The drone flying is a valid criticism if she doesn't have a permit ... in general it does feel like a few people are very quick to criticise her (not just here, in general). Nobodies perfect but I don't remember seeing these sorts of comments over, say, Lyndon Poskitt's videos

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FreeBSD fan since before it was cool ...

In this new post truth world, who's to say what's the right or wrong way down the binary Mumbai dual carriageway anyway?

The OP asks a binary question and when the answer is 0 rather than the hoped for 1, then it's a "shame some people find negatives in what she has done".

I propose the motion to this house, that from now on, no "nit" shall ever be picked again!

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I must admit I considered taking a drone to Morocco last year and trying to 'sneak' it in but didn't in the end. Of course I'm not trying to make an 'on the road' style living so it's easy for me to take some sort of moral high ground but laws are laws and if you decide to go your own way you have to be prepared for the consequences. I'm pretty sure though that most of us here will have 'bent' the odd regulation here and there over the years for pragmatic reasons. Of course if she did have a permit how many of her critics would stand up and apologise?

Quite how much of that criticism is just envy in a fur coat is hard to say as I haven't seen any of her videos, but I'd be surprised if there isn't an element of sour grapes in at least some of them that somebody has managed to put together a lifestyle that many would aspire to but don't have the capacity or the qualities to pull off themselves. If you can, do, as the saying goes but the second half seems to have morphed these days into, instead of teach, carp.

Who are all the "critics" (with an s at the end)? Are some people's replies hidden from me in this thread? Just because someone takes the time to reply to a thread that asks a yes/no question and says "no" doesn't make them a critic. Tastes vary and having the desire to watch some random YouTube channel isn't for everyone. Some are busy doing other things.

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Like commenting on online forums?

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FreeBSD fan since before it was cool ...

No, not here, we're all even handed and charitable. It's more what you read on YouTube and Facebook (my main sources of world news ). I might not follow IB but I've been aware of her and what she's been doing for years - overlanding on bikes is a pretty small world when all is said and done - and there's plenty who 'find fault' for whatever reason with her travels.

From a personal perspective I don't watch her exploits (or anybody else's come to that) for the same reason I don't tune in to Adventure Rider Radio or some of the other fixtures in the firmament; it all takes more time and commitment than I'm willing to put in and as I think bikes take up a larger share of my life than they ought to already there's no room for any more. Having said that I've no issue with constructive criticism in any walk of life, but negative criticism of the type she often attracts (or did in the past anyway) is just unsavoury. Whether it bothers her or not I've no idea but I don't think you can attract the number number of followers she has without some of them reacting negatively.

Am currently in Vietnam, riding a bike. It's 6 hours ahead of the UK, hence the timing of my posts. Between the daylight riding and the nighttime eating, drinking and sleeping and in the morning before the riding, there's a brief window of opportunity to read and write on the HUBB. Or not


Ahh, get you. Don't watch any bike travel related stuff on YouTube (so IB has passed me by almost completely. I estimate she had been travelling and broadcasting for 18 or so months before I'd even heard of her). Also gave up on most bike travel content on Facebook (too much drivel and spammers, err I mean attempts at "marketing", except HU Facebook, long ago, so any IB discussion never appeared in my field of vision. Looks like I haven't missed much ...

The only bike related content on YouTube I watch is road racing like the TT or rally raid like the Dakar.

I visited British bike friends in Portugal about a year ago and the lady of the house insisted on getting her IB fix, so we watched 3 episodes in succession (she was in Central America). I thought Noraly was actually quite a pleasant human being and her episodes were surprisingly "normal", especially in comparison to the utter Long Way diatribe, or other self publicists' "contributions", supposed by their sycophantic fan boys on Instagram/Facebook. I had similar experiences to Noraly when I rode there more than 2 decades ago, so (pleasant?) memories were bought back...

Have never heard an episode of ARR. Ever. Judging by the individuals involved, it struck me as an attempt by them to keep their names front and centre so they can continue to flog their wares. But I'm not their target audience, so it's a win/win all round. With the exception of GJ, none of the rest share their "expertise" here on the HUBB...

