HU Travellers Meeting Queensland 2019

Lyn and Alan Curtis, TWOXTW Magic Mexico Not what we expected

If we had to leave Australia permanently, this is our first choice after 65 countries. Mexico, what a pleasant surprise. The amazing scenery, wow factors on every bend, the mountain ranges (many at 3200 metres), the Topes. Mexicans are such warm and friendly people, not like the media portrays them. Build the wall or don't build the wall, come and listen to our stories and decide for yourselves.

It started with "I have a plan...". Five years ago, LYN and ALAN CURTIS left Queensland Australia to travel the world on their Yamaha XT 660s. Since then, they have taken in many sights and over 65 countries: from Asia to Europe, British Isles to Scandinavia , Russia, the "Stans", Mongolia to the USA, and through Central America to Alaska. Over 110,000 km and no end in sight!

Mitch van der Merwe "Does Your Mum Know?" How I accomplished riding solo after a deluge of questions from family, friends, and strangers

Upon explaining to friends, family, and strangers my plan to round the continent on a shiny BMW, I was met with questions and comments along the lines of: "Why?", "Are your parents okay with that?", "Where will you sleep, what will you eat?", and "How much will it cost?". Although many of the people I spoke were unsupportive, I was adamant that it was something I wanted to do, to conquer, and to enjoy. I will discuss my answers to some of these questions, explain how I decided on gear and itinerary, and how much fun I had. Hope to inspire, help, and entertain those who are there to listen.

Twenty-year-old Canberran MITCH VAN DER MERWE completed 'The Big Lap' solo on a BMW F650GS in 2018. Although he feels he may lack the knowledge and experience of more seasoned travelers, his passion for adventure and ability to "find a way" more than make up for it. [NOTE from HU: Remember, everyone's a beginner at some point!]

Chantal Simons, Chick on the Chook Chaser A Journey Within a Journey While travelling the globe, you learn about cultures and landscapes, but also about yourself and your unique place in the world.

I share with you my experience of travelling solo from Australia to the Netherlands. Come on my journey of fantastic views, incredible encounters, and peculiar cultural traditions, but, more than that, I will share how this journey shaped me as a person. If you allow the world to be your teacher, there is a lot to learn from any experience you have while travelling. From learning to trust strangers to accepting defeat while fixing a bike, to an enlightened view on staring eyes. I hope you take away some of the valuable life lessons travelling halfway around the world has taught me.

While growing up in the Netherlands, CHANTAL SIMONS always had a passion for bikes and travelling. Combining the two was an easy step when she left for a 9-countries-in-10-days trip around Europe just a couple of months after getting her license. She continued to travel around New Zealand and Australia, before taking the big jump to ride her Yamaha XT250 solo from Australia through Asia to the Netherlands.

Ross Letten Around the World in Classic MGs Our past experiences and future intentions driving class MGs. Of interest to HU members seeking greater comfort!

And now for something completely different: this is about a group of classic MG sports car owners who have driven around the world on most continents. The presentation reviews our experiences of driving around the world in classic MGs ranging from a 1961 MGA to a 1978 MGB. The choice of vehicle may seem inappropriate given the differing design objectives of a sports car compared with an expedition vehicle. However, we found them to be ideal. They are tough, comparatively reliable if well prepared, share a high degree of spare parts commonality, are old technology and hence, easily repaired with basic tools, cheap and fun! We did not participate in the 2010 Beijing to London event, but did in the following: • 2012 Cape to Cairo • 2015 Pan American Highway from Ushuaia to Alaska • 2016 Trans Canada • 2017 UK to Kiev and back via the Black Forest, Dolomites, Croatia and Porto.

No camping was involved because we stayed in accommodation booked several months in advance. But of course this presents its own challenges when a car breaks down or when the Ethiopian border authorities decide to shut up shop early. Our experience suggests that four to six cars in the group is ideal in terms of flexibility, companionship, sharing of spares and mutual assistance in breakdown situations. But one of the purposes of the presentation is to inspire like-minded adventurers to join us in a trip from Thailand, through Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, China, Tibet (Everest BC) and Nepal in 2020, preferably in classic MGs. Both Dave and I are or have been avid motorcyclists.

ROSS LETTEN has driven around the world on most continents in class MGs. They want to inspire other adventurers, preferably driving classic MGs, to join them in an Everest Base Camp adventure in 2020.

Dylan Reid, Brothers Reid Brothers RTW on DR650s After their sister's suicide, Dylan and Lawson partnered with QIMR to ride RTW to fundraise for mental health research.

