From the road: least used gear, most appreciated gear

[indyfabz]

Among the items I wish I'd had would be ear plugs. I was at a town called Arlington OR camped out at the marina with a RR crossing a hundred feet away and interstate 84 fifty feet beyond that.

I feel your pain. From one night on the GAP last year:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_eBa1j8F0dk

This was not an isolated occurrence. Turn up your computer's volume to get the realistic effect.

[BrianW]

I never travel anywhere overnight without a set or two of earplugs. From the C&O and GAP trails campgrounds to four-star hotels in Europe and hostels, they have proved their worth many times!

[Pat Lamb]

Among the items I wish I'd had would be ear plugs. I was at a town called Arlington OR camped out at the marina with a RR crossing a hundred feet away and interstate 84 fifty feet beyond that.

I feel your pain. From one night on the GAP last year:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_eBa1j8F0dk

This was not an isolated occurrence. Turn up your computer's volume to get the realistic effect.

It's all about what you're used to.  We were a day behind three riders when we pulled into Mineral, VA, and camped out behind the fire station -- maybe 100 feet from the railroad.  Two days later we caught up with them.  They'd camped in the same place, then rode 8 miles to a motel to get some sleep.  My daughter and I listened to their tale of woe, then walked off a bit and asked each other, "Did a train come through Mineral that night?"  We heard one before we went to sleep, and another one in the morning.  Oh, yes, she'd just moved out of college where she was a block from a rail crossing, and I live half a mile from one.  Who knows how many trains we slept through?

[indyfabz]

The issue at Rockwood is the surrounding terrain. Very steep hills on both sides, so the sound resonates. There are also a couple of grade crossings in town. By law, the trains have to blow their horns unless what is known as a "quiet zone" has been established. That video was taken from across the river. That horn is probably around 93 db., possibly more. It was really loud, and I work in the rail biz. Thankfully, traffic decreased later that night, but it started up again early. I had a long day the next day so I got up at 5 a.m. By 5:45 three trains had come through.

[freightbike]

I stuffed a couple wads of toilet paper in my ears. Helped muffle the sound somewhat. The other time I needed plugs was at the riverside town camp in Kamiah ID. There is a lumber mill right next door and they keep it up till late into the night though it seemed they shut down after midnight. I live very close to a BNSF main line through St Paul and I like the sound and rumble of trains passing by my open windows at night. It's the horns that drive you crazy.