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! People who will encourage you, share their experiences and advice on how to do it!
Also, the meetings help to make HU more than just a website - a community of motorcycle travellers - real people, not just e-mail addresses ;-) And last but not least, they make a significant contribution to HU revenue, thus helping us to keep the HUBB and website going and a roof over our heads! So thanks to everyone who comes!
Meetings and Events, 2017. Mark your calendars and sign up now!
2017 is shaping up to be a record year, with 24+ events in every continent except Antarctica, last we checked! Registration is open for most events already!
Asia
Thailand - January 6-7. Mini-meeting, Rider's Corner, Chiang Mai. Online registration is open now!
North America
Virginia, April 27-30 in Appomattox, Virginia! Online registration is open now, with early bird rates until Dec. 31!
HUMM Monashees, July 28-30. Nakusp, BC. Online registration is open now, early bird rates until Dec. 31! Note: We're already got over 80 participants subscribed for this event, and numbers are limited, so form your teams and get registered!
HUMM Appalachians, Aug 11-13. Our 1st USA HUMM will be in Green Ridge State Forest, Flintstone, MD. We know the easterners were feeling HUMM-deprived, so we've teamed up with Alain Kaldewaay of Xplor-Int to make this event happen! Mark your calendars and form your team. Don't have a team? No worries, we can team you up! Online registration is open now, with early bird rates!
Canada West, August 25-28. Nakusp, BC. Super riding in the area and very friendly town. Online registration is open now, early bird rates!
North Carolina, Sep 7-10. Ironhorse Motorcycle Lodge, Stecoah, NC. Online registration is open now!
Ontario, Sep 7-10, Camp Tamarack. Note the later date, online registration is open now, with super early bird rates until Dec 31!
California, Sept. 21-24 in Mariposa, on the doorstep of Yosemite! Online registration is open now, super early bird rates until Dec 31!
Europe
Germany, May 25-28 at Campingplatz Pfrimmtal, just at the entrance of the Pfälzer Wald! Online registration is open now, with early bird rates until 31 January!
HUMM Sierras de España, Aragón, May 28-31. We're returning to Mora de Rubielos, Teruel, for our first 2017 HUMM - the off-road, competitive, motorcycle navigation challenge for teams of 2-4 bikes. Simon Rice of The Spanish Biker is our Event Partner. Online registration is open now, with early bird rates until 31 December! Numbers are strictly limited, so form your teams and get registered! What's a HUMM, you say? Check out the HUMM event trailer!
HUBB UK, June 15-18. HUBB UK is back in our great new location - Baskerville Hall Hotel, on the edge of the Brecon Beacons and Black Mountain National Park! See the HUBB UK 2016 trailer for a taster! Online registration is open now with early bird rates until 31 Jan!
Ireland - June 23-25. We're back in Enniskillen, what a fantastic venue and the friendliest people you will ever meet! Online registration is open now, early bird rates until 31 Dec!
Montenegro, August 24-27. Eko katun Vranjak on Bjelasica Mountain, in the Biogradska Gora National Park near Kolasin. Mark your calendars, online registration will open soon! Meanwhile, check out this amazing video from HU Montenegro 2016, by helivideo.me.
Switzerland - August 25-27. Campingplatz Erlebnisbauernhof Gerbe, Meierskappel. There are great motorcycling roads nearby and the Alps at your doorstep. Online registration is open now, with early bird rates until 31 Jan!
France, September 8-10. Great location - Camping Les Hirondelles, Al'Pech, Loupiac. Thierry Floreck will be organising this 5th HU event in France, ably assisted by Roger Primout and Peter Bettembourg. Mark your calendars, online registration will open soon!
Germany Autumn, Oct 26-29. Campingplatz Pfrimmtal. Mark your calendars!
Australia
Queensland, Sep 21-24. After a hiatus in 2016, we're back at a great location in Boonah, QLD. Helen Black is hosting this event, supported by Shane Kuhl, Karen Lewis and a great team of volunteers. Mark your calendars now, online registration will open soon!
Western Australia - Perth, Oct 27-29, Fairbridge Village, WA. Xander and Tam Kabat are the local hosts for this event, supported by Jaye Edwards, John Lizamore, Jenny Engwirda, Suze Trappitt and heaps of volunteers. Note the later date, online registration will open soon!
