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Originally Posted by GeoDiablo
I think I have a tent that will work, if my children haven't broken or lost all the parts for it.
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First thing that you should do is test drive your tent to make sure that it works, has all of the pieces & you can set it up. Leave it set up for a few days to annoy the neighbors, also to air it out. You'll want to seal the seams & spray it with some waterproofing, just in case.
Or just buy a new, more compact one (but I'd still seal those seams) and make sure you can set it up.
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So what do I need? I suppose a ground cover underneath the tent and some sort of pad to put under the sleeping bag. A pillow, maybe a flashlight, some sort of camp chair(?)…
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See? You're a natural at this. Don't forget a towel & toiletries if you plan on freshening up (I always throw some samples or travel sized stuff into a ziploc for trips to the shower). Coffee, food & beer is for sale at the camping area (where you come in) and there's even pizza delivery via ATV but there's no shortage of markets & gas stations where things can be got.
. first thing in the bag! But we did manage to find the local liquor store. In a pinch you can get alcohol in the supermarkets...if it's 40 proof or less. Which means that you can buy things like watered down vodka. mmmmm.
But pretty much anything that you may have forgotten can be found somewhere in the area. You've really got the basics covered with what you've already thought out. And you can go light on the T shirts because you know that you're bound to be buying a couple at the event
. Oh, do bring a LS sweatshirt as well as gloves. It gets pretty cold in the valley at night & if you go for a ride you'll appreciate it. I also bring a bandana to double as a neck gaiter and/or rag (the seat of your bike will get dewey overnight).
I usually bring some bug spray, sunscreen, something other than boots to scuff round the campground in (or if you have to make a trip to the bathroom in the middle of the night) and one of those microfiber camp towels. I have one of those compression pads for underneath the sleeping bag that rolls up pretty small. I don't even bother with a pillow, just use my jacket inside out & a few T shirts. Clothing, etc gets packed inside of plastic bags before going into the saddlebags.
Packing the bike is pretty basic. If you have a rack or grab rail on the back of your bonnie it'll be easier but basically I have a set of saddlebags that act as a platform. A duffel bag goes over the top of the saddlebags & across the pillion. The duffel gets anchored to the bike, not to the saddlebags. The tent, sleeping bag etc, tarp & camp chair go in the duffel. Clothing, etc in the saddlebags (pack these first). Maps, chain lube, essentials in the tankbag. Just do some practice riding with the bike loaded in order to get a feel for how it handles. I'm doing this on the non existant pillion of a T509 speed triple, the Bonnie should be a piece of cake!
I forgot to mention that there are different sections of the camping area. This year is the first that we're going to try camping in the quiet area so I can't vouch for how quiet it actually is. But earplugs really do help. And plan on waking up as soon as the racers start doing practice laps
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I hope that I didn't go on too much. A lot of this is stuff that you probably already know. But our very first VMD I thought that we didn't need sleeping bags & could just sleep on a quilt. yeah. So we've learned a little bit since then.
Nina
should be T509
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The road to Hell is paved...so ride it.
. Seriously though, I can't say that I blame you. We would do the 500+ mile ride every year & it just makes you that much happier to get there. I-80 through PA is just wretched. 
. Seriously, if you need suggestions I can help. We had pretty much got packing a bike for camping down to a science before our son was born & spoiled all of the fun.
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