A talk in tangents of our wild learning curve over 2.5 years of riding RTW. The endeavor in a nutshell: Australia to Spain, Morocco to South Africa and Patagonia to Alaska. I'll share my navigation and planning methodology ("To be bothered or nahhh just wing it?"). The power of Basecamp, a simple excel sheet and cloud storage. How to time the seasons. Blindly following the GPS purple line? What could go wrong? Indo archipelago and Mr Lim's onion boat. Aren't we supposed to have an escort for Balochistan? How to get detained by the Iranian military. Where to cross the Congo River. Darien Gap options. Will discuss visa bowling strategies, shipping, ROROs, border crossings, stamps, checkpoints, shakedowns and the most important rule: no tension. Being a hugger. The euphoria of step removal in the day-to-day. The catch-22 of fundraising, sponsors, social media and other interferences to the journey. Health, medical, malaria and most importantly, how to stop sh^tting yourself ("Where is your thermometer, rookie?"). Good luck filtering through this mind spill flying at you in this wild ride of a journey!
Watch their video >>
Check out the Tech Sessions below for Dylan's workshop, "Overland Moto Set-Up for Your Journey".

DYLAN REID is an adventure travel-centred nerd permanently ruined by overlanding experiences. Spare time is spent at his workstation staring at purple lines and in the garage tinkering with rubbish mechanic skills. He is currently frothing over and upcoming ride from London to Kathmandu with his partner Clare.

Thomas Kaczmarczyk Spontaneous Australian Adventures / South East Asia: Epic and Easy?

1. Spontaneous Australian Adventures
Experiences from short-but-intense trips into Australia's countryside. From a long weekend to a 1-week desert adventure

Not everyone has the time or budget for an epic RTW adventure. Is it possible to have a fantastic trip over a long weekend or a couple of weeks? Certainly! I want to share my experiences about the diverse motorcycle trips I've done in this magnificent country. Check it out: Exploring remote parts of the Australian countryside with limited time and budget; Lessons learned from traveling through the Outback via campervan, 125cc step-through, and Honda CB500X; Preparing for travel in forests vs. deserts; What workedand what didn't; and the surprising differences between travel on two vs. four wheels.

2. South East Asia: Epic and Easy?
Exploring the beauty that is southeast Asia. The difficulty is up to you.

From humble beginnings of renting scooters to full-blown, multi-country trips over many months, we get into adventures that anyone could join, all the while riding on twisties where the grins never stop and exploring jaw-dropping landscapes. We'll cover: Why it's the ideal place to get into adventure riding; The power of the humble step through, a bike that's so easy, a child could ride it and, in many places, they often do; How much power is enough and what issues one could expect with parts and fuel; Crossing borders - where and how; and the Do's, don'ts, and my own mistakes.

Ten years ago, TOM KACZMARCZYK decided to travel Oz with a detour via Thailand. Inspired by Top Gear, he got into overland adventure and motorcycling. Having criss-crossed Australia in campervans over nearly three years and toured Asia on little bikes, he now lives a 9-to-5 life and does short-but-intense ADV trips.

Karen and Dave Ramsay Nepal on a Whim There's a lot more to Nepal than the Himalayas: A DIY holiday adventure with friends.

It all started with a look and a nod between the three of us. We'd just sat through a presentation about Nepal at an Horizons Unlimited meeting in Boonah. We went into the presentation to hear about yet another amazing overseas adventure. Nepal wasn't even on our radar as a place to ride, yet we came out of the presentation thinking, "We could do that. Let's do it!"

It all sounded so incredible, so cheap, so doable. From that first small spark, a five-week DIY Nepalese adventure was born. We'll cover some useful tips to plan your own short overseas riding sojourn, from researching bike hire and booking flights (before looking into visa lengths) to trip logistics and the wisdom of travelling in Nepal when you have a fear of heights. We're sharing fond memories and photos of our time in Nepal.

KAREN RAMSAY is a mother of three, teacher librarian, and an avid adventure rider who got her motorbike licence eight years ago. It was the start of many incredible adventures and friendships she previously only dreamed about. When not riding, she writes for Adventure Rider Magazine or daydreams about her next ride.

DAVE RAMSAY is known around adventure riding circles as "Ramdog" and "The Human GPS". He loves nothing better than sharing his passion for adventure riding with others. He has ridden extensively throughout northern NSW and southern Queensland along with trips to Thailand and Nepal.

Helen Black and Anthony Holzwart The Highs and Highs of Peru

From the top of the Andes to the Amazon jungle. Armed with a couple of hired Honda XR250cc bikes, questionable navigational skills, and half a dozen of the wrong Spanish words, Anthony and Helen set off to explore Peru. On roads less travelled they find the true Peru... warm and welcoming villagers, breath-taking Andes crossings, retreating glaciers, sheer drops from gravel tracks and steaming Amazon jungles. Who'd have thought a gob full of coca leaves was an adventure must-have!

HELEN BLACK and ANTHONY HOLZWART try to get away for overseas adventures when money and time allow, but with so many places to explore, choosing one country is always hard!

Dee and Colin Masters Planning and Prep for that Big Trip

Dee and Colin present a beginner's guide to long distance travel. Everything you need to consider before you commit yourself to going the distance.

Xenia and Tinu, XT Adventures Around the World Trip on Two Bikes From Switzerland to Australia

In February 2017, we left our home country Switzerland with our two Yamaha XT 660 motorbikes and have been on the road ever since. We would like to take you on our trip from Switzerland all the way along the Silk Route to India, then further to New Zealand and Australia. You will hear some funny and weird stories from the road, information about our bikes and the changes we made to them, the amazing people we met, and the great (dirt) tracks we rode along the way. If you want, we can share our highly-detailed budget information, visa info, and anything else that might be of interest to you.