Aus Snowy Mountains, Nov 16-19, 2017. Jindabyne, NSW. This great location offers a range of accommodation options, great facilities and the potential for outdoor bike activities. Veteran travellers Brian Rix, Shirley Hardy-Rix head a team that made us proud in 2016! Mark your calendars. Online registration will open soon!
Africa
South Africa, Nov 9-12, 2017, near Potchefstroom. Kobus Fourie is again hosting this event at his fabulous Elgro River game lodge and conference centre, with help from his lovely daughter Claudine. Mark your calendars. Online registration will open soon!
South America
Brazil - Mar 11-12. Camping Internacional, Foz do Iguaçu (Iguassu Falls).
Bolivia - April 21-23. Mika Kuhn is hosting this new event in Samaipata, Bolivia!
Argentina, Dec 3-4 - TBC. To all travelling friends who are planning to go to Ushuaia this year, Oscar Knecht will again be hosting a Horizons Unlimited mini-meeting in Balneario El Cóndor.
More details as we have them!
Presenters
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, first aid, etc, lasting 20 minutes or more, would be great. Please contact us here to volunteer.
Had a great trip? Got good stories and pics of it? Never presented before? Tips for putting on a successful Travel Slide Show!
Volunteers and Hosts
Volunteers for all meetings are needed, just a couple of hours of your time makes it all a lot easier - and fun - for all. You can volunteer a few hours of your time when you register for the event. And volunteering is always a great way to meet a lot of people!
If you'd like to host an HU Meeting in your area, please see the How To Host a Meeting page for details.
Exhibitors sign up here to join us at a Meeting.
See the Events page for more details on all events.
Marc Ouellet, Canada, Canada to Argentina, in Peru, BMW R1200GS,
"The road becomes more and more challenging and isolated, with river crossings and bridges made of doubtful pieces of wood. At a certain point, I find myself in a very remote high altitude area, on a path where it is extremely difficult to keep the motorbike up. I come close to falling many times.
The beauty of the place leaves me speechless, but I nevertheless think about my options. I drive in first speed most of the time, the road deteriorates more and more, I find myself more often than not, on edges of very high cliffs.
I drive very carefully but sand and big stones demand a huge amount of work and constant full concentration. The worst of all is that the more I make progress, the more it becomes difficult as conditions deteriorate even more.
This bridge is on top of a several hundred metres deep crevasse! Boards are not solid nor levelled, and there is no protection. Hesitation, tests, hesitation, tests, thinking about options, well, there is only one option here my friend, closing of the eyes and full throttle... I finally ended up the other side!
As I must drive the motorbike standing on the pegs all the time, this is to make it easier passing on rocks, in water, sand and this, for now more than 4 hours, and because I do not see improvement of conditions close by, at least for the next 3 hours, I begin getting worried.
I ended up starting to fear driving on the cliff side of the road. I favour the track created by the passage of the trucks which is located along the mountain side, in opposite to the one close to the cliff, even if, however, it is not always the best option.
At some point, I'm faced with a difficult passage and I got hesitant to take the easiest line, which was on the edge of the cliff, and what had to happen, well, happened..."
Ed. Great stories and pics on Marc's blog!
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Laura Pattara, Australia, cruising the Komodo Islands, Indonesia, BMW 650,
"...The nature of the Komodo National Park is resplendent, in parts. As long as we were away from the crowds and the rubbish-strewn beaches of the most popular islands, we loved this archipelago.
Far too many people and not enough conservation work being done. On one overnight anchor spot, we were even approached by a guy paddling on a kayak selling pearl necklaces and souvenirs. It totally cracked us up! Yet luckily, the national park covers an area (both land and water) of 1,800 square kilometres. Finding a corner of heaven, a ridiculously beautiful uninhabited island, and peace and quiet, is superbly easy.
My picture-perfect beach dragon on Komodo Island
The worst part of the trip was watching what is supposed to be a majestic dragon, the largest lizard on our planet, trying to crawl over an abundance of rubbish on the beach of Komodo Island. The best? Everything else. The fun, the snorkeling, the coral reefs, the hikes, the myriad of colourful fish, the sun and even the rain. The beauty, out here, is staggering... as is man's encroachment on nature. The yin and yang of our planet, all here in one unforgettable place."
Ed. For the rest of this amazing story, check out Laura's blog post.
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Please be sure to tell them how you heard about Ride-Chile. Thanks!
