Hi from the UK
 

Hi all, great to be here. Keen to look at this vast amount of knowledge. I am looking at potentially coming to UK HUBB next year in June but I have a question about it, can anyone let me know who to direct it to please?

First off, welcome along.

Susan or Grant will give you chapter and verse. In reality just ask on here, the locals tolerate my questions with polite answers.

Where are you based?

Hi Jay, thanks for the welcome.

Im based in Essex, you?

I wanted to ask abut HUBB next year as and indulge me here.... Im going to be heading down to Senegal/Gambia next year with my (to be) 9 year old daughter on the bike. Or thats the current plan. So would be keen for her to be immersed in the atmosphere so to speak. Not sure if its suitable etc for her though. I also noticed on the sign up form theres no option for anyone under 16?!?!?

Hi Scott

I’m in Derbyshire but I work in Wolverhampton so commute a silly distance each day.

I don’t know the answer to if there is an age restriction - probably best to drop Susan or Grant a PM to see if there are any restrictions.

Is your daughter up for the trip to Senegal/Gambia? My son, 16, has no desire to get on the back of the bike as far as I can tell but he is a teenager so doesn’t have any obvious desires other than to eat us out of house and home and to play computer games.

I suspect that you are entirely correct in the idea of immersing her in the atmosphere - it will paint a picture for her and remove some of the doubts that she is bound to have. No doubt she is like a sponge at the moment absorbing all the information she can glean so good to have along.

THe idea to go on the bike was actually one she came up with first (kind of) she gets super excited about it whenever its mentioned. She has also asked to go on a weekend jaunt around calais, dunkirk etc then back again so will have to plan that one for her too. Best do it before she is a teenager then!!

Will look to send a PM as this is an intro for the explorers of tomorrow!

For sure.

That she came up with the idea is excellent.

Great that it's her idea, but wise to allow for changes of heart between now and then. A year is a long time in a 9 year old's life, as well as in her relationship with you. What's more, the average 9 year old attention span and tolerance of uncertainty varies greatly.

I'll add that the run through Western Sahara and Mauritania is long, sometimes brutally hot, and rather boring in a lot of respects. If I was planning a cross-cultural adventure with a 9 year old, that probably wouldn't be at the top of my list. Morocco, yes; Senegal/The Gambia maybe/depending; the full 3,500 mile trip probably not.

If possible, I'd prepare for an alternative in which she flies down and meets you there. Charter flights from England to The Gambia are--or at least were--so cheap you could easily abandon her return ticket if she really wanted to ride back with you.

Hope that's helpful.

Mark

Welcome to HU! And great to see your daughter is interested in a trip with you.
Re under 16's, yes no problem, it's up to you to "manage" her, remembering that this is in reality an adult event and there is NO provision for children in any way. You will need to sign a release for her on the day.
As for the trip, I agree with Mark - do several shorter trips first, getting more and more adventurous, and see how she does. At that age she may well take to it like a duck to water - but again as Mark says, they change fast. I'd be out doing round UK trips now, get her acclimated, get your and her gear sorted, make it easy, fun trips, to a water park for instance, to start, then work up.
Best of luck - we'll be looking to hear about your travels at the HUBB UK in 2022!

By the way, we can always be contacted via the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of every page :)

This isn't a big mega-corporation - there's just us, Grant and Susan, and all volunteers for the events.

I always sound so strident compared to Grant the Mellifluous...

I meant to be more positive. A trip like the one you're proposing could be wonderful for both of you, and I wish I'd had such an adult in my life at any age (up to and including right now). However, there's also a lot of potential for less desirable outcomes, suggesting you proceed incrementally.

Hi guys and thanks for your wise words!! We are already making headway into tours and the like, with a few in planning for next year, as well as a few runs this year including nights out etc. As for Senegal, agree its the middle part that lacks interest but will wait and see, if I overload her in Morocco then she may welcome the break :) !!
Ref the change, completely agree and hear that, there is a plan B which includes me going solo, and meeting her, her younger sister and mum in Senegal (where we have friends and will be staying with for a break). At the moment plan A is she will likely fly back and i will ride on, but only time will tell. As it is Im fully flexible on this, solo or 2 up, faster or slower, flying, riding, shipping anything goes!!

Hi Grant and thanks for your message. Regarding payment or signing up for my daughter, do i need to complete a form? Also we will be camping so how much is it for her to attend please? Many thanks

ScottCC,
No charge for camping so that's not an issue, and you just sign a form on the day for her. Too much like work to build a whole reg system for the extremely few under 16's we get, especially since they're free!

will see you there!! thank you

I suggest checking with the consulates of all the countries you plan to visit whether you'll need a notarised (or apostilled) letter from your daughter's mother giving you permission to cross each border.