XENIA and TINU are a travel-bug-infected couple from Switzerland who are on the road as often as possible. Even before they met, they have been travelling and living abroad. Now greater than the sum of their parts, this team has become even crazier with adventures! In May 2019, they will head from Australia to Africa, and then ride back to Europe through Africa.

David Hicks Is Travelling a Team Sport? / Choose Your Own Adventure

1. Is Travelling a Team Sport?
The ups and downs of travelling solo, as a couple, and in a group

After traveling solo, with my wife, and as part of groups of strangers, there are serious considerations to ensure everyone gets what they want. Be it budget, daily routine, diet or even how far you are willing to go out of your way so they can have a tinder date, people are the biggest challenge of your trip.

2. Choose Your Own Adventure
Not all travelling is a multi-year odyssey, but it can be just as fulfilling

Do adventures have to be long overseas trips? Do adventure bikes have all the farkles? Do adventurers have to give up their jobs? Deciding to go on an adventure can be challenging enough, but what about when you start hearing that you *must* do this or *have to* buy this, have this experience, have these skills? David considers himself an adventurer, but not because of any single trip. Riding in the front paddock on a borrowed bike with second-hand safety gear, on overnight trips less than 100 km from home, whether on the Mongolia steppes on a hire bike or sleeping in 5-star hotels, adventure is what you make it! Find out how to choose an adventure that suits you and how to make it happen.

DAVID HICKS has travelled throughout Europe, northern Asia, and Australia by motorcycle.

Lee and Paul O'Connor, Bikes 'n' Beers We Did It Our Way: RTW in One Go! / Don't Leave New Zealand Off Your RTW Route!

1. We Did It Our Way: RTW in One Go!
Declaring you're going to do something and seeing it through. Be inspired tod ream, plan and take the next step to adventures of a lifetime.

A mother of four in her late 50s and her husband rode the backroads of the world on two motorcycles, in one go, in one year! The route from Kuala Lumpur included China, the Silk Road through the Stans and Iran, 20 European alpine passes, coast-to-coast Canada, USA, Central and South America, to Patagonia in Chile, and crossing the Andes eight times. They have since written a book that has been selling well to great reviews. With her artist's eye and engineer husband's planning skills, Lee and Paul reveal incredible experiences to encounter on motorcycles. See amazing people, stunning scenery, cuisine of all descriptions, what to take, how to do it, accidents, breakdowns and, not to be forgotten: a record of the World's 150 Best Motorcycle Roads that exhilarated them.

2. Don't Leave New Zealand Off Your RTW Route!
Taking you to the extremities of this amazing and spectacular country

No RTW trip is complete until you've motorcycled around New Zealand, just across the ditch from here. The land of the World's Fastest Indian and home of John Britten. The Hema Motorcycle Atlas of Australia has 100 pages while the NZ Atlas has 127 pages – and Paul and Lee will show you why. They have just returned from a five-month, 20,000-km journey on their trusty KTM 990 Supermotards, with the same setup as their earlier RTW trip. From winding mountain roads, stunning beach shorelines, raging river gorges, pastoral scenery, Southern Alps and remote subtropical forests, you can't find yourself on a boring road. Did we mention the interesting characters along the way, meat pies and varieties of beer? And try putting the world's longest place-name in your GPS:
Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateaturipukakapikimaungahoronukupokaiwhenuakitanatahu.

LEE and PAUL O'CONNOR are motorcycle tragics who like nothing better than the open road and not knowing when they're coming home! On identical KTM SMT990s, they rode RTW in 2015/16 covering 80,000 kms and 40 countries in one year. They missed possibly the best country for motorcycling, so 18 months later they rode New Zealand. They are delighted to bring along their popular RTW book of heart-warming stories of life on the road, important technical and travel information invaluable for anyone setting off on an overland journey, and a list of 150 of the world's best motorcycle roads as an added bonus. "Travel allows us to see that often it's the people with the least in the world who are most likely to give you the shirt off their back…"

Chris and Dale Bartlett, African Odyssey Easy Riders and Their Retirement Dream What do you get when two newbie retirees set loose on a 1998 Moto Guzzi Quota (what's that??) in nine African countries?

The moment had finally arrived. Dale was to retire; Chris' spreadsheet was smokin' and all bike modifications were under control. Their Retirement Dream of riding the Guzzi through East Africa was about to become a reality. The route from Cape Town to Cairo remained a mystery, but Dale and Chris figured once they were sitting under an African tree, sipping home-brewed coffee, listening to the Guzzi exhaust crackle and cool to the grumble of lions sleeping in the midday sun, then they would draw breath and work out which way to ride. They had been warned about corrupt and painful border crossings, death-defying traffic, everyone with their hands out for contributions to the "Christmas Fund", and potholed and impassable roads. But was that the reality?