Visit the breathtaking landscapes of Chile, Argentina, Peru, Bolivia, Brazil and much more! Founded by two former RTW motorcycle adventurers, Mick (Denmark) & Tomás (Chile) offer personalized expeditions and rentals of Kawasaki KLR 650 & BMW motorcycles. Based in Santiago, they supply motorcycle adventurers with a wide range of expeditions to the highlights of South America: Patagonia, Ushuaia, Perito Moreno, Atacama, Machu Picchu, Iguazu, Uyuni, Death Road, Amazonas and Dakar Rally. They also provide short tours to the Andes Mountains, vineyards and national parks.
"Lugu Lake is called the 'mother lake' by the Mosuo people. The lake is also well known in Chinese travel pamphlets as the region of 'Amazons', 'The Kingdom of Women' and 'Home of the Matriarchal Tribe', this last name highlighting the dominant role of the Mosuo women in their society. The marriage rites of the Mosuo people are known as 'azhu marriage' ceremony and this unique aspect of their social culture has given the title 'exotic land of daughters' to the area. It is also known as 'A Quaint Realm of Matriarchy'. The matriarchal and matrilineal society of the Mosuos is also termed the 'Women's World'.
The Mosuo are the last practicing (almost) matriarchal society in the world. Mosuo women never marry and never cohabit, instead they are free to choose as many lovers as they like throughout their lives. Children are brought up by women, and use the surname of their mothers. Families are composed of the members of the matrilineal kind. Women hold the principal positions in the society, forming a modern day 'woman's kingdom', which adds mystique to this magical place."
Ed. Lots of great pix on TBR's thread on the HUBB Ride Tales Forum!
Steve and Janette Douglas, UK, RTW, in Honduras, Triumph Tiger 800,
"...the highlight for us were the Pulhapanzak waterfalls a short distance away. The falls are quite spectacular just to look at but if you take a guide it's possible to go behind them. A short walk along a muddy path and then down to a pool which you need to jump into and swim across, then across some rocks and then a short 'safety' cable and you're behind the water. The power of the water is amazing. The most vivid memory is of not only the noise but the wind it generates and a feeling of not being able to breathe properly. An amazing thing to be able to do and there's no way you could do this safely without a guide."
Pulhapanzak waterfalls
Ed. They do say time flies when you're having fun, Steve and Janette are good examples!
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Please be sure to tell them how you heard about James Cargo. Thanks!
James Cargo is an international freight shipper specialising in International Bike / Motorcycle Shipping and more. All countries, sea or air, multi-bike shipments, containers to USA from the UK and back for events like Sturgis and more.
Be sure to mention Horizons Unlimited for the best service!
Hubert Kriegel, France, RTW, in New Zealand,
"I just loved the last 5 months I spend in the (mild) winter season of New Zealand where the roads and camps were deserted. Thank you to all of you my Kiwi friends for your kindness and hospitality, I hope to meet with you again one of these days somewhere on the road!"
Now, that's a bonfire at the Brass Monkey Rally in Maniototo, NZ.
Further North, riding along the mountain's lakes of the Otago area, in the middle of the winter was an amazing feeling.
Ed. Hubert has been on the road for more than 10 years, producing many 1000s of fantastic pics on the way!
Rohith Subramanian, India, 'The Lone Wanderer',
"What are the rules I follow in life?
First rule: Alter your life between beaches and mountains.
And what better place to visit in India than Goa.
Good to be back in Goa after a year. It all pretty much began at this very city last year. Was on a trip to Goa last year with a friend and it changed me good. This was one of the defining moments for me to take up travel as a living.
I saw so many tourists around and told myself I can't be this and I need to be different. Stepped out and started riding and have been on the roads for the past 320 odd days.
Life has been beyond perfect to say the least. After all its one life and I am living it to the fullest.
How about you?"
Ed. We like that rule! Rohith's next trip is to Nepal and Bhutan - check out his FB page for pics and musings.
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Please be sure you tell them how you heard about Ferris Wheels. Thanks!
Ferris Wheels Motorcycle Safaris are one of the pioneers of the motorcycle tour industry. We have been taking clients professionally to the highest road in the world several times a year since 1994; over 50 times now! Other exotic destinations include Morocco, Turkey, Bhutan, South America, and the Dalmatian Coastline.
