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.
Important! Last year we had 520 people registered. We asked "how many people for '08?" and you said "500 or less".
Registration is limited to the first 500 registered and PAID! So to be sure you get in and avoid disappointment, get your registration and payment in early!
We really don't want to turn anyone away, but more importantly we want to be sure of having a great meeting - and overcrowded facilities will be no fun for anyone. 500 is really pushing the facilities capabilities, so please be patient and bear with us - and them - as we all try very hard to bring the best possible meeting to as many as possible. The admission price will be on a sliding scale to encourage early registration and help us organise facilities better.
We are looking at new locations to add a SECOND meeting in 2008, but no luck so far. IF you have been to an HU Meeting, and therefore know what we need, and know of a great location, let us know!
See you there!
The Plan
The plan is simple. Show up on Thursday or at the latest Friday afternoon, meet people and setup. Travel Presentations
and Tech seminars are planned throughout the meeting, starting Thursday night.
2008 Speakers and Tech Seminars (so far, more to come):
- 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
- 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!
- 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,
- 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
- 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
- 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
- Packing
- 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.
- Morocco; when a plan fails a journey begins.
- James de Ville
Video diary, First-timers road to Morocco. What happens when you go in search of sand.
- 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,
- Old Man On A Bike,
- 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.
- 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!
- Open Face Africa
- 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)
- 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!
- HUMMMM... what's that all about?! Find out from
- and more to come as we get closer to the date.
- 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.
Important!
The main conference room will squeeze 250 people, and we are expecting up to 500 this year. There are two smaller
rooms now available. So there will be THREE shows happening simultaneously, so you can pick and choose what you watch. We will
do a few twice.
...so check back and plan what you want to see. The schedule is subject to change, so don't hold our feet
to the fire - stuff happens! But we will try very hard to ensure that it goes off as planned. Check the latest schedule to be
posted at the meeting on the day.
There will also be Breakout sessions, which anyone can call! We'll have signup sheets for
breakouts, just grab a sheet and list what subject you want to talk about and where and when, and people can sign up and meet
you there! Sessions can be during dinner, or over breakfast or meet at someone's bike, whatever, it's up to you.
There will be slide shows and talks Thursday, Friday and Saturday night, as well as all Saturday morning
and afternoon, and Sunday too, (see the schedule (to come)) so come early and make
it a great weekend! We recommend planning on riding Friday and Sunday, and leaving time for Seminars all day Saturday.
Rideouts
Rideouts are limited to 6 or 12 people per ride, no exceptions.
A selection of legal green lanes and road rides in the Derbyshire area.
Friday 10.00 AM Off road ride led by Ken Hartley - max 6 bikes. Varying degrees of difficulty not suitable for complete novices, but suitable for ALL bikes.
Saturday 10.30 AM Road ride led by Andrew Jones - max 12 bikes. Suitable for all. All bikes.
Saturday 10.30 AM. Off road ride led by Nick Watson. Max 8 bikes. Suitable for all abilities and all bikes.
Sunday 10.30 AM Off road ride led by Ken Hartley (Ripley to Buxton - 4 hours) max 6 bikes. Details from Ken over the weekend.
All participants have to sign a liability waiver in advance.
All rides will be back on site at or before 5.00pm
The cost of going on any ride is included in the registration fee.
All rides are "register on the day." There will be signup sheets for each ride posted the evening before.
First in best dressed.
Charity
Last year we raised over £600.00 for Riders for Health, 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,
let's hope we can raise even more this year. And if you'd like to donate a prize,
please contact Glynn below.
Free stuff - A Scratch Patch
(as suggested by Michelle Clarke in an email:)
"We all know how expensive these overland travel dreams can be, but also how you often manage to accumulate travel equipment and bits and pieces that just end up gathering dust. That thingamabob that you have been meaning to give away for ages could be exactly what some skint newbie is in need of before a first trip.
How about a table set aside inside as the Scratch Patch at the UK HU meet? A place where people can put those extra inner tubes for the bike that they already sold but forgot to give to the new owner (clearly labelled as to size of course ); that jerry that you bought that doesn't fit your mountings; that Lonely Planet for Mongolia - anything that might be a big help to someone else.
(of course, anything that does not find a home by the end of the weekend will need to be reclaimed)"
Perfect - we'll set up a spot somewhere, so bring your goodies!
Food
Served all day from 8.30AM every day and into the evening a wide and varied menu - including vegetarian, at various prices.
Camping
Camping is INCLUDED in your registration fee. The main camping area is only JUST big enough to hold us all, so early arrivers please don't take a big area. Please squeeze in. NO 4 wheeled vehicles in the main camping fields, too much damage to the grass, so there will be an
area specifically for you.
