Introduction

An introduction to my site and my trip.Why I made this site @ Horizonsunlimited:
On the one hand, this site is made, to keep my family and my friends informed about my journey, and to tell where I'm currently staying. On the other hand, this site wants to give usefull information to all those, that are planning to do a similar trip.

How the idea was born:
The idea of doing a trip, that will last several months, developed during my last term at the university. Before starting a job, that won't allow longer holidays than maybe 2 or 3 weeks, I wanted to use the situation and do something totally different.

But why South America and why with a motorbike?
Maybe two years ago my girlfriend Melanie and myself visited a slide-show near our home town Aschaffenburg. It was held by Roland Ball, a guy, not living far from me, who travelled from Alaska to Fireland - along the Panamericana - with his motorcycle. I was totally inspired about the stories he told and the experiences he made, but couldn't imagine to do a similar trip on my own.
Well, now - two years later - I am on such a trip. I didn't start in Alaska but in Chile, and I don't think, that there is enough time to see both - Fireland and Alaska. But I'm riding in South America with my own motorbike :-)
My girlfriend joins me from november to february. During this time we'll be two up, on one bike.

Facts:
Starting date: October, 13th, 2003 in Santiago de Chile
End: I don't know exactly yet. about Februay - May 2004
The route:
First I want to travell south trough Chile and Argentina to Ushuaia. Then I'll head north, and visit Chile again, and then Peru, Bolivia and Ecuador. Depending on how much time is left I think about continuing my trip in Central America. And maybe I'll even make it to Mexico and the states.