After eight amazing years living in Oman, Qatar and Dubai, in April 2018 DALE and CHRIS BARTLETT flew their "Guzzi" to Cape Town. Attending HU Queensland 2015 added valuable tips and tricks to their kit. 12,000 km and nine African countries later, HU Queensland 2019 gives them the chance to "pay it forward".

Anne & Anthony Speed, 2slowspeeds UK to Oz and Back / Iran and the Stans

1. UK to Oz and Back
Buying motorcycles outside your home country and planning a RTW trip

Anne and Anthony took early retirement to spend time with ageing parents and family in Europe and somehow decided to ride back on motorcycles and bought two dealer demo F700 GS motorbikes in the UK. The UK to Oz trip ended up being a full round-the-world trip as the bikes could not be imported into Australia due to Australian Design rules. So they travelled through Europe, Russia, Kazakhstan, Iran, the Stans, India, Myanmar, southeast Asia, then the South, Central and North Americas. After 15 months, 34 countries, and 52,000 km, they were back in the UK, still needing to get home in Brisbane!

They go through their 6-month planning process and the pitfalls of starting a long trip outside your home country: motorcycle equipment and riding gear, travel and motorcycle insurance, Carnet, Oz design rules, visa application variations from country to country. Being relatively novice riders, they asked the bike dealership service manager if they could shadow their mechanic when they did the pre-trip service. The relationship with the service manager proved invaluable later in the trip. They also cover the gear they found useful along the way relating to bike equipment, clothing, maps and electronic gear... and what got dropped for their second RTW.

2. Iran and the Stans
Iran was the highlight of our first six months on the road, followed by Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan

Ask them what was their favourite country on their 15- month RTW trip: Iran. Anne and Anthony spent one month in Iran, the maximum time allowable on their visas and they didn't have time to visit the most important tourist site, Persepolis. Why not? Because people kept inviting them into their homes and asking them to stay at least 2-3 days. Friends of friends of friends were lined up to greet them at the next town with the same hospitality. They share the fun and amazing experiences with people, driving, social requirements, dress requirements, and hospitality. Along the way, they decided that embracing those experiences was more important than visiting tourist sites. Iran remains one of their favourite countries.

ANNE and ANTHONY SPEED are two travellers who are slow, despite their surname. They are the 2slowspeeds! After riding small bikes in the early 1980s for two years in South Africa, they didn't return to biking until 2009. Since then, they've done two RTW trips in 2014/5 and 2017 on two F700GS's. In their blog, they share not only their personal experiences along the way, but also their documentation of every border crossing, visa application, and product reviews. Anne and Anthony hope to inspire others to just do 'it', whatever their dream.

Paul & Jan Dwyer Thrills, Spills, Llamas and Gringos / Guns, Clubs and Thrills of West Africa

1. Thrills, Spills, Llamas and Gringos
From icy mountains to huge glaciers, and across windswept deserts and the Amazon

We have been in South America for the past six months andare are simply amazed by the ever-changing scenery. We have never seen so many motorcyclists in all our life here! It is a bikers paradise - good roads, accommodations everywhere, and no need to plan ahead for food. This is as good as it gets. I suspect Jan and I will take about two years to get through this fantastic continent, but upon our return to Australia after "chapter 1" of South America, we will have plenty to reflect on. Our first stage found us heading down through Chile's Carretera Austral before heading further south to test our riding skills in the winds of Patagonia; then north to Argentina en route to Bolivia's Death Road; crawling through the Potosi Silver Mines before meandering up the Amazon, living on piranha and watching the rare pink dolphins, as we drank the local beer! Fantastic experience!

2. Guns, Clubs and Thrills of West Africa
Not many people venture up West Africa, so we decided to go and find out why

In the beginning... I headed north through the Kalahari in Botswana, taking about four days to get to Windhoek in Namibia. I rode this route last year in the scorching heat, but this time it was freezing cold. While staying at Chameleon Backpackers, I started the frustrating process of getting an Angolan visa (a censor-worthy story for an otherwise calm guy), but eventually Merlin (Bike), Pat Malone, and I headed north to a really nice campground on the edge of Etosha Park. Next day straight to the border to meet another of life's wankers. I was not going to be allowed into Angola because I didn't have a copy of the bullshit invitation letter! ...(insert much more censored back-and-forth with Angolan authorities and the vagaries of visa/carnet/photocopying/border adminstrations)... So after about 2-3 hours, I was in.

I then headed north and stayed at a nice hotel where the staff were lovely as was the room. Met a Portuguese friend, made it to Lubango which was bigger than I thought, and camped at a really nice lodge with very helpful and friendly staff. Now the real fun starts!

JAN and PAUL DWYER met while travelling and, 33 years later, they are still at it (travelling, that is)! We have been to over 100 countries with about 50 of those on Merlin (F800GS). We like to go rideabout for six months of the year, returning to appreciate what we have just done and, in turn, feeding the appetite of the next enthralling escapade!

