Western Canada 2008: Seventh Annual HU Travellers Meeting

Why Come to a Horizons Unlimited Motorcycle Travellers Meeting?

You can meet people who don't think you're crazy for wanting to ride your bike to South America or Africa or across Asia, or even around the world! Admit it, all your 'normal' friends and most of your family fears for your sanity! So, this is your opportunity to meet the people who will encourage you in that craziness, share their experiences and advice on how to do it, and maybe you'll meet them again in Mongolia or Timbuktu!

Merritt, B.C., Canada, June 19-22, 2008

Meeting Location - Where is it?
Other Accommodation
Information about the area
Membership
Local hosts, information
How you can help - put up a few posters! Please post everywhere!

Report

The meeting went well despite raining heavily on the Saturday, making the off-road basics course a quagmire - a great training ground for prospective off-road travellers!

Next years meeting will probably be in a new location - if we can find one - as there were problems - though not fatal - with the facilities. So yes, we're looking - AGAIN - for a new location!

See photos below

Information about the Meeting:

The Plan

The plan is simple. Show up on Thursday or at the latest Friday afternoon, meet people and setup. Travel Presentations and Tech clinics are planned throughout the meeting, starting Thursday night.

2008 Speakers and Tech Clinics:

The Achievable Dream
- Grant Johnson, Canada
  Learn from Horizons Unlimited's founder and 11 year round-the-world veteran everything you need to know to ride to the next country or the next continent. Sound scary? Get the inspiration and information so YOU can hit the road! In two parts.
Traffic Safety Away From Home
- Ian Thomas, Canada (BC Safety Council)
  Keeping the ride tuned to avoid collisions and crashes
Another Cunning Plan
- Brendon and Natasha Ball "Smilemenders" UK, en route...
  The first Cunning Plan involved a van, an aid journey and Chernobyl. We are now returning to Ukraine, the "wrong way round" it seems alright so far?
Solo Through Russia and China
- Werner Bausenhart, Canada
  London-Vladivostok and back to London via China.
UK to Iran and back
- Chris Stone, UK/Canada, R100GSPD
  The trip started as UK to Nepal - oh! how it changed.
Bike Prep
- Chris Stone, UK/Canada, R100GSPD
  What you need to do to your bike to travel - and what don't you need to do!
Photo Composition for Travellers
- Grant Johnson, Canada
  The one everyone SHOULD take, but no one does... We all want to take great photos of our trip - so why don't we? This easy clinic will transform your photos from boring to fabulous! There may also be an advanced class if enough interest - bring 10 photos on a USB key, CD or SD card for discussion and evaluation.
Fix that flat! How to change a tire anytime, anywhere
- Grant Johnson, Canada
  How to prevent flats in the first place, and fix them when you get one. Grant's changed thousands, and will show you all the secrets to make it easy. The best tools and how to use them for tube and tubeless tires. Hand's on practical, and tire changing contest for beginners to experts!
11 Years on the Road, RTW
- Grant Johnson
  Grant and Susan's show of their RTW trip hasn't been seen since 2000, so due to popular demand - well one or two - it's been resurrected with loads of never seen before pictures.
Prep your bike for the long trip!
- Grant Johnson, Canada
  Is your bike ready for long distance travel? Grant will conduct a hands on assessment and discussion of bike set up, ergonomics and prep, looking at YOUR bike.
Off-road basics!
- Grant Johnson, Canada and others!
  Never ridden off-pavement? It's easy when you know how - and terrifying if you don't. We'll work on the basics to get you started right!
Women only
- Group Discussion
  A very popular session - I'm told it's a must for the ladies, so be sure to plan on being there!

How about you? We're all here to learn, and there's LOTS to learn! We want to do more presentations and clinics - 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 me here to volunteer.

