Next year is PRE-BOOK ONLY.

Ripley, Derbyshire, UK, July 3-6, 2008

Want to know what people thought of last years Meeting? Is it worth coming to the Meeting?

"I'm so looking forward to another UK meet. My only problem is that I simply can't get to every talk I want, such is the amount of terrific presentations on offer. Each year I've been astonished at how articulate, intelligent, informative and entertaining the speakers are. I'm willing to help with anything that doesn't keep me from a talk - and my timetable will be full to bursting!" More comments here.

Photos from the 2008 Meeting:

(click the > play button to start, top right button >| to go to next faster)

• Meeting Location - Where WAS it?
• Other Accommodation
• Information about the area
• Membership
• Local hosts, information

2008 poster available!

2008 Speakers and Tech Seminars were:

• The Achievable Dream
  • Grant and Susan Johnson, Canada, R80G/S
    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 TWO-hour parts.
• The sidecar alternative
  • Andy Berwick and Maya Vermeer, UK
    We want to open your mind to sidecar travelling. We traveled for one and a half year through South America. Presentation in the field at the rig.
• Africa, Middle East and Europe
  • Johan and Charmaine Claassens, South Africa
    Cape Town to London, via Dubai and New York to Rio via Prudhoe Bay and Ushuaia.
• Panel - volunteers please!
  • How to get someone of the opposite sex to go travelling with you - panel and discussion. Why is it so hard? What are you doing wrong - or right? All viewpoints discussed!
• Brighton2Capetown
  • Dan Adams
    From prepping the bike to flying it home, with a few African anecdotes in between...
• Women only
  • a very popular session - I'm told it's a must for the ladies, so be sure to plan on being there!
• Two women in South America
  Sheonagh Ravensdale and Pat Thomson, UK, Honda Falcon NX400s
  (Also known as two dusty old bags bag South America)
• Alistair, Darling - I love you!
  • Steve Mercer
    How to persuade the chancellor to give you a tax refund to help pay for your trip
• TomTom Rider 2 - GPS for Overlanders and City Bikers alike.
  • Colm O'Flaherty, UK
    A discussion on the TomTom Rider 2 GPS system, and its usefulness to both overlanders and city bikers alike. Includes a demo, and a chance to play with the unit. Questions & Answers session to finish up.
• Garmin Satellite Navigation
  • Tim Cullis
    Aimed at Streetpilot, 2610 and Zumo users
• BMW Airheads Q&A,
  • Phil Hawksley, The Boxer Man
    Keeping your Airhead going
• Desert riding in Mauritania and Mali
  • Richard Kemplay UK, Beast-of-Burden
    Beyond Morocco – deep desert travel in Mauritania and Mali. A practical guide for 2 and 4 wheels.
• Following in The Footsteps of Others
  • Jeremy Bullard, UK, KTM Adventure 640 - RTW
    Riding after Livingstone and Stanley through Tanzania and Burundi.
• Dodging Potholes
  • Dave Barrett, UK/Germany
    Motorcycling in Eastern Europe, with a visit to the orphanage in Calarasi, Moldova.
    NOTE: Dave will have his new book there too - JUST released, you'll be among the first to see it!
• Around the world in 800 days
  • Simon and Suzi Harby, UK
    Bringing maps to life.
• African Brew Ha Ha - The Quest for the Ultimate Cuppa
  • Alan Whelan, UK
    A Triumph-ant tea tour through Britain and Africa (Lancashire to Cape Town) in search of the ultimate cup of tea.
• The art of publishing
  • Robert Wicks
    Author of 'Adventure Motorcycling', Robert Wicks shares some of his secrets about what it takes to get published, the importance of the right photography and the effort that goes into writing a successful book
• Pan American Highway
  • Paul Pratt, UK, Triumph
    Around the World by Triumph motor cycle, 1966-1979. Also, the world wide motor cycle scene 1960's-1970's.
• Roadkill Cookout
  • Phil Chaffey and Danny Taylor
    Watch and learn - how to make a firepit, skin a rabbit, pluck a pheasant, fillet a trout, cook it and eat it
• "The wrong way round"?
  • Tiffany Coates
    Two women, a total of two months bike riding experience between them and a desire to reach India via the cake capitals of the world. Tiffany comes clean about how she accidentally got started on her travels - some will have heard this before, this is for those who are thinking: "If she can do it...then so can I."

