Go Back   Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB > Chat Forum > The HUBB PUB
The HUBB PUB Chat forum - no useful content required!

BUT the basic rules of polite and civil conduct which everyone agreed to when signing up for the HUBB, will still apply, though moderation will be a LITTLE looser than elsewhere on the HUBB.
Photo by Daniel Rintz, Himba children, Namibia

The only impossible journey
is the one
you never begin

Photo by Daniel Rintz,
Himba children, Namibia



Like Tree14Likes

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 28 Sep 2013
*Touring Ted*'s Avatar
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Wirral, England.
Posts: 5,654
What made you think - "Yeah, I'm going to round round the world"

I've been planning another trip. 4-6 months to Magadan in 2015.

Since then. A few things have changed. I'm single again, in the position to start saving money, my bikes are back together and things are coming together nicely for a change or a new chapter in my life.

So, In work today whilst changing the tyre on a 1200GSA, I decided that I'm going to do a RTW trip in 2015. No deadlines, no girlfriend waiting back home, no credit cards. What am I holding back for !

It made me wonder..... What made YOU 'snap' and think "f**k it.. I'm doing it" ???? Go away from home travelling for however long it takes..

My longest trip is 7 months and I always felt like I was doing the wrong thing by coming back to the U.K to my old life.
__________________
Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 29 Sep 2013
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Canada
Posts: 738
As Ernest would say, the decision happened two ways. Gradually, and then suddenly.

The gradual part happened over quite a long period time. Falling in love with motorcycles, freedom, the open road, and travel to far off lands took place over many years. Over time, the reality of a trip of the magnitude of RTW became less of a distant dream and more of a potential reality.

The sudden part was, well, quite sudden. The external limiting factors, which were the usual suspects of time, money, relationships, etc., faded which allowed for the opportunity become more real.

The internal limiting factors were the hardest of all to turn the opportunity into reality though. We are not used to living our dreams, so the tougest part was to summon the courage to ignore the thousand reasons and many voices to not go and to listen to the one voice inside which said yes. The exact moment is lost, but once that last straw was placed, the scales were irrevocably tipped.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 29 Sep 2013
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: St Andrews
Posts: 662
Haven't decided yet, I'm still just practising. FWIW, the north of Vietnam seems to be full of bloody French and Australians, might just as well have gone to London. Still the here is OK, cold and cheap, accommodation is nice and cheap, food is very digestible and cheap and the locals helpful and friendly so on reflection, it's not like London at all. Ride safe.
__________________
Mike
---------
Mike is riding the twisty road in the sky
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 29 Sep 2013
g6snl's Avatar
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Home in Essex GB
Posts: 563
getting nearer.........also practising

Already there is a "theme" running through this thread ! "No partner required"

I hope some one will post a "my wife/partner/husband and I did it...." If only to give hope to all the people out there with that "limiting factor"

For myself, like maja, I'm still working up-to the "snap" and doing my best to encourage my wife to "snap" with me. I can't think of anyone I would rather do it with. Do you have to go with some one else? Absolutely NO. I my view with any adventure in life, the biggest, toughest part is getting over the start line! I've crossed that just waiting for my wife to catch up..........she has her running shoes on...

My story of desire is rather boring: watched a telly series which went a LONGWAY towards it and then found the HUBB. One thing I have decided though is that I won't do a RTW more of a AOTW "all over the world" or is that what people mean ?

*Touring Ted* - If funds were plenty would you pack and go tomorrow?
( I'm not offering large cash sums )
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 29 Sep 2013
*Touring Ted*'s Avatar
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Wirral, England.
Posts: 5,654
Quote:
Originally Posted by g6snl View Post
*Touring Ted* - If funds were plenty would you pack and go tomorrow?
( I'm not offering large cash sums )
Tomorrow ?? It would only take me a few hours to pack..........
__________________
Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 29 Sep 2013
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 35
When I was younger I used to think i wanted to be a soldier, so i became a soldier, when i was a soldier i realised that it was adventure i wanted, having had a life full of adventures,(up till now anyway) i realise that it was/is the journey that intralls me, not knowing where i'll be or how i'll get there.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 30 Sep 2013
trackdayrider's Avatar
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Sheffield
Posts: 199
I was laid in a hospital bed 3 years ago after heart surgery to fix a genetic valve issue... and it felt like a line in the sand... My heart had been metaphorically broken a few years before then and it felt like the physical fix also resolved the metaphorical one as well...

