I love to go biking when I go camping because my husband and I like to stay at state parks where there typically lots of scenic biking trails to ride.

Some people avoid taking bicycles with them when they camp though because they don’t have a bike rack and storage space is at a premium.

The Dahon company has just the thing for people who are having that problem but want to be able to take a bike with them. They make folding bikes that don’t take up a lot of space, are lightweight, easy to fold and unfold, and have many satisfied customers who say they are a lot of fun to ride. The prices range from a little under $400 for the company’s full size Espresso urban bike, to over $2,000 for their top of the line Fuego mountain bike.

Below is a short video about Dahon folding mountain bikes that I found on YouTube.

The USDA Forest Service has a volunteer program called PIT (Passport in Time) that allows people to work with professional Forest Service personnel including archaeologists, historians, and historic restoration experts.

A few of the projects that past volunteers have helped with include restoring adobe structures in Arizona, evaluating a 3,000 year old site in Wisconsin, exploring 19th century Chinese mining sites in Idaho and Utah, and restoring historic cemeteries in Vermont and New Hampshire.

PIT’s goal is to preserve the United State’s past with the help of volunteers. PIT volunteers help Forestry Service personnel understand the human story in North America and preserve the sites and memories that chronicle its stories.

As a PIT volunteer you receive a “Passport.” Every time you visit a project the project leader stamps the passport and documents the volunteer’s hours. As volunteers work on multiple projects around the country, they can fill their passports with various stamps.

It is a completely voluntary program. Volunteers need to get themselves to the projects. Accommodations vary by project. Many of them involve backcountry backpacking with the volunteers beng responsible for providing their own gear and food but some do have hookups available for RV’s, and on some projects there are hotels nearby that volunteers may choose to stay at and then travel to the work site each day.

Some projects last just a few days and others last longer - 2 weeks or more.

For more information, including a list of current projects, go to PIT’s official website.

If you like aircraft and like to camp, the annual EAA (Experimental Aircraft Association) Airventure is coming up in just a few weeks in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. In 2007, the show runs from July 23-29th..

During the days of the show the airport in Oshkosh becomes the busiest airport in the world with people from all over the world attending the event every year.

Some features of this year’s show include a performance by the Beach Boys on July 23, daily air shows and nightly outdoor screenings of aviation films. There will be over 800 exhibitors at the event along with hundreds of workshops and forums, plus an area just for kids called “KidVenture.”

Some of the aircraft available for viewing this year include a U-2 spyplane and F-22 raptors. In addition a U.S. Marine Corps AV-8B Harrier II jump jet will be on display from July 23-25th. On Saturday, July 28th, a B-2 stealth bomber will do a fly-by at approximately 3 pm. On Sunday, July 29 between 10 and 11 am a F-117 stealth fighter will do a fly-by (both fly-bys are subject to change due to weather or operational needs of the Air Force). There will also be a Goodyear Blimp at the event. And, as always, there will be experimental aircraft on display.

To really immerse yourself in the AirVenture experience, camp on the show grounds at Camp Scholler. The daily camping fee is just $19 with a 3 day minimum. Pre-registration isn’t necessary because there are always plenty of campsites available. You do have to be an EAA member to camp on the grounds, but you can join at the gate. According to the AirVenture website, “One of the most popular ways to experience EAA AirVenture is to camp at EAA’s Camp Scholler. It allows you to enjoy the camaraderie and fun of being with 40,000 of your fellow aviation enthusiasts all week long. Individual campsites are approximately 20′ x 30′ in size and are available for both vehicle and tent camping. Larger RVs will be accommodated at the standard daily camping rates. Amenities include a general store, the Fly-In Theater, shower facilities, portable toilets, RV pumping station, and portable pumping services. Designated camping areas are also available for the handicapped, 24-hour generator use, and those who bring pets. Electric and water hookups not available.”

If you have your own plane and want to fly to the show, another popular way to stay is to tent camp next to your aircraft. As with the other camping on the grounds, the cost is $19 a night with a three night minimum and there’s no pre-registration. There are shower facilities, portable toilets, and access to food and supplies for all campers. Aircraft camping areas on the EAA AirVenture grounds are divided into three categories:

Showplane camping areas, including:
Vintage camping area
Homebuilt camping area
Warbird camping area

Ultralight camping area

and

General aircraft camping area

For all the details. plus some interesting videos and info on how you can win a plane, go to the official website for the show: http://www.airventure.org/