How to pick up your bike, with Tiffany Coates

• Africa
• Craig Carey-Clinch, Motorcycle Outreach
  Details TBA
• Answers to the Name of 'Lucky'
  • Marion Costin-Ford
    A personal view of how 7 ordinary everyday women rode 3,500 miles in 7 days in aid of Breast Cancer Care
• Tokyo to London, The first trip unescorted bike trip across China in 1994
  • Walter Colebatch
    Then Mongolia, Siberia, Kazakhstan et al to London
• Heading East
  • Andreas Hülsmann and Claudia
    
• Carnets
  • Paul Gowen
    The "passport" for the bike. From the man you WILL be talking to, the RAC's Carnet expert. Come prepared! 10 minute consults will be available. Book on the day
• One long hot summer - USA 2007
  • Bruce and Jean Porter
    14,000 miles in 3 months, coast to coast and back again. Camping across America.
• Travelling the Silk Route through the 'Stans
  • Simon McCarthy, Sorebums
    Taking the interesting route east. (Book available)
• South America
  • Maria And Alistair Robinson, The Franglais Riders
    Incident packed tour of South America!
• Travelling Couples
  • Gary and Catherine Cunnington
    A serious and light-hearted look at the dynamics of a couple travelling together: highlighting the advantages of knowing your travelling companion very well. A verbal and photographic presentation giving an insight into making use of the combined consciousness of a couple, but also looking at some of the pitfalls that we have suffered when we have been less receptive. We encourage participation of all with experience of their own to share, and we hope to give some insight from what has worked for us that may be useful to otheUrs travelling with their lover.
• Yoga for Motorcycclists, Part 1, the why's and how's
  • Tori Lang
    Save your back, and ease the aches - before they happen. Talk and demonstration: come and find out what it's all about, how yoga can really help your riding in more ways than you might realise. Includes demonstration of some basic practice.


Yoga session with Tori Lang

• Yoga for Motorcyclists, Part 2, Practical
• Tori Lang
  You've heard the talk, now give it a go. Come along and try it out for yourself - no previous experience necessary. Please avoid eating heavily for 2 hours before and bring a roll mat/blanket to lie on and a sense of adventure! (80 minutes)
• Sussex to Singapore and other journeys
  • Nicholas Foulerton
    The tale of one man and his reluctant pillion.
• Campers Forum
  • Leslie Madge, Traveldri-Plus
    A good nights sleep is worth having - here's some tips and tricks to getting comfortable and making your whole camping experience better and more enjoyable.
• Dreams, Dirt and Duct-Tape
  • Hamish Oag and Emma Myatt
    In search of the road less travelled; two-up adventures in Outback Australia and Latin America. A (frame) cracking experience.
• UK to Australia
  • Charles Fellowes
    TBA
• Packing
  • Charles Fellowes
    What to take and how to carry it. Ideas and discussion.
• UTag
  • Jean Bettley
    Help Presentation of UTag with Jim Bettley. UTAG Digital Dogtags are a new way of storing all your medical information, in case of an emergency (ICE).
• How to Get Published
  • Peter Henshaw, UK
    Top tips on how to get your adventure travel story into a bike magazine. Peter is a regular contributor to a number of magazines, so come and get the skinny on how he does it in a roundtable discussion.
• Newfoundland to Argentina via Alaska
  • Leigh Mathias
    Motorised vagrancy, keeping it rubber side down.
• All aboard the Chris Scott tour to the Algerian Sahara.
  • Karim Hussain and Simon Barnes
    Simon: desert virgin, Karim: desert regular. Our experience of the Sahara.
• The Last Hurrah
  • Rollo Turner
    Beijing to Arnhem across deserts, mountains and rivers - on 50 year old British bikes (Panther and Norton) ridden by two old fools who know what's good for them!
• Off road by Caponord
  • Tim Whittle
    Overview of what's possible solo on a prepared Caponord - Africa and lots of trials, rallies in between trips.
• What to take and how to carry it
  • Mark Manley
    How to avoid taking too much and forgetting what you might need, and tips on how to get urgent parts with the minimum hassle and cost.
• Overweight is under-prepared!
  • Dave Lomax
    Ever wondered what travelling light really means? Not really sure what you NEED to take with you? A lighter bike is more reliable, safer and easier to ride. Come see how little you really need.
• Building the bionic adventure biker!
  • Jasper Ditton
    Learn how to use Rocky-style training, deprivation, role-play and beasting by friends to hone your readiness for adventurous biking. All put to the test in a ridiculous mini-biking adventure. It ain't over 'til it's over...
• TBA,
  • Dennis Robinson
    TBA
• Old Man On A Bike,
  • Simon Gandolfi, UK
    Veracruz, Mexico, to New York via Tierra del Fuego
• Morocco: Safe, Exciting and Inexpensive
  • Tim Cullis
    All you need to know to plan your own trip to Morocco.
• Morocco, If you haven't been yet, WHY NOT!
  • Dave Lomax
    I have spent nearly 3 months there this year on multiple trips and have all the details (ferries and waypoints) you need for spectacular road trips, remote desert exploration, and fast Paris - Dakar piste exploration.
• The Shorter Way Across, Spain
  • Dave Lomax
    Spain east to west following the tracks and trails of the High Pyrenees
• How not to fall at the first fence.
  • Colin & Dee Masters
    Planning, pleasures & pitfalls of riding your dream.
• Under Asian Skies
  • Sam Manicom
    It's a land full of Riotous Colours, Clashing Cultures, Fate and Karma Junkies, Adrenalin Buzz and some of the most stunning scenery in the world. Worth exploring?
• Into Africa' - 'Another' Way Down
  • Sam Manicom
    Take the words, novice biker, ridiculously overloaded bike, magically rough roads, stunning landscape, incredible cultures, and amazing people. Then what have you got? Full on Adventure
• Cheap booze, warm weather, easy to get to… Iceland
  • Chris Bright, UK,
    Images and videos by TheBrightStuff.com in the wilds of Iceland
• Random video footage of dirtbike travel from trips to Iceland, the Pyrenees and Morocco (twice)
  • Chris Bright, UK,
    Including a very special feature "Basil fought the Duck and the Duck won". The moving images tell the story. TheBrightStuff.com and friends striking various interesting poses.
• Fix that flat! How to change a tire anytime, anywhere. (Friday only)
  • Sam Davidson returns for his popular:
    'Basic Guide to changing and maintaining tyres.' How to prevent flats in the first place, and fix them when you get one. Sam'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! Come prepared to show everyone how fast you can do it - classes for beginners and experts, and ladies!