I decided initially to visit my brother as he's working as a teacher in Vietnam. I haven't seen him for about 5 years and a holiday would be good, but on the same day I thought, why not make it an adventure and travel instead of just flying there.

During my recovery 3 months off work I bought maps and started to look at a route. When I looked at a world map I thought well if I go how do I get back...
A bit pointless coming back the way I went.. why not complete the circle
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 30 Sep 2013
Contributing Member
New on the HUBB
 
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 13
My partner and I are leaving for a "round the world" trip later this week.
Just after we started dating (4 years ago) he left on his own trip from Toronto to Buenos Aires, which he had started to plan before we started dating. He travelled quickly and didn't take much time to see much of the countries that he rode through. Meanwhile, I learned how to ride, got my motorcycle license, and subsequently started to dream about riding in Africa. So, one year ago we started to plan our joint trip, and are now mere days away from leaving (North of Toronto to Ushuaia, then South Africa north to Europe, then TBD).
The idea of exploring the world by motorcycle wasn't even a known concept in my mind before I met my boyfriend, so he is somewhat responsible for the inspiration, but also owe a great deal of inspiration to the other travellers who have documented their travels on film and in print, such as Vince Austin and gang, Charley Boorman & Ewan McGregor, and Lois Pryce. As an adventurer at heart, all I needed was a little inspiration.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 30 Sep 2013
Gold Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: Samaipata / Bolivia
Posts: 888
rtw

a six month journey is a longer holiday, a three year around the world journey can change your life and the way you see the the world.

go for it Ted, try it yourself, but there is no guarantee that you fit back into society when you return

saludos de Bogota
mika
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 1 Oct 2013
*Touring Ted*'s Avatar
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Wirral, England.
Posts: 5,654
Quote:
Originally Posted by mika View Post
a six month journey is a longer holiday, a three year around the world journey can change your life and the way you see the the world.

go for it Ted, try it yourself, but there is no guarantee that you fit back into society when you return

saludos de Bogota
mika
My 6 month trip's changed me... I loved how I felt and who I was when travelling. 2 years would be a dream.

I don't too well into society as it is so no loss there
__________________
Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 1 Oct 2013
Toyark's Avatar
-
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,341
Wink

Was that you Ted putting that Suzuki through its paces?
(sorry could not resist!)

Last edited by Bertrand; 2 Mar 2016 at 16:17.
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 1 Oct 2013
*Touring Ted*'s Avatar
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Wirral, England.
Posts: 5,654
Hahaha I love bears..... :/
__________________
Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 1 Oct 2013
Oo-SEB-oO's Avatar
Gold Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Canary Islands
Posts: 291
Because I can.

Because when I look around me I see all the people, colleagues, friends and family complain for no reason at all. We/they have everything, a job, money, housing, car etc and still every single day every one of them would complain for something. And I have difficulties standing that mentality. More and more...

Anyway, I started riding my bike ten years ago, first in Belgium, gradually a bit further, Germany, France etc. For a day to a few days to 'wow' a whole week to the end of the world... the south of France. Then I met my (now) wife, started to take her on holidays to 'far and away' places. We got married at the other side of the world, literally, in Australia. That was our start for the traveling bug. She learned to ride a bike, got her license, we had 7 bikes at a time in the garage, living like the people mentioned above. We had it "all": big house, big garage, a lot of bikes... but something was missing. Anyway not to go too deep into it, we needed to travel again and more, but this was not possible with the huge mortgage on the big house, sold the big house and bought a smaller apartment with still a huge garage. Now (after the third multiple months trip) we are going to sell the apartment with big garage to go into a small studio (paid for cash then) so no costs anymore but a home, and we'll set off for ... we don't know yet for how long. We'll put a budget into it instead of a timeframe. When the planned budget is up, time to go "home".

So for us the click to go RTW or AOTW or whatever you want to call it came now, after having done several multiple months trip. And I can only encourage people to do the same, as you learn from every trip, especially the first one.

Anyway, it can be done with two, for us it's perfectly doable but it needs some engineering, believe me. We did all the previous trips 2 people 2 bikes and now for the RTW it will be 2 people 1 scooter (yes yes a 300cc scooter!). It will be a big change going from hardcore offroad DRZ to a scooter but for long trips we prefer to have a bit more riding comfort, we still don't know how long we'll be gone, but we reckon it might be two years and we'll start in august 2014...
__________________
Find us on Facebook or have a look at our website on wanderingsouls.be.
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 3 Oct 2013
pheonix's Avatar
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Dunedin, NZ
Posts: 308
saw this sketch which reminded me of this thread

Name:  4f3c7_f1cb.jpg
Views: 158
Size:  135.8 KB
__________________
Elaine

Striving to live the ordinary life in a non ordinary way
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 3 Oct 2013
chris's Avatar
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: GOC
Posts: 3,326
As Janis Joplin said "Freedom's just another word for nothing left to lose."

