I’ve uploaded the photos of the event here – Picasa Web Albums - Dakota - HU Spain 2008 - they are best viewed as a slideshow.

If anybody else has any photos, please send them through or upload them into a Web Album of your choice and post the link in this thread.

Firstly I’d like to say a big thank you to everybody who attended the first HU Spain Meeting.

Special thanks to go:

My hubby Andy for helping organise the event.

Geoff Shingleton for being Geoff Shingleton and also his presentation on ‘Biker First Aid - My mates just crashed... what do I do? A brief introduction to primary and secondary first aid’.

Geoff’s arrival marked the beginning of his RTW trip – his blog should be available soon. Geoff was a character. What more can I say. If you were there, you’ll know what I mean .

Our 13 year old daughter Elle for being Geoff’s ‘crash test dummy’ during his presentation.

Geoff & Elle for the Saturday night entertainment – in Steve’s words ‘Awesome Profiterole Fight’!

Sean Howman for his presentation ‘The Roof Of The World - High altitude motorcycle travels in India, Pakistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgystan’. You can find out more about Sean on his webpage - http://www.hotkey.net.au/~howmans/

Grant Johnson for his support and presentations - Fix that flat! How to change a tire anytime, anywhere; Photo Composition for Travellers; Prep your bike for the long trip!

To everybody who participated in the ‘Pros and Cons of my Pannier System’.

Tony & Anne Pringle for their generous donations towards the raffle prizes and showing people around their Volvo. Tony is happy to answer any questions anybody has about their highly modified and personalised 4-wheel drive vehicle.

Everybody who bought raffle tickets – we raised 70 euro for Riders for Health - Home

Sara & Steve who kept Elle entertained taking her for rides on the back of their bikes while we were on the offroad rideouts – and yes she did tell me how fast you went !!

And finally, the dates are provisionally booked for next year and will be announced shortly, together with the program of events, which for 2009 will include the one day special event - 'The Gecko Run' - watch this space for details.

Once again, a very big thank you to everybody and see you all next year!!

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http://www.moto-andalucia.com/

Hi Alison/Andy , Thanks again for organizing this fantastic event - double the numbers from the informal meet last year - looks like next year we'll take over the whole campsite ! Anyone thinking of coming to this meet next year just do it, from the UK/Germany etc it's a nice manageable tour down, and it's ideal for anyone going to or coming back from tours further afield ( Morocco etc ), great offroad ridouts along trails thru stunning scenery and an action packed weekend full of presentations etc. Thanks again - also to Geoff, Sean and Grant for their presentations.
Cheers Mike

Thank you also to Off road trail bike tours and holidays in spain and their sister company Trail Bike Tours, off road biking holidays, off-road motorcycle holidays, guided off road motorcycle adventures for their raffle prize of a discount voucher, which Motorbike Mike won!

Thanks for coming again this year Mike. We'll be organising a one day HUMM for 2009, some of which will be on the trails we rode this year, plus more!! Dates are now confirmed for 11-13 September - hope to see you again then.

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http://www.moto-andalucia.com/

Alison, Andy,

good on you! Wish I could have been there. At least Mike came again :-)
Looks like you had a great time - as we had last year.

Very nice pics. I suppose I'll have to attend again next year


Hans

__________________
Only when we pause to wonder
do we go beyond the limits of our little lives.
(Rod McKuen)

Alison / Andy

Thanks for organising a great event. I will be coming back next year, work and holidays permitting.


Tony

What's that Hans - you're offering to do another presentation next year? Good man. Can we interest you in taking part in the one day HUMM too?

And you too Tony. Bring back that lovely new Tenere - it will be perfect for the job. I realised after sitting on one that even with a lowering kit, the seat height will still be way too high for me. I'll just have to learn to ride like Patsy Quick.

Did anybody get any photos of us in the pool???

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http://www.moto-andalucia.com/

Hi Alison and Andy,
thank you very much for organising a great event. I will be coming back next year with my wife.
Thanks you also for your help to get new tires.

