Enter Foo Fest. It’s been going a few years and mainly resides on ADVrider and Facebook. Typically hosted in the south central Indiana areas. This one was a little further north in Lieber State park. Near Cloverdale, east of Terra Haute, the area is more woods than fields. Lots of drainage for some bigger lakes. Plenty of hills, water crossings, dirt and gravel roads and since it’s Indiana, covered bridges.
As some of you know, I have been trying to refine my camping load out in preparation for some BDR action hopefully upcoming this summer.
Camping off the dual sport is a completely different experience. You simply cannot take the weight and volume one throws upon the FJR.
This exercise would be further complicated due to the temps predicted below or at freezing both nights.
I snagged a new sleeping bag. They are the same temp rating but the new one is about 1/3 less volume. I was hoping for more space savings, but I already ordered a better compression sack.
Temps were still in the low 40s when I left. The plan was to stay on some slow speed roads the wind is kept at bay by the trees and terrain.
The route planned goes toward my normal riding areas. I don’t need a GPS until I get to Rockville about 35 miles away, but I am taking all the fun roads.
I don’t stop and take lots of pictures. Mainly because I have to take my gloves off to get to the iPhone. Farmers are getting ready to work their fields, but can’t until the once floating corn stalks are dealt with.
The wind will blow floating stalks up to the land. Earlier this year the whole flood plain was covered with water. Not it was dry enough to start a burn off.
I had to ride about 1/4 mile out into the field. The amount of stalks is immense. I can barely find a way to get the bike to stay in the kickstand. The debris is at least 18 inches thick.
The smoke is blowing south west toward the river and would likely dissipate before getting to any houses. The river is almost 1/2 mile from here. I have seen the water halfway up the treeline on the left in other, much more wet, Springs.
I didn’t linger long as there must be a farmer nearby watching the fires. This is familiar territory, so I beat feet toward the new tracks.
More of the similar in these parts.
Plenty of these bridges have a water crossing. Likely the original way to get across the water.
It was still cold so a walk around up to the bridge might warm me up.
Many of the water crossings do not have concrete structures to allow traversing the creek.
This one is not really wide and most local farm machinery would likely not fit.
The wooden structure, engineering, and craftsmanship are gorgeous. So many of these have stood the test of times better than so much of the modern.
Those of you not familiar with the area and history, Abe Lincoln made his way from Kentucky through Indiana to Illinois where he gained notoriety. This bridge was build 9 years before he died. Put that into perspective. There are many more in the area even older and most still don’t have any modern metal updates. That’s even better than my Honda’s reliability. (Foreshadowing).
I stopped to take a quick bio break and snap this pic. I was about halfway the 90 mile track planned. Wayne this flag is for you! Notice the trucks in the background.
You never know on what you will find way out here in the middle of nowhere.
It started raining as predicted as the warm front collided with the cold from which I came. I only had one option; carry on and punch through the small rain band.
My gear was up to the task. I heard someone say “There is no such thing as bad weather, just bad gear choices.”
I rolled into the campground and saw some familiar faces for the area rides. One of them may be known to you. BLRFJR was who I was sharing a campsite with. He got the site and I got set up on the only somewhat level ground there was.
The leaf debris was welcomed as the ground temp was not favorable. Warmer than the air, but I got the old tent tucked in. Brian picked the site and it was last one at the end of the cul-de-sac.
There is electricity at the site but I passed on bringing the heated throw blanket I sometimes pack. This was also a gear shakedown trip and if I was eventually gonna venture out into some remote areas, I needed to know if my gear was up to the task sans electrical aids.
I did take some luxury items, but not too much. A bigger chair, a full size insulated tumbler, and well……. If you know me, then you know.
I found a good campfire and made it work.
This was the second piece. I was too busy eating the first to take a picture. While most of the rest of the campers were getting sloshed on bad beer or fireball, I was making sure I had some real caloric fuel to get me through the cold night ahead.
Brian and I wandered back to our campsite and I tucked in for the night. One of the best new gear choices, as crude as it may be, included a quart Gatorade bottle. Not having to get out in the middle of the night to pee is amazing.
Morning tea on the table was the only thing that I was looking forward to getting out the warm sleeping bag.
More tomorrow!
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