING, PA (approx 20 miles).

2. We will ride FROM NESQUEHONING, PA to ORANGEVILLE, PA. (Approx 47 miles) using the directions from the Motorcycle Roads in PA site. They claim it is "..a nice scenic ride up and over several ridges...""

3. Maybe we could grab lunch or something in or around ORANGEVILLE.

4. Ride back to WHITE HAVEN (Sandy Valley, Approx 47 miles).

Any input? Thoughts? Better ideas for routes? Anything?

Did anyone reserve a camp site yet? if so where are you near (site number/area)?

Quote from: bargovic on April 06, 2006, 08:29:04 PM
Did anyone reserve a camp site yet? if so where are you near (site number/area)?

Yes, some of us have our reservations made. Two cabins, to my knowledge. Not sure about the tenters. Refer to my previous post:

Quote from: Phaedrus on April 01, 2006, 08:22:29 AM
Ok kiddies  I got my reservations in. Weazelnoze and I will be in "Cabin 32".

Call (570) 636-0206 to make your reservations. I have already informed them that there is a group of us coming, and that if possible, we would like to be slated next to eachother. So when you call to make your reservations, tell them you are part of the GSTWINS GROUP. She said do this as soon as possible, as the sooner you reserve the better chance we have of being all together, and the be3tter the chance you can even get in. She said the park often fills up around that time of year. So do this soon!

Total cost for mine and Chris's cabin was $80; $40 per night for two adults. June 23rd and June 24th are the nights we're staying. She said even if you get a cabin, "bring everything you need as if you were tenting" (like sleeping bags, etc). There is an electrical outlet in the cabins, but no water.  There is a picnic table and a fire ring.

Just a note to everyone - you will want to check in AFTER 3pm (but before 10pm) on Friday. If you check in before that, they charge you a half day's rate.

Remember, make them as soon as you can and tell'em you are with the GSTWINS GROUP. 

So yes, go ahead and make your reservations. If you are tenting, thats great- but still mention you are with the GStwins group.