Dylan Reid, Brothers Reid Overland Moto Set-Up for Your Journey A mind-spill of ideas, compromises between comfort and volume, and finding your sweet spot

She has suffered a 100,000 km lifetime of abuse and yet continued to thumper away, the whole way. At 10,000 km, she was hit by a truck in Sumatra which sent her subframe 25 mm off-centre. Her name is Bent, she is ugly as sin and I love her to bits. This is yet another epic story of the cult moto that is the mighty DRsickfitty. Also on display, the motorbikes Clare and I intend to ride from London to Kathmandu: the new 2019 Honda CB500X and my 2017 CRF1000 Africa Twin. Ask us anything you want!

Wil discuss: Moto guards and protection; Ergonomics ("What?! Hey?! Sorry, I have tinnitus."); Payload weight, suspension and balance; Long-range fuel and water considerations; Riding gear, protection and the 1,000,000% chance that you will bingle; Luggage, gadgets and accessories (the must-haves, nice-to-haves, and taking-it-anways); Two-way sat comms, Rider comms and the why cables suck bag of cables; Tools, spares, consumables; and the one thing we'll all agree on… Murphy's Law will $#^@ us all.

DYLAN REID is an adventure travel-centred nerd permanently ruined by overlanding experiences. Spare time is spent at his workstation staring at purple lines and in the garage tinkering with rubbish mechanic skills. He is currently frothing over and upcoming ride from London to Kathmandu with his partner Clare.

Chantal Simons, Chick on the Chook Chaser Motorbike Mindfulness How to use your riding time to clear your head and recharge

This is an interactive, hands-on, get out there, do it, and share it workshop on mindfulness on the bike. Many of us use our bikes to clear our head. You know that feeling when after a long, frustrating day at work you just want to feel the throttle and the tug of the machine accelerating beneath you? Or when you just have to go out and ride during sunset to see the amazing colours? Some call it "helmet therapy". It is that exhilarating feeling of being one with your machine, or the feeling of belonging and being part of your environment. Riding over 100,000 km across three different continents taught me how to enjoy my time on the bike no matter what was going on in my head previously, or how bad the riding conditions were. Everyone has their own experiences. This is an interactive session where we can all learn from each other and experience some mindfulness first-hand.

While growing up in the Netherlands, CHANTAL SIMONS always had a passion for bikes and travelling. Combining the two was an easy step when she left for a 9-countries-in-10-days trip around Europe just a couple of months after getting her license. She continued to travel around New Zealand and Australia, before taking the big jump to ride her Yamaha XT250 solo from Australia through Asia to the Netherlands.

LOTS of presentations to come! As people register to present we'll list them here.

How about you? We're all here to learn, and there's LOTS to learn! We want to do more presentations and seminars - but we need volunteers to give them! Any topic you can contribute having to do with motorcycle travel, maintenance, planning etc, lasting 20 minutes or more, would be great. Please contact us here to volunteer.

Martin Williams Is That Elephant Really Going to Eat My Motorcycle? (Or why you should be careful with mangoes)

There is no right or wrong way to organise a trip. For many, planning and researching are almost as much fun as doing. For me, it never seems to work out that way - despite best intentions (and regular self-admonitions that THIS time it will be different) - I always end up at the start unresearched and under-planned. This is the story of my last such trip and of how a supposedly four-month quick ride up the east side of Africa somehow stretched to eight months, and eventually took me from Cape Agulus in South Africa to Nord Kapp in Norway: a trip which involved many little adventures - losing my motorbike before I even started, watching it being molested by a hungry elephant in Zambia, getting detained by the army in Egypt, and even managing to lose one girlfriend at the start of the trip and finding another at the end. It reminded me that, if nothing else, lack of planning means you are never bored. What's around the next corner is always a complete surprise!

Georgia Melville From Scotland to Africa and back - 22 year old girl experiencing the world through solo motorcycle travel

"You can't go by yourself its too dangerous". A statement I found to continually come from people's mouths the minute I indulged them with my plan...

Its not until you travel that you realize how wrong other people are about other countries. I found this statement to be incredibly true after returning from my three month adventure from Scotland to Africa and back on a BMW F650 GS. Looking forward to sharing my experiences, laughing a lot and inspiring others to get on the bike and head for the horizons.

"Originally born in Scotland and migrated to Australia in 2001, I am 22 years old and work for NSW as a Paramedic. I have travelled solo the last 2 years on and off riding a BMW F650GS from Scotland to Africa and back. I ride an F800GS when I am at home and have been all over Australia and NZ exploring. I love inspiring people to ride, especially women and showing that anything is possible if you set your mind to it."

Ed Gold Capturing Images That Last for a Life Time

Ed is a freelance documentary photographer known for exploring and documenting some of the world's most remote communities. He's also a keen motorbike rider. Ed will discuss his travels and how you can capture where you go and the people you meet to create memories that last a life time.

Maureen & Buzz Bernard Buy & Sell How to buy and sell a bike overseas

Maureen and Buzz share inside tips on how to buy and insure bikes overseas for travelling, then sell them when you're done with them. Buzz is a laid-back guy who loves to travel with his "Pillion in a Million" while Maureen keeps it real.