Changing a tyre tech sesssion with Sam

• Prep your bike for the long trip! (Friday only)
  • Sam Davidson
    Basic Bike Preparation tech session.
• Photo Composition for Travellers
  • Grant Johnson, Canada, RTW
    The one everyone SHOULD take... We all want to take great photos of our trip - so why don't we? This easy seminar will transform your photos from boring to fabulous!
• 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 me here to volunteer.

Rideouts

Charity

We raised £600.00 for Motorcycle Outreach, which does much the same as Riders for Health, but in Indonesia, through the sale of raffle tickets and the generous donation of prizes from all the vendors on site and from afar. Many thanks to everyone! :)

Travel Equipment Vendors

Adventure-spec, waterproof riding gear, luggage, tools, bike protection parts, first aid kits, camping bits and pieces
Ernie - Overland Solutions, custom fitting and equipment
Traveldri-Plus, motorcycle clothing and travel goodies specialists
Metal Mule, overland luggage systems
Core Racing Imports, off-road equipment specialists
Ultimate Ear, custom earplugs, get your order in early if you're in a rush.
James Cargo Services, bike shipping around the world.
Adventure Spec. David Lomax and Chris Colling
Gravel Travel - African motorcycle safari tours: Botswana, Namibia, South Africa
Beast of Burden Expedition Company, Expedition to Mauritania and Mali
Dan Medica South, maker of pressure relieving gel seat pads for bikes (I use a gel pad myself - it's excellent!) can't be at the meeting, but have generously donated a gel pad and cover for the Charity Draw - so you could get a free one! Check out their gel pads.

Books - get your signed copy direct from the Author!

Paul Pratt, one of the original overlanders with signed copies of his best selling, 'World Understanding on two wheels'
Sam Manicom, with his new book 'Out of Asia' as well as 'Into Africa'
Austin Vince will have his DVD's for sale as well as his books 'Terra Circa' and 'Mondo Enduro'
Lois Pryce, 'Lois on the Loose', will have her new book on her African adventures
Simon and Georgie McCarthy 'Sorebums Rattling Around Asia'
Dennis Robinson, Scooters in the Sahara
Rollo Turner from Panther Publishing will be there with several great travel books.
Dave Barrett, UK/Germany, with "Dodging Potholes", Motorcycling in Eastern Europe, with a visit to the orphanage in Calarasi, Moldova.

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

T-Shirt Deal

You can help!

If you have a few minutes, please download the poster (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...")

Poster in pdf format (886kb) full colour 2008 poster.

Thanks for the help!

The Meeting Location for 2008 is the same as 2004 - 7

Lumb Farm, Ripley, Derbyshire, UK

Lumb Farm may have once been a farm, but is now a pub with numerous rooms and grounds suitable for our purposes in a beautiful setting. Seating for 250 people with catering at all prices and tastes. Other than camping no accommodation is available at the venue. See the hotel links section if you're not camping. It has a large grassy campsite behind the pub and an area for a bonfire to welcome you.

There's showers too...(for those who care to indulge), also a full-on fitness room.

Lumb Farm
Derby Road
Marehay
Ripley
DE5 8JN

01773 744 299

More info on their new website.

Getting There - GPS, Maps

Other Accommodation Possibilities

The Moss Cottage Inn, Ripley, reasonable prices but books fast. £46.95 per room. 01773-742-555, DE5 3JT (1.7 miles approx)

The Hop Inn, Openwoodgate, Belper, 01773 823900. Inexpensive.
(3 simple miles from the venue)

The Lion Hotel, Bridge Street Belper DE56 1AX Tel 01773 824033 - Fax 01773 828393
"The Lion Hotel is situated in the centre of one of Derbyshire's most historic towns - Belper. The hotel provides an extremely high level of comfort and service." (4 Miles from the venue) Email

Talbot Hotel, Belper. Tel: 01773-822258 (5.3 miles)

More in Belper

Information about the area

See you at a meeting this year!

Grant and Susan