Rainer

(from cold Germany)

Dear Alison and Andy!
Guys, Thanks Sooo much for the weekend you organised. I had a ball! I'm in Lisbon awaiting for Mark to fly over and we can attack Africa!
I'm sorry theres been nothing on the blog so far as I'm unable to download any pictures on public pc's.
Let that lunatic daughter of yours (Elle) know that I can't look at a profiterole without cracking a smile and a chuckle! Tell her thanks for being the guinea pig for the medical and when she's famous for it, not to forget her 'Uncle Geoff'.
I met some great people on the weekend and enjoyed giving the bike some hammer on the trails which has inspired my confidence in it a lot! Dai got his bike back a day earlier than expected and the bill still must have smarted some. Still, funny that, the only bike to break down was a BMW ...... happy with my XT.
Glad to know I wasn't noticed much and was the 'grey' man of the weekend, I do try to keep it down but when your having a laugh I'm as quiet a four Portugese women!! So I'm endeavouring to slip quietly through the rest of the world like a ship of the night, Just so happens to be a Thames party barge! Ha ha ha!
Bring on the Beer!!

See ya on the next one when I'm back in Europe in a year or two!

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Geoffshing

'Security is a product of one's own imagination, it does not exist in nature as a rule, life is either a daring adventure or nothing.'

hi all well back in wales sunday 28th had a fab ride home bike going realy well now 645 euro later could have bought a new XT for that ha but would still be on my way home slowly if i had ha. thanks Alison & Andy great meeting give my luv to Dorris hope every one is ok will be intouch with you all soon Dai
ps. the sheep have missed me.

Hi Rainer. Looking forward to seeing you both next year - hope the new tyres are good!!

Hey Geoff. Remind me to wear a roost deflector next time I'm out riding with you!!

Many colours spring to mind - chocolate brown, flourescent yellow and mildly green (especially in the morning) but NEVER grey.

Have a great RTW trip. Get that blog going. Ride safe. Keep in touch and see you in a couple of years.

Dai - back home at last!! Yep, you could have bought an XT for that, but IT wouldn't have been stuck in the repair shop for a couple of weeks . Still, Doris had the hardest ride she'd had in a long time. Come back next year cos the sheep AND the goats are missing you here. I'll bring my wellies with me next year so you can leave yours at home.

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http://www.moto-andalucia.com/

Sorry its taken a while to post, Steve and I got back to the Wales safe and sound.

Unfortunatly, having spread my cold germs around in Spain I now have Chicken Pox, sorry guys I may have been infectious at the meeting.

Thank you to Alison and Andy for organising the event it was great fun, and we should be back next year, although the debate is whether to keep the road bikes or have a change.... to many options.

Here is a link to the photos we took at the meeting:
HU Spain 2008 - a set on Flickr

Here is the link to the slide show of them:
wookieslair69's slideshow on Flickr

Dai we will try to catch up with you at the Downs Cafe when you get back.

Sara

Hi Sara & Steve

I know you weren't keen on going back to work Sara, but Chicken Pox is a bit extreme isn't it? I wonder if all those mozzie bites Steve had were Chicken Pox? Either that or there's on very fat mozzie flying around.

Thanks for the linky to photo's, they're great. The one of Elle covered in chocolate is funny. And thanks for keeping Elle entertained. She went on and on for days afterwards about the rides she went on with both of you.

Hope to see you both back here next year with shiney new dual sports!

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http://www.moto-andalucia.com/

Hi Alison,

will you be offering a HUMM as well next year? Wow!

Can't say yet. I've got quite a few events planned next year. Dates are colliding already I might enjoy my private HUMM in Albania. Many mountain trails were still closed due to snow last April. So I need to return some day

__________________
Only when we pause to wonder
do we go beyond the limits of our little lives.
(Rod McKuen)

Hey Vaufi,

if you want to go to the HUMM next year, tell me please.
I want to go next year to the HUMM again.
I'm from Wendelstein / Nürnberg

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CU

Rainer

hi sara & steve glad you got back ok i sent you a message not sure if you got it so here is my phone no 07870595204 give us a ring when you are going to the downs and we can meet up will be good to see you agian take care see you soon Dai.