Camping :)

[indysteel]

Great advice, soprano. Boy are you right about people treating campgrounds like their own private party. Last year, we had a site next to a group of twenty-somethings. They got drunk and played a rather loud gave of "Never Have I Ever." For those unfamiliar, it's basically an opportunity for people to talk about their mostly sexual exploits. It was beyond obnoxious. DH and I are exceedingly quiet when we camp, and try to be respectful of the environment, but we're increasingly alone in this attitude.

[Brandi]

Ummm how about a pillow!

[cosc]

Mabe you'll have dry nights, but if not, a coffee can to pee in is a good alternative to going out in a storm or rain, especially if bathrooms are far away.

[Catrin]

My campsite could not be further from the real bathroom/bathhouse, though not too far from a pit toilet. I went for a full shaded site given the weather we have had recently...

[Miranda]

Mabe you'll have dry nights, but if not, a coffee can to pee in is a good alternative to going out in a storm or rain, especially if bathrooms are far away.

That's a good cheap idea.

We have a portable air plane type camping toliet we use in our pop-up tent camper. Even if it's not raining, and you wake up in desperate need (those of us women who have had a couple big babies in life and can't have the toliet be far when the bladder is full and screaming mid night) you have something there.

Regardless of that, some spare toliet paper from home is nice. In case the bathhouse hasn't been re-stocked before you need it.

An addition to your first aid kit in the car/tent... hydrocortizone cream (covers a lot ouchies) and/or anti-itch meds, i.e. bug bites, poison ivy etc.

I put a gallon size freezer zip lock baggie over my bike saddle and rubber-band it down. A cheap plastic table cloth could work to both cover your bike, and any other outside gear in a flash rain. Plus, makes table bit more sanitary. Think I paid $1 for mine at Dollar Tree, or Walmart.

I usually lock bikes to the pop-up frame, or put inside a vehicle and lock that down too (that was my carbon roadie- was good map outside park, plus had mtb for trails). Last time I took my xc bici to the beach I locked it to the hitch of my suv- U lock & cable.

[AnnieBikes]

We always have a VERY small travel umbrella (from the dollar store) for nights when you HAVE to go (and don't use the coffee can). It has saved us on several occasions. Also, if you need to walk to the shower/toilet in the rain, it keeps you dryer than rain gear, especially if your rain gear is already wet!

[soprano]

Peeing into any container that is stored inside your tent is a bad idea, unless you really think that you might enjoy waking up in a shower of coyote piss. Ask me how I know

If the bathroom is really far away, I find a good spot about 50 feet from my tent (and not close to any natural water source) and do any urgent nightime peeing there.

[Trek-chick]

A small garden trowel and some TP will do the trick. That is what we have to do while we are hiking/camping in the backcountry. I would rather do my business outside than use a container and keep it in my tent.