Scott McMurtrie, Transcendant Travel Panamerica Facts and figures of the Panamerican Highway

From the Arctic Circle to Ushuaia, having ridden over 50,000km in 16 countries through the Americas, Scott will present the great (and some not-so-great) moments, review the facts and figures from the trip (including budget vs. costs), and take your questions in an informal session.

Scott says: "Last Christmas, I was talking with my sister and discussing where in the world we would like to travel to. We both agreed that South America would be a great place to ride through and I immediately thought that the Pan American Highway would be an awesome ride. She pointed out that there may not be another opportunity for me to do such a trip and most people never get the opportunity to complete an adventure like this. So with that conversation the seed for the Panamericana trip was planted."

John Harpour Quick Spin Through the Himalayas Nepal: the adventure rider's budget, short-break paradise

Riding in Nepal was something of a happy accident. A cheap air fare and a moment of madness sent John and a couple of friends on a full-on, three-week trip into one of the most accessible, fascinating, and challenging countries that could have been tailor-made for adventure riders who are time (and money) poor. The distances covered are small, but the experiences are huge on this trip into the Annapurna range of the Himalayas. John shows you how to pack a whopping amount of adventure into a short period of time and do it on a ridiculously small budget.

With a normal busy life, John isn't an overlander by any stretch of the imagination. By focusing on achievable budget-conscious travel, however, he has crossed Australia, wobbled about California, done New Zealand, been terrified in India and awestruck in Nepal...so far...with much more to come.

David Hicks Choose Your Own Adventure I Would Ride 5000 Miles, I Would Ride 5000 More

1. Choose Your Own Adventure

Do adventures have to be long overseas trips? Do adventure bikes have all the farkles? Do adventurers have to give up their jobs? Deciding to go on an adventure can be challenging enough, but what about when you start hearing that you *must* do this or *have to* buy this, have this experience, have these skills? David considers himself an adventurer, but not because of any single trip. Riding in the front paddock on a borrowed bike with second-hand safety gear, on overnight trips less than 100 km from home, whether on the Mongolia steppes on a hire bike or sleeping in 5 star hotels, adventure is what you make it! Find out how to choose an adventure that suits you and how to make it happen.

2. I Would Ride 5,000 Miles, I Would Ride 5,000 More

A wild story about a casual ride through the nordic countries, Russia, the "Stans" and Mongolia to the ends of the earth. After embracing the idea of taking a year off from work to "follow his bliss", David started working on a plan for one of the all-time legendary status trips: London to Magadan. Inspired in equal parts by Walter Colebatch and adventuring souls in his past, David set off on his first solo overseas trip, with a little bit of language, a few online contacts, his HU password, a handful of throttle, and a heart full of hope. Hear the story of an epic trip that has shaped his life.

After working all over rural Australia, David opted for a desk job in civil engineering. Encouraged by his wife, he rekindled his boyhood love of long trips on two wheels. Flying 'rockstar' trips, riding local roads, across the arctic circle, through the "Stans", crossing the Simpson, riding the TAT and working to ride, David is the definition of making up your mind and doing it.

Andrea Brosnan How Do You Say "Hospital" in Mongolian? Get On the Damn Bike!

1. How Do You Say "Hospital" in Mongolian?

It was supposed to be the trip of a lifetime. It was certainly and adventure! On her honeymoon in Mongolia with the wind in her face and the steppes in her soul, Andrea had a near fatal accident that changed her life. Find out what happens when everything you planned does not go according to plan.

2. Get On the Damn Bike!

Andrea is a novice rider, intermediate traveller, and expert storyteller. Growing up in Queensland, she was encouraged by her family to travel and adventure as much as possible. Having lived on four continents and moved more than 36 times, she is well-versed in visa requirements, packing, and the thrill of the unknown.

Dale and Chris Bartlett OMAN: Beauty Has An Address - How Dale and Chris got 'stuck' in Oman for five years during their Overseas Odyssey. What is really so beautiful?

To travel and pass through a place is one thing. To stay, work and live in the land of another is something else. When Dale and Chris thought they would take their 1998 Moto Guzzi Quota 1100ES, find work and live in Oman for two years, little did they know their Overseas Odyssey would extend to six years and still counting!

The Middle East is a region like no other. Oman is a Middle Eastern country like no other. Picture deserts, camels, dishdashas and abayas, but then imagine 3000m high mountains, green and flowing waterways, friendly fun-loving locals, high quality roads well suited for motorcycles, colour, vibrancy and much, much more...

Dale and Chris Bartlett hail from Cairns, Australia. Over coffee one day, Dale said he'd like to return to Oman. Sounded like a plan, so in 2009 they sold their business, modified a 1998 Moto Guzzi Quota 1100ES, flew the bike to Dubai, then free camped to Muscat. Six years and a zillion experiences later, the couple are now living in Qatar and planning a ride from the UK back to OZ.

