More camping questions

Since we seem to be thinking about camping a lot here (which begs another question or two), a slightly different take on the camping scenarios has come to mind.

In years past, I've enjoyed a summer bicycle tour called Bike Virginia(http://www.bikevirginia.org/2007). It's a five-day bicycle trip, and the organizers haul the cyclists' luggage from town to town. Historically, I've used my tent, and simply put the tent and clothing in my duffel bag each morning to toss it on the luggage truck that hauls our gear to the next host town.

The whole "toss it on the luggage truck" thing concerns me, though--if I'm packing my M-series Auto AND the Respironics battery pack, how do I protect it so that the boy scouts tossing the duffel bags around don't foul it up at one end of the journey or another? I'd just as soon not have to haul the extra twenty-five pounds of gear on the bike.

This year, I would only have to worry about two or three days during which the luggage would be hauled--the trip spends three days in Williamsburg, to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the settlement of Jamestown. I think I can also recharge the battery while in Williamsburg, so hours of operation won't be a big issue.

Of course, the whole point may be moot for me, as I started a new job a few months ago and won't have any paid vacation time for another nine months. I have family in Williamsburg, though, and I'm pondering an unpaid vacation. Time to start saving up the sheckels.

I would get a hard-shell case for it. Glue padding to the inside to cradle yer rig.

if you are only taking along the machine without the humidifier, you can get one of those hard plastic Sterilite containers from Target or elsewhere that your M series could fit inside, then you could put it in a duffle bag without worry it would be crushed. Some of these containers come with pretty stout lids, I put my mask in the smaller one when I travel so it doesn't get crushed.

Thanks for the replies so far!

The Sterilite container sounds like an inexpensive way to go--I could use one large enough to hold my machine and humidifier, and pack it with clothing for padding. I've not used the one without the other so far, and am unsure how well I'd do with passive humidity. I'll have to experiment with that before the trip date.

What concerns me most about this is impact damage to the machine. The Sterilite box would probably deal with any low-impact forces (i.e. bags sitting on top of mine in the truck).

I'm not as worried about the battery--lead gel batteries are pretty rugged. I am concerned, though, that the battery bouncing around in the bag could harm the machine. I could put them in different areas of the bag, but how to isolate them from each other?

This thread could get me thinking, which is a dangerous thing.

Do you know anyone who could make a strong wooden box to carry the machine and battery pack? Maybe some memory foam from a pillow for lining?

How about a trailer for your bike for all your equipment? You could get one of those things that people put their kids in to take them along.

Tip an Eagle Scout to take extra care of the equipment. Maybe they could get another badge for sleep apnea.

Humidity shouldn't be a problem. Any time I go camping it rains like crazy - just part of the fun.

The best cases I have found, I use them for everything as I white water raft and Kayak, are from a company called Pelican. They come in all different sizes and have foam which can be custom cut as it is already scored in 1/2" increments. Theses case are extremely durable and water tight, most have a self purge valve for travel in higher altitudes or air travel, the case will "adjust" to atmosphere pressures. I have had equipment cases "bail" only to be lodged against boulders or stuck in some pretty brutal "holes." Smiles and admiration for the cases quickly follow when the equipment, if packed right inside the case, is always dry and with some practice now is always secure.