Trans Am nights with power in camp

[canalligators]

I’m riding the Trans Am Westward AC tour next year.  How many nights will our camps not have power for recharging stuff?

I’m not taking a lot of electronics, basically a smart phone, helmet lights and perhaps a handheld amateur radio.  But I’m looking into feasibility of taking a battery powered CPAP machine.  The whole idea seems problematic, and I can do ok without it.  If there are a lot of nights without power, the CPAP would be a non-starter.

Will there be a lot of powerless nights? 

[John Nelson]

On the TransAm, I slept indoors over half the time, and I didn’t use motels. That includes churches, fire stations, Warm Showers, hosts identified on the maps, etc. I had access to power on all those nights.

Most campgrounds and parks also have an outlet somewhere, although they may not be near your tent. That’s in bathrooms, power poles, buildings, etc. Those outlets often don’t provide much protection against theft, although I doubt many people want to steal a CPAP. If I have to recharge at an outlet that I can’t keep an eye on, I might prefer to charge a power bank. It wouldn’t be the end of the world if a power bank was stolen.

There will of course be some nights without access to power, but that’s not too often. Maybe 10 to 20 percent of the time.

[canalligators]

Thanks, John.  That is useful info, though I was specifically interested in the group tour, as they have specific places that they overnight.

[HikeBikeCook]

Here are some blogs from this year's van supported TransAM
https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/?o=1mr&doc_id=23531&v=h8
https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/?o=1mr&doc_id=23502&v=Uv

I also asked a self support TransAM rider about his CPAP. I have/use one at home, but sleep better without one so do not take it camping. Here is the exchange on his guestbook. https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/guestbook/message/?o=1mr&thread_id=902561&page=1&nested=0&v=3#902568

[staehpj1]

Most campgrounds and parks also have an outlet somewhere, although they may not be near your tent. That’s in bathrooms, power poles, buildings, etc. Those outlets often don’t provide much protection against theft, although I doubt many people want to steal a CPAP. If I have to recharge at an outlet that I can’t keep an eye on, I might prefer to charge a power bank. It wouldn’t be the end of the world if a power bank was stolen.

Yeah, I had a cell phone stolen while it was charging in the bathroom at "Oh Kentucky!" campground back in 2007.  I am 95% certain that it was a camp maintenanace guy who stole it, but couldn't prove it.  Fortunately I was travelling with 2 companions so the lack of a phone wasn't a big deal for the remainer of the tour.  It was a work phone and they paid for the replacement.  They weren't thrilled about it though.

It one of the very few thefts I have had when on tour.  The only other one I remember was a pair of Crocs and the locking carabiner that held them.  I suspect maybe the 'biner was the target.  That doesn't count stuff stolen by ravens, mice, raccoons, or other critters.

[ray b]

An aside, both weight loss and exercise decrease sleep apnea severity. You might consider checking with your sleep medicine specialist as to whether a transam tour might cure your sleep apnea..., and if not, why not?

That said,  if you can't cure your sleep apnea, I have seen a couple of small battery packs that are capable of running newer lighter CPAP devices. I even saw one fellow this summer who had rigged a Dewalt power tool battery. Check with your DME provider and look at the Resmed and Respironics websites for ideas. You might even contact the companies about picking up a sponsorship.....

[canalligators]

Ray, I thought about the sponsorship angle.  None of the ads was targeting cycle tourists.  There probably aren’t enough of us cycle tourists interested, for them to make much money, but it might make an interesting marketing trick for them.

I saw the batteries too, but I’d mostly want an all-in-one, there are a couple out there.  The batteries are expensive too, I’d sooner get a power tool battery of the right voltage and fab a cable.

I do plan to meet with my sleep doc practice, to see if they have any non-electrified solutions, or can write a justification to my health insurance company.