Rachel Barley and Ken Carse Are We Really Going to Do It? Travelling Light & Where It Can Get You

1. Are We Really Going to Do It?

Sahara to the Arctic Circle... a look at making the decision to go and then what goes into preparation and planning for the big trip. It all starts with what is, in some ways, the easiest decision, but in many ways the hardest - actually committing to go! From then it is all about planning, preparation and hope. Through 16 countries (some more than once), multiple ferry trips, riding in weather from 30+ desert to 2 degrees with snow, staying in accomodations ranging from camping and staying with friends to BnB and 5-star hotels, and riding on everything from goat tracks to a track day at Gotland raceway all with only three pre-bookings before leaving. It takes a lot of planning and preparation for "impromptu" travel!

2. Travelling Light & Where It Can Get You

From the Sahara to the Arctic Circle: what to take, what not to take, how to stow it and how to secure it so you can walk away from the bike without worrying (too much). Travelling light takes on new meaning when travelling two-up on a long journey. What do you pack to travel through 16 countries over six months, riding in climates from 30+ desert to 2 degree with snow, camping and riding in remote country? And how do you fit it all on a bike? Rachel and Ken will share what they did and where they went over six months.

Rachel and Ken rode 24,000km in six months travelling from the Sahara in Morocco north to the Arctic Circle in Sweden and Norway, and then from the Isle of Man in the west over to Prague in the east, and seemingly everywhere in between. They are now planning a trip to Tasmania and their next European adventure.

Lee and Paul O'Connor, Bikes'n'Beers Across China from Laos to Kazakhstan What to Pack?! RTW by Motorcycle - In One Go!

Lee and Paul O'Connor rode their KTM SMT 990s around the world covering 80,000 kilometres across 40 countries over one year. They travelled through S.E. Asia into China, across Central Asia including Iran and Europe, across the Atlantic to Canada, U.S.A., Central and South America, returning to Australia across the Pacific. They camped in much of Europe and North America and stayed in back-road hotels where the costs were less. The temperatures ranged from -1°C to +45°C, from rain and sleet to sandstorms to blazing sun at altitudes from 155m below to 4900m above sea level. Prepare for three info-packed presentations! They are currently writing a book on their world adventure and planning the next ride to both islands of New Zealand. They hope their stories inspire other travellers to dream, plan and take the next step to the adventure of a lifetime.

1. Across China from Laos to Kazakhstan

Paul and Lee rode 8,000 km across China in 30 days as part of a continuous RTW motorcycle adventure. It was one of the highlights of their 13-month journey to travel through this vast country with the largest population, diverse cultures, excellent cuisine, extraordinary range of scenery, ancient and modern wonders. It was their preferred route for overland travel from SE Asia to the Middle East (having already travelled the Trans-Siberian railway many years prior). They travelled through five provinces from Yunnan, climbing up to 4300m onto the Tibetan Plateau at Litang, joining the Silk Route at Xi'an and westwards across the Gobi and Takla Mahan deserts in the Uighur province of Xinjiang, and even dropping to 155m below sea level at Flaming Mountain.

2. What to Pack?!

So how do you pack for such a journey and what do you wear? How do you keep in touch, manage your home business, plan ahead and navigate. How do you find cash when the cards don't work, locate fuel, tyres and spare parts? How do you weave your way for both riders and bikes across the bureaucratic borders of the Stahns, China, Iran and Central America? How can this be done safely, what medical covers are needed, vaccinations and health tips? How do you get all of this onto the bikes, how do you backup your documentation? What bikes should you ride, is it good to have the same models, how do you cross the oceans? These crazy, totally addicted motorcycle travellers will share their knowledge and experience with useful tips, packing strategies and a hands-on look at what they carried, what they didn't need and other lessons learned! They'll also advise you on how to stay married through to the end and then look forward to the next trip!

3. RTW by Motorcycle - In One Go!

Lee and Paul's goal was to complete the northern hemisphere without having to stay for winter or break the trip into two phases. Their strategy was to take their time in SE Asia, enter the Chinese mountains as early as possible (as the snow was melting), cross Central Asia, Middle East and Europe and have the snow and ice chase them down North to Central America to warmer times. They also needed to complete Patagonia and Southern South America before the winter set in. Their strategy was successful. Their progress was not so rushed and they have ideas on their next adventure. They have many highlights, experiences and stories to tell, pictures to show and advice to give.

Peter 'The Bear' Thoeming, Australian Motorcyclist Borders - The culmination of 50 years on the road

Australia's best-known motorcycle writer, Peter has written for The Australian, The Sydney Morning Herald, Australian Road Rider and now Australian Motorcyclist. He edited Two Wheels magazine before starting Bike Australia, Australian Road Rider and Australian Motorcyclist. Peter also authors the Hema Motorcyclist Atlas + top 200 rides of Australia.

Jacqui Kennedy, Postie Notes Learn to Fly a Drone (Demo) With CASA approval

Self-explanatory! Bring on your high-altitude questions.

Peter Jeremijenko International Motor bike riding for Fun!

Adventures Around Europe, Asia, and Australia.