2007 Speakers and Tech Clinics were:

Take Me Home, Katie, Part one
- Murray Castle, Canada
  Travels in South & Central America, a greying babyboomer overcomes fears and learns about Latin America and travelling solo
Take Me Home, Katie, Part two
- Murray Castle, Canada
  What to leave in, what to take out. Preparing for and travelling in South America.
Iceland
- Andy Miller, UK,
  A quick blast around Iceland, the land of fire and ice.
Around the World
- Mathias Schmid, Switzerland ,
  Leaving home in 2005, Mathias has ridden through Europe, Asia and now the Americas.
Bears!
- Trent Schumann, Canada,
  Bear Safety for Wilderness Riders - Learn from a pro "How to Let Sleeping Bears Lie."
The Achievable Dream
- Grant and Susan Johnson, Canada
  Learn from Horizons Unlimited's founders and 11 year round-the-world veterans everything you need to know to ride to the next country or the next continent. Sound scary? Get the inspiration and information so YOU can hit the road! In two parts: FRIDAY 10-12 and 1-3PM
Rider Traffic Survival Skills
- Ian Thomas, Canada
  Riding unfamiliar roads, in unfamiliar areas can lead to information overload and poor observation. Vehicle control skills are not the only means of keeping riders safe. This session is about getting there in one piece. Session will introduce riders to on-the-road observation and decision making skills that can enhance their bike control skills.
Photo Composition for Travellers
- Grant Johnson, Canada
  The one everyone SHOULD take, but no one does... We all want to take great photos of our trip - so why don't we? This easy clinic will transform your photos from boring to fabulous! There may also be an advanced class if enough interest - bring 10 photos on a USB key or SD card for discussion.
Fix that flat! How to change a tire anytime, anywhere
- Grant Johnson, Canada
  How to prevent flats in the first place, and fix them when you get one. Grant's changed thousands, and will show you all the secrets to make it easy. The best tools and how to use them for tube and tubeless tires. Hand's on practical, and tire changing contest for beginners to experts!
Prep your bike for the long trip!
- Grant Johnson, Canada
  Is your bike ready for long distance travel? Grant will conduct a hands on assessment and discussion of bike set up, ergonomics and prep, looking at YOUR bike.
Off-road basics!
- Grant Johnson, Canada
  Never ridden off-pavement? It's easy when you know how - and terrifying if you don't. We'll work on the basics to get you started right!
Women only
- Discussion led by Susan Johnson, Canada
  A very popular session - I'm told it's a must for the ladies, so be sure to plan on being there!
Motorcycle Therapy - A Canadian Adventure in Central America
- Jeremy Kroeker
  An illustrated reading from the book "Motorcycle Therapy" by the Author.

Werner Bausenhart will have copies of his four books on his travels (listed in HU "books") available so get them signed right from the Author!

There will be slide shows and clinics on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings, and all day on Saturday. Come early and make it a great weekend! We recommend riding on Thursday, Friday and Sunday, and participating in the clinics on Saturday.

Rideouts

Rideouts - will be limited to 10 people per ride per group.

Do-it-yourself Ride information to come - if you know of a good ride let us know!

Schedule

All times - and everything - approximate!

An up-to-date schedule will be posted at the Meeting.

Thursday morning

CHECK-IN and sign up! You MUST be registered to go on a ride or for entry to any events, clinics etc.

Info for Thursday rides will be available on-site.

Friday

CHECK-IN and sign up! You MUST be registered to go on a ride or entry to any events, clinics etc.

9:00 Ride briefing. Be gassed up and ready to ride if you're going.

Friday night

7:00 pm

Speakers presentations start, so be sure you've eaten early!

Saturday morning

7:00 - 8:30 - Breakfast

8:30 - 9:00 Late Check-in.

9:00 Ride briefing. Be gassed up and ready to ride if you're going.

Rideouts - off-road runs details to come.

Saturday Lunch

noon-ish! :) Feed yourself...

Saturday afternoon,

Rideouts

On road runs - we'll post a sheet of paper up for you to add your name to a destination, volunteers to lead appreciated!

Tech Clinic, details to come. If you want to volunteer to lead a clinic or breakout session, on any appropriate topic, please contact us. We have had lots of interest in clinics, ranging from 30 minutes to several hours, on subjects from GPS to packing lists to tire changing.

Saturday evening,

7:00 pm sharp:

Speakers presentations

9:00 Door prizes - you have to be there to win!

Sunday

Breakfast

Head for home, hang around and chat, or head out for a last ride!

Miscellaneous notes:

Organizers will be there most of Thursday, hopefully Wednesday too, if anyone wishes to arrive early and just hang out or go for a ride in the area.

Last presentation Saturday night will be a panel discussion with all the presenters - so this will be the last chance to ask all those questions that have been bugging you!

Membership - Show you're proud to be a Horizons Unlimited Traveller!

Just to clarify the membership situation: Currently there is no requirement to be a member to access the website, the HUBB or to receive the monthly e-zine. For now, 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.

We will also upgrade your status in the HUBB to Member. In addition to recognising your contribution through your status, this will allow you to upload a custom profile picture and custom avatar, store up to 50 private messages, upload more pictures (10 MB maximum storage) and create polls.

Another benefit we can provide is if you decide you want a t-shirt, mug, fleece jacket or other Horizons logo product from the Souk, you can purchase Member logo products at the basic price. Just let us know and we can arrange access to the Members Private Store.

T-Shirt Deal

Top quality heavy cotton t-shirts in black, or grey if pre-ordered. We will have a range of sizes available, but quantities will be very limited, so if you wait till the day, there might be none left in your size.

The new Synthetic t-shirts are in a beautifully made wicking material, and make great travel / riding t-shirts as well as all-round wear t-shirts. Available in black or grey at most meetings. MUST be pre-ordered.

Note that we will have a few black cotton t-shirts extra at each meeting, but anything else must be pre-ordered and paid in advance.