In 1999, when I set off, JJ was my favourite musician.

Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 Registered Users and/or Members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Sumbawa Indonesia: Hard Way Round kotamarudu Ride Tales 2 21 Aug 2015 09:53
Sumbawa Hard Way Round. Tepal - Sumbawa's Timbuktu kotamarudu Ride Tales 0 14 Aug 2013 15:35

 
 

Announcements

Thinking about traveling? Not sure about the whole thing? Watch the HU Achievable Dream Video Trailers and then get ALL the information you need to get inspired and learn how to travel anywhere in the world!

Have YOU ever wondered who has ridden around the world? We did too - and now here's the list of Circumnavigators!
Check it out now
, and add your information if we didn't find you.

Next HU Eventscalendar

HU Event and other updates on the HUBB Forum "Traveller's Advisories" thread.
ALL Dates subject to change.

2024:

Add yourself to the Updates List for each event!

Questions about an event? Ask here

HUBBUK: info

See all event details

 
World's most listened to Adventure Motorbike Show!
Check the RAW segments; Grant, your HU host is on every month!
Episodes below to listen to while you, err, pretend to do something or other...

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

"Ultimate global guide for red-blooded bikers planning overseas exploration. Covers choice & preparation of best bike, shipping overseas, baggage design, riding techniques, travel health, visas, documentation, safety and useful addresses." Recommended. (Grant)



Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance.

Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance™ combines into a single integrated program the best evacuation and rescue with the premier travel insurance coverages designed for adventurers.

Led by special operations veterans, Stanford Medicine affiliated physicians, paramedics and other travel experts, Ripcord is perfect for adventure seekers, climbers, skiers, sports enthusiasts, hunters, international travelers, humanitarian efforts, expeditions and more.

Ripcord travel protection is now available for ALL nationalities, and travel is covered on motorcycles of all sizes!


 

What others say about HU...

"This site is the BIBLE for international bike travelers." Greg, Australia

"Thank you! The web site, The travels, The insight, The inspiration, Everything, just thanks." Colin, UK

"My friend and I are planning a trip from Singapore to England... We found (the HU) site invaluable as an aid to planning and have based a lot of our purchases (bikes, riding gear, etc.) on what we have learned from this site." Phil, Australia

"I for one always had an adventurous spirit, but you and Susan lit the fire for my trip and I'll be forever grateful for what you two do to inspire others to just do it." Brent, USA

"Your website is a mecca of valuable information and the (video) series is informative, entertaining, and inspiring!" Jennifer, Canada

"Your worldwide organisation and events are the Go To places to for all serious touring and aspiring touring bikers." Trevor, South Africa

"This is the answer to all my questions." Haydn, Australia

"Keep going the excellent work you are doing for Horizons Unlimited - I love it!" Thomas, Germany

Lots more comments here!



Five books by Graham Field!

Diaries of a compulsive traveller
by Graham Field
Book, eBook, Audiobook

"A compelling, honest, inspiring and entertaining writing style with a built-in feel-good factor" Get them NOW from the authors' website and Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk.



Back Road Map Books and Backroad GPS Maps for all of Canada - a must have!

New to Horizons Unlimited?

New to motorcycle travelling? New to the HU site? Confused? Too many options? It's really very simple - just 4 easy steps!

Horizons Unlimited was founded in 1997 by Grant and Susan Johnson following their journey around the world on a BMW R80G/S.

Susan and Grant Johnson Read more about Grant & Susan's story

Membership - help keep us going!

Horizons Unlimited is not a big multi-national company, just two people who love motorcycle travel and have grown what started as a hobby in 1997 into a full time job (usually 8-10 hours per day and 7 days a week) and a labour of love. To keep it going and a roof over our heads, we run events all over the world with the help of volunteers; we sell inspirational and informative DVDs; we have a few selected advertisers; and we make a small amount from memberships.

You don't have to be a Member to come to an HU meeting, access the website, or ask questions on the HUBB. What you get for your membership contribution is our sincere gratitude, good karma and knowing that you're helping to keep the motorcycle travel dream alive. Contributing Members and Gold Members do get additional features on the HUBB. Here's a list of all the Member benefits on the HUBB.




All times are GMT +1. The time now is 20:51.