From Bergen in Norway, I had planned to ride to Paris to propose. After that the plan was to 'have no plan'... so my new Fiancee decided she would like to go to Greece. Wow! what an adventure- and home via the eastern bloc countries, a total of 25 countries. I have some advice on the best roads e.g. Dolomites and Croatian coast and the worst Roads and what not to do: e.g. put tank bag magnets next to your credit cards in a foreign land.

X Stunt Rider Peter Jeremijenko tells stories about: how he accidentally rode around 25 countries in Europe and then 5 in Asia; the best Fun charity rides around Australia and how to do it all on a shoe string Budget! Jenko hopes to inspire, educate, entertain and get a few laughs.

Tex O'Grady Tex and Bundy - Charity Fundraisers

Tex and his Cattle dog Bundy talk about their charity work, the adventures together as they travel the length and breadth of Australia. Also hear about Tex's successful attempt at the Around Aust' Record in 1978, 15,500 klm's in just under 9 days!

Tex & Bundy are a well known Australian motorcycling, charity fundraising duo. An Aussie bloke (Tex) and his stumpy tailed cattle dog (Bundy) who love & live to ride together, Tex & Bundy have ridden over 600,000km together for charity all around Australia supporting countless charities.

Peter and Kay Forwood, 193 Countries on a Harley! How this motorcycle became the World's Most Traveled Motorcycle!

The other half in Gabon!

Martin Livingstone Preparing Your Mind, Road Food and Minimalist Touring

Preparing your mind for the road - Some helpful tips and strategies to keep a strong mindset when travelling

Adventure motorcycle travel will always come with it's share of highs and lows. This presentation will help you develop a mindset which may better allow you to keep a positive outlook and how to deal with any roadblocks along the way. It will be an interactive session and there will be opportunity for input on the audience as to their experience and their own strategies.

Road food: what works - A beginner's guide on packing food to sustain you through a trip

When travelling in remote and/or rural areas, we need to pack food to sustain us through a trip. This session will cover some important aspects of what foods are (1) easy to pack and (2) nutritionally sustainable. In addition, we will also cover the variety of cooking implements. The presentation will also contain lots of examples of meals and there will be plenty of opportunity for audience members to share their ideas.

Minimalist touring - Touring on a 250cc or below machine: it's not impossible!

This session will explore the world of a minimalist touring adventure (i.e. bikes 250cc and under). People may think you're crazy to tour on a small bike, but we will discuss why it can be a smart choice and why you don't need 150 horsepower to have a good time. Included in the presentation will be tips on packing light and setting up your bike.

Martin has found his love of adventure of motorcycle grow dramatically over the past couple of years. He has traveled through NSW and Vic, but is currently planning 'The Big One' for a lap around Australia.

Shane Kuhl Bike Mods and Electrical Bike Workshop and Changing Wheel Bearings

Shane will do THREE technical workshops this year!

1. The bike modifications workshop, starting with the Suzuki DR800 and then moving onto other bikes.

2. Electrical bike workshop (for non CANBUS bikes):

• Basic tools
• Basic testing.
• Soldering techniques
• How to NOT set your bike on fire.

3. Changing wheels bearings. Shane will be doing the wheel bearings on the DR800. It will be a first for him on this bike and so hopefully everything goes fine. The pressure will be on as he plans to use the bike for a rideout on Sunday!

Shane's modifications to the Suzuki DR 800 have been written up by Mark Hinchcliffe in Motorbike Writer - see here for the details!

Chris Jensen Novice's guide to major maintenance work

A look at my experience as a novice mechanic tackling a major mechanical job for the first time

I knew little about my R1200GS mechanically apart from changing the oil and filling the fuel. In a deranged moment of overconfidence, due to a slipping clutch, I decided to "have a go" at changing the clutch out. How hard could it be? I had most of the tools needed (so I thought). Now I know a lot more about my bike and am a hell of a lot more confident about future service work, especially after having to work on the clutch twice to get it going.

So what did I learn? Don't be afraid of the bike, tools or process and take your time if you are unsure. Manuals are helpful, blogs and forums even more so, youtube is a lifesaver, iPhone's are fantastic tool for a fading memory (yes I am an Apple fanboy) and it pays to invest in the right tools to do the job.

Chris describes himself as: "A guy who loves to ride and isn't afraid to dive into big trips. My motto is throw the gear on the bike, take off the watch, ride and see what you find."

Grant and Susan Johnson, Horizons Unlimited 4 Easy Steps to Overland Travel! You can do it - we can help! Finding your way around Horizons Unlimited, other resources. Lots of great pics and video clips.

"Grant and Susan Johnson are icons in the round-the-world (RTW) motorcycling community. The Johnsons host - or more appropriately write, edit, produce, manage and coordinate Horizons Unlimited - a global network of motorcycle travelers... and a bona fide adventure motorcycling phenomenon." Dan Hilton, Rider Magazine

This seminar will be an overview of 'How To' travel overland topics. Includes content from the Achievable Dream series and great pics from HU Photo Contest winners!