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!
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.
2007 speakers so far:
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: 10-12 and 1-3PM.
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 and prep, looking at YOUR bike.
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.
Riding Gear - what works and what doesn't
José Fonseca, Portugal,
Sponsored by SPIDI.
Portugal goes to the USA!
Henrique Araújo, Portugal,
The adventures and misfortunes of Portuguese bikers in the US
First-Aid for Motorcyclists
Anatilde Ramos, Portugal,
The more common injuries suffered by bikers, how to avoid them and how to act in the unlucky event of suffering one
Around the World!
Carlos Azevedo, Portugal,
Até ao fim do mundo (RTW in several legs)
Orienteering
Filipe Elias, Portugal,
Everything you need to know about orienteering (in Portuguese)
South American journey
João Pedro and Américo Cardoso, Portugal,
From Buenos Aires to Ushuaia
2006 speakers (to give you an idea of what we expect):
Grant and Susan Johnson
Tito Baião and João Pedro,, Portugal, Australia and East Timor, on Saturday
Antonio Bras and João Menezes, Portugal, trip to Guinea
Henrique Araújo and J. Cacho, Portugal, will present USA from Coast to Coast
Filipe Elias, Portugal, will do a presentation on how to use a Compass, how to read a Map and to use a GPS.
Carlos Azevedo, Portugal, South America
Joaquim Silva, Portugal, Discovering Timbuktu
Antonio Queirós, Portugal, The Green Hills of Great Britain and Eire
José Fonseca, Portugal, will do a presentation on riders gear, sponsored by SPIDI
Luis Lorenco, Portugal, "Mauritania, 'one sand-world, two wheels' or in Portuguese 'Mauritânia, um mundo de areia em duas rodas'
How about you?? Let us know if you have something to show! Volunteers wanted for these and any other subjects you'd like to talk about! It's easy and fun, and we'll help you out.
There will be slide shows Friday and Saturday night, so come early and make it a great weekend!
Ciclo Vale do Ceira (local dealer) will support us, supplying technical services if needed.
Rideouts
Rideouts - will be limited to 10 people per ride per group.
Ride leaders and sweep riders wanted!
Schedule
All times - and everything - approximate!
An up-to-date schedule will be posted at the Meeting.
Thursday morning
Hang out or go for a ride! There's plenty of amazing on and off-road riding in the area.
Friday
CHECK-IN and sign up! You MUST be registered to go on a ride or entry to any events, clinics etc. Also Important - sign up for Saturday and Sunday breakfast!
9:00 Ride briefing. Be gassed up and ready to ride if you're going.
Friday night
7:00 pm
Dinner at a local restaurant!
8:30 pm
Presentations start.
Saturday morning
There will be a rideout or two for Saturday. Mostly we just want to let people meet other travellers, share stories, and for those people actively planning a trip, get some practical how-to tips, so plan on attending workshops and seminars.
Tech clinics start in the morning!
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, see above for what, times posted on the day. 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, dinner at a local restaurant
8:30 pm Speakers presentations
9:00 prizes - you have to be there to win!
Sunday
Breakfast in town
Head for home, hang around and chat, or head out for a last ride!
There MIGHT be a very special dual-sport ride this Sunday for HU attendees! Keep an eye out for details.
Miscellaneous notes:
Organizers will be there most of Thursday, if anyone wishes to arrive early and just hang out or go for a ride in the area.
You can help!
If you have a few minutes, please download one of these two posters - (Adobe pdf format) and print off a few and hand them round your club or your local bike shop or anywhere seems like a good place.
(You may need to right click and choose "save target as...")
The town of Góis is near Coimbra (ca. 40Kms) and about 200Kms north from Lisbon and 160Kms south from Oporto.
Click the map above for a high quality version.
Entry gate to "Parque de Campismo de Gois"
camping area
grounds
on the grounds
The meeting room
Other Accommodation Possibilities
If you want a bungalow for up to three people at the meeting, they can be ordered IN ADVANCE ONLY, for €40. Contact António Caldeira, 351 93 633 61 70 Cell Phone, or 351 22 947 90 89 FAX.
More Accommodation:
Note that nearby accomodation is scarce. There's a small hotel called Casa de Santo António (
) where we've already booked 10 rooms, (be sure to tell them you're with Horizons Unlimited, and António Caldeira
booked rooms, and you want one of them) and in Arganil (15Kms away) there is another hotel called Hotel de Arganil which
has plenty of rooms.
Information about the area
coming...
Local Hosts
António Caldeira is the organizer for this event. Thanks António! If you want to help make this an even better event, please contact António. He could use some assistance!
If you have any questions, he can be contacted here:
António Caldeira
Rua Marques de Oliveira, 22 - 1º
4250-280 PORTO
Check out the Books pages for Travel books and videos. Remember if you go to Amazon from our books page, we get a small percentage of every purchase.
Thanks!
Grant and Susan
Editors note:
We accept no responsibility for any of the above information in any way whatsoever. You are reminded to do your own research. Any commentary is strictly a personal opinion of the person supplying the information and is not to be construed as an endorsement of any kind.
updated Portuguese version!