An aside: Every attempt at individuals trying to promote their own (probably sh1te, but I wouldn't really know as I never see it) YouTube video on HU FB leads to an unfollow/ block by me. I've a big appreciation for good still photography and interesting, personal writing though. And if it isn't to my taste, it's so easy to scroll on by in a nanosecond. To judge whether a video is poor (as it will invariably be, when I did try watching them) takes minutes/ multiples thereof; time I'll never get back that could have been spent planning trips, doing trips, earning money to pay for trips, chatting with locals/friends and drinking cerveza.

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At the end of then day, Itchy Boots has probably done more travelling than most people on here !And she has made her adventures without too much drama .............so well done to her !!!!

I dip my toe in occasionally. She is doing what may of us wish we were doing - travelling the world, in her way. If she hasn’t got a permit for the drone, well she may get caught or she may not. The fact that she is making a living from thi is fine with me, we all have to raise the cash one way or another, she is respectful of the locals wherever she goes and she imparts quite a bit of information about things like the geology of how particular areas came to be formed the way that they are.

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You will have to do without pocket handkerchiefs, and a great many other things, before we reach our journey's end, Bilbo Baggins. You were born to the rolling hills and little rivers of the Shire, but home is now behind you. The world is ahead.

I have huge amount of respect for what that young woman has achieved. Her riding skills have hugely improved since she started. She is not damaging nature. She's an awesome role model for all riders, not just females. I've even bought some of her merchandize.
Having said that, I don't really watch her videos. Her complete lack of mechanical skills are grating and she is not doing stuff in the way I'd do it. So I only skim over few videos here and there.

Have to seen the last two episodes ?.....
:scoo ter:

I happened to watch that particular episode last night. She said "I believe" in reference to the highest road at the very beginning of the episode. at 12:50 into the episode she says "Welcome to the highest road in Morocco, I Think". She even doubts herself so I don't see how any of it would be "rubbish". As for the drone, innocent until proven guilty. Maybe she has a permit, maybe not. But I challenge anyone here to tell us with a straight face that they have never ever broken any rules in another country or their own. Not condoning rule breaking but just pointing out the inconsistent way in which we apply judgement.

Like her and her videos or not but I think she's doing a good job and I enjoy watching her. I question where the anger towards her is really coming from.

No anger or anything like that from me. If she’s managed to find a niche that keeps her supported on the road then more power to her elbow as far as I’m concerned. It may just be that one man’s sober observation is another man’s spittle flecked rant but that’s language usage for you. There does tend to be a bit of that in areas where you can do the activity either for the love of it or for a living. During my 30+ yrs as a professional photographer I was often told I should be using that bit of equipment or that bit of software/ type of film by well meaning enthusiasts. Sometimes it even made sense but mostly it didn’t. IB seems to be doing ok (as far as I can see anyway) and all I would say to any critics is let’s see your travel blogs. If they’re better you’ll be out there with her.

) and all I would say to any critics is let’s see your travel blogs. If they’re better you’ll be out there with her.[/QUOTE]

Agree with your comments ......... Why do people find faults with Miss itchy Boots ?
Its a story of her travels.... and not a 100% accurate documentry !
K

Any social media related to overlanding is, ultimately, just another form of travellers throughout the ages writing their own story and publishing it. It's just that there are a lot more stories now, which are a lot more accessible to us all than there has been in the past.

For me, the balance lies between whether the story becomes more about the traveller or more about the places/stories about where they have travelled. In my experience, there does seem to be a tendancy towards the former more often than not, which is a shame and I can't help but feel that social media encourages that I think because it lends itself to visually-impactful content as a way of driving engagement.

For me, as someone who writes longer-form content and photographs a bit now (but had a brief and unsuccesful flirtation with social media in earlier travels) I've found the focus on where I've travelled has led to a far more rewarding and genuine experience. But, each to their own.

Against that benchmark, I think Itchy Boots does a pretty good job - I think her content is a lot more genuine and interesting then others' out there.

Thanks,

Ed

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Where Next Barney? Buenos Aires to Lima 2015 | London to Sydney 2015/6 | Armenia, Georgia & the FYR 2022 | Algerian Sahara 2023.