Barbecues - ONLY at the firepit area, not on the camping fields AT ALL.
Dogs - due to a particularly noisy dog last year, there will be no dogs allowed in the camping area at all, ONLY in the parking lot. VERY sorry we have to do this, but there were a lot of complaints, and understandably so, about a dog barking all night, so we're forced into this restriction. Noisy dogs will be ejected.
Equipment for Sale
There will be a pin board for you to post equipment, bikes etc for sale.
Travel Equipment Vendors
Vendors sign up here to join us!
Michelin Tires
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
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.
Bring some cash! :)
Leaving on a big trip in 2008?
Plan on leaving from the Meeting! We'll make it a great send-off! Or coming
home around the time of the Meeting? What a great place to arrive at!
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, seminars etc.
Friday
CHECK-IN and sign up! You MUST be registered to go on a ride or entry to any events, seminars etc.
9:00 Ride briefing. Be gassed up and ready to ride if you're going.
Friday night
7:00 pm
Speakers presentations start sharp at 7, so be sure you've eaten early!
Saturday morning
8:00 - Breakfast, all morning
8:30 - 9:00 Late Check-in.
9:00 Ride briefing. Be gassed up and ready to ride if you're going.
Saturday Lunch
Carvery - from 12:00 noon served all day. Cost is £5.95 payable to the venue on the day. Range of specials from the blackboard
served all day, various prices. Vegetarian meals available.
Saturday afternoon,
Rideouts - details here if you're riding on your own.
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 Seminar, details to come. If you want to volunteer to lead a seminar or breakout session, on any appropriate
topic, please contact us. We have had lots of interest in seminars, ranging from 30 minutes to several hours, on subjects from
GPS to packing lists to tire changing.
Saturday, dinner
See Saturday lunch above.
7:00 pm sharp:
Speakers presentations
9:00 (not sharp) - Door prizes - you have to be there to win!
Sunday
Breakfast served from 8:00
Sunday Carvery from 12:00 till 3:00, cost is £5.95 payable to the venue.
Presentations - there will be a few repeated presentations Sunday morning. LAST chance to get the ones you missed.
There will also be several travel oriented vendors there, so
a great opportunity to have a good look at the latest goodies. Vendors
please contact me for details.
Miscellaneous notes:
Organizers will be there most of Thursday, hopefully Wednesday evening, if anyone wishes to arrive early and just hang
out or go for a ride in the area. There is no problem arriving even a couple of days early, Lumb Farm will be happy to see you
and feed you, and camping is free.
Registration
PLEASE NOTE: For 2008, Admission is LIMITED to 500 - if you don't register AND PAY well in advance
you may not get in at all!
Admission only pricing (for PAID registration):
- Register and PAY before December 31, 2007, admission is £20.
- Register and PAY before March 31 2008, admission is £25.
- Register and PAY before June 30 2008, admission is £30.
- At the door, IF space is available, admission is £40
NOTE: As of April 12 we're at 465 registered, 98% paid. Three months to go and only 35 spaces available!
Entry fee includes admission
to the slide shows on Thursday, Friday and Saturday night and Sunday am, and other events during
the day Friday and Saturday. Camping is also included in your entry fee for Thursday, Friday and Saturday night. If you arrive early there is generally no problem
finding a spot to camp, no charge. Just eat there and they're happy!
Accommodation other than camping, and meals are NOT included.
How to Pay
Please PRE-BOOK by filling in the form below and click the "Count me in" button below it. NOTE: Use one form
per person!
Option 1. Pay by PayPal
a. You will shortly receive an e-mail confirmation. Check to ensure the details are correct. If you
don't receive an e-mail confirmation within a few minutes, it means your e-mail address wasn't correct, (or the Internet
has eaten your e-mail). Try again. A human being will actually get a copy of the e-mail, and we promise we won't sign you
up multiple times. ;-)
b. After you have filled in the form and submitted it, you will have an opportunity to pay by  .
Please be careful calculating the amount, the form isn't that smart yet!
OR:
Option 2. Pay by cheque
a. You will shortly receive an e-mail confirmation. Check to ensure the details are correct. If you don't
receive an e-mail confirmation within a few minutes, it means your e-mail address wasn't correct, (or the Internet has
eaten your e-mail). Try again. A human being will actually get a copy of the e-mail, and we promise we won't sign you up
multiple times. ;-)
b. PRINT THAT EMAIL (or write out
the important bits by hand if you don't have a printer) and MAIL it
with a check (in GBP or Euros)
made payable to Horizons Unlimited, and mail to:
Grant Johnson,
Suite 621
24 St. Leonards Road
Windsor, Berkshire SL4 3BB
UK
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