All fully-detailed itineraries can be found at www.ferriswheels.com.au where you may also find countless client accolades and many press articles endorsing our tours over the past 15 years or so, and request our free DVD!
Sara and Dan Pedersen, Canada, RTW, in Europe, BMW F650GS, reflecting on the journey so far
"Here we are at country 60, about halfway home and it is a good time to reflect and share a few brief observations from our worldwide ride.
First and foremost to say that we are fortunate is a massive understatement. There are many days that we question if this journey is for real. To be able to roam freely about the planet on incredible machines with your best friend and spouse carving the corners right behind you is nothing short of extraordinary. Experiencing people and places in their raw form without the colors, smells, sites and sounds being edited is a privilege that at times we find hard to comprehend.
Many farming towns in Germany will have these hay bale sculptures.
The people we meet are of course what counts the very most. The relationships that our journey has blessed us with are an element that has become so much more than we could have ever imagined. From complete strangers inviting us in to share a meal or to stay the night. To having amazing local riders contact us with places to meet up and then explore their favorite roads or to help service the bikes. Just crossing paths with another traveler in the middle of nowhere and then reconnecting with them a year or two later on another continent is surreal. We have not made friends, we have made family. People are simply amazing and again the very best part of our journey. Want to have your faith in humanity renewed? Try having a broken down motorcycle in the middle of nowhere only to have a stranger fix it and refuse to take payment.
You may be asking 'what about all the bad people?' You know the banditos, corrupt police, border officials on the take and military checks points shaking you down? Sorry to disappoint those with dire pre-trip predictions, but so far no, nope and none. The funny thing about the world that we have discovered is that it is a good people place. Oh sure there is lots of evil in this world and you will hear about terrible people lurking around the next corner, but as of yet we haven't stumbled upon them.
Central square memorial, Wroclaw, Poland
As we embark on our seasonal riding break to plan, reflect, and catch-up, the very first thing on our to do list is pass along a bunch of thank you's. Without the rider community our journey just wouldn't be what it is. We are grateful to no end for the pure kindness that we have been shown. The list is very long so to start thank you all for being family, friends and support. Each of you in your own way has been a blessing and down right cool. We look forward to seeing you down the road, but until then remember, 'less stuff means a lot more living'.
We did a bit of a walking tour of Wroclaw and one of the fun things to do is try to find some of the 350 brass Gnomes that are hidden around the city.
Ed. Sara and Dan's entire trip (with amazing pictures) since mid-2012 is on the HUBB Ride Tales Forum!
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Please be sure to tell them how you heard about Classic Bike India. Thanks!
Guided Motorcycle Adventure Tours To
Ladakh - Sri Lanka - Bhutan - Rajasthan - Nepal - Thailand - Tibet - Goa & South India
Gene and Neda 'Lightcycle', Canada, RTW, in Malaysia and Montenegro, Honda CRF 250s
"It's only about 15 kms away from where we're staying, so we hop on the bikes and head out there after the morning rush hour has subsided.
Batu Caves entrance
The Batu Caves are the site of a Hindu temple built inside a limestone cavern, similar to the Taoist temple that my uncle took us to in Ipoh the other day. The only difference is that these are several times larger and grander.
Batik is the traditional fabric art of Malaysia. It's cloth that's been patterned with a wax outline and then painted with dyes so the colours remain inside the waxed outline. When the wax is washed off, the borders reveal the bare fabric underneath giving it its distinct look.
Batik can be made from cotton or silk, and the painted fabric is be primarily used for baju (clothing) like shirts, blouses, headscarves and sarongs. My mom had batik fabric covering her furniture, and you can make curtains or tablecloths from it as well.
The gallery doesn't want you take pictures of their products (they want you to buy them instead), but we were allowed to take pictures of other customers' artwork.
These prints were still drying, so the wax outline is still intact
Montenegro
We're basing ourselves out of Kotor for a couple of days to walk around the city and do some riding around the area. The scenery and the roads around the mountains here are astounding and we want to take advantage of the beautiful weather that's inexplicably continued to follow us. Knowing us, who knows when it'll take a turn for the worse...!
We looked on the map and there are amazing twisty roads all around the area. That might explain why there are constantly motorcycle and sports cars buzzing back and forth on the main strip at all hours of the day..."
Hiking about Kotor, Montenegro
Ed. See Gene and Neda's posts and great pics on the HUBB Ride Tales Forum!