HU Travellers Meeting Ontario 2016

Heinz and Felicitas Winterscheidt When you travel you will grow - An Ontario couple on two bikes for one year through the Americas from the Arctic to Ushuaia

Don't lose your Dreams by protecting your Days. Five years ago we decided to take a sabbatical year off from work to follow a dream to travel the Americas. Some people die of old age without ever having lived their dream. Some people die without ever having loved. That's tragic. We will talk about being together as a couple 24 hours a day for a year and living a remarkable adventure.

Don't be afraid and just do it. Few people do a big trip because they spend too much time to make their bikes safer, better, newer and time gets the best of them. Shit can happen but chances are that nothing will.

Heinz & Felicitas traveled for one year from Ontario through most of the countries of North, Central and South America. They rode on two bikes (BMW R100GS/PD and F650GS) for 57000 km.

Mark Carrera Kazakhstan and Life Choices - Not the Land of Borat

Kazakhstan and Life Choices - Not the Land of Borat

In fact, it's much better and more of an adventure. Mark Carrera, a world traveler, will give a presentation on adventures in Kazakhstan where he lived throughout the 1990's. His presentation will cover a little history, his travels from the Tien Shan Mountains to the Aral Sea, and what's currently going on in Kazakhstan's moto-adventure world. Mark will close his presentation with a very brief introduction to the GS Giants and a question and answer session.

Lastly, as an average-Joe rider and adventurer, Mark has maintained that no adventure is without risk but the media sours the pool with too much fear mongering. Plan on attending his Round Table discussion on safety and security while traveling abroad, or at home!

Miguel Arango & Diana Londono Despite the odds, we conquer the Dempster HWY

Full time jobs, parents, and only 2 weeks available to accomplish the dream of riding the top of the world HWY, the Dempster HWY, crossing the Artic Circle and spending the night in Inuvik.

We expect to show during this talk that despite a busy life, family responsibilities and time limitations itis possible to experience fascinating motorcycle adventures such as those advertised by specialized adventure companies or those done by experienced bikers who had ridden around the world.

Diana, a yoga instructor (800 GS), her husband Miguel, a full time anesthesiologist (1200 GS) and Jeff Van de Vooren, a financial advisor (Triumph 800), are amateur riders that embrace every little opportunity to ride to make it a big memory.

Oliver (Brokentooth) Solaro The Ice Road Biker and Namest-eh?

The Ice Road Biker

Take a motorcycle where it doesn't belong. Ask it to do what it was never designed for. Pray you get back.

Ten minutes after the first flake falls you can bet I've got trusty, rusty old Agatha studded up for yet another series of winter shenanigans. From salt streets of the GTA to the salt ice of Hudson Bay we ride the winter roads in temperatures cold enough to make brass monkeys go looking for a welder. The battery may not have any juice and the oil in Aggie's heart may be thicker than axle grease but come hell or hard water I've gotta get to the next settlement before dark pulls back another -40c night. Of course, if mamma polar bear and her hungry cubs catch wind of the 8 pounds of life giving butter and bacon in my rucksack, the point of all my machinations might just be moot.

"There are strange things done 'neath the midnight sun..." R. Service

Namest-eh?

Two Canucks travel to Nepal where the culture and landscape makes it clear they're "not in Kapuskasing any more Toto."

Landing in Kathmandu without a clue these two intrepid travellers go off in search of two small motorcycles that they hope to use to roam the Himalayas for a month. Along the way they experience a country's rebirth from the aftermath of last year's devastating earthquake. Its all more than they bargained for but while sipping hallucinogenic apple brandy to calm the effects of altitude sickness, they learn what it means to really "chill". At the end of it all, rather than sell the bikes they give them away as a thanks for the gift of experience given to them by this incredible country.

Dieter Eberhardt Newfoundland & Labrador - The Other Way Round

The most wonderful and most memorable experiences of my trip to Newfoundland and Labrador were the warm and friendly people that I met along the way. The challenging TransLabrador Highway, interesting side roads, and the spectacular scenery and some of the history and places visited are not to be missed. This presentation is a compilation of two trips , one done solo and a second several years later with my wife. Significant is that the Translabrador Highway was ridden clockwise and counter-clockwise once each trip but no ferry was taken from Sidney to Port aux Basques nor to Argentia.

At 16 inspired by Danny Liska, Dieter has been a BMW rider for over 50 years, last ten has put 100,000 km on his R1200GSA, twice in Africa, twice on the TransLab, The Dempster and Dalton and by rental motorcycle in South America to Ushuaia and a number of 'tame' trips around Canada and the USA.

Rick Schippling Northwest Passages - Solo and 2 Up Adventuring in Alaska

This is the story of a 15,000+ km ride over 6 weeks from Calgary to Fairbanks and back to Toronto. Hastily planned, meticulously documented, and beautifully photographed, it's a mix of stories and tips from the first 'big trip' of a relatively inexperienced rider. Half of the trip is solo and half is 2 up and there are reflections on both. It's a little bit of wilderness, a little bit of romance, and a lot of road.

Maps, best ofs, packing lists, and riding statistics come together to tell the story of how I went from a 'guy with a bike' to a 'rider' in 6 weeks.

Rick is an urban planner by trade, but an adventurer of different sorts over the past decade and a half. Although still a novice rider in his mind, he's ridden (in one form or another) in Cuba, Philippines, Sri Lanka, and across North America coast to coast.

Ross and Jean Copas To Russia With Bikes - Riding the Trans Siberian Highway from east to west and dispelling the myths

After forming a group of 6 to ride across Russia, we spent 2 years planning the trip but the information we were able to find was sparse and often contradictory. In the Fall of 2014, we completed the 12,000 km ride from Seoul, South Korea to Heidelberg, Germany and now have the real story first hand. Come and be prepared to be amazed by this mysterious land! Spasibo!

Ross: "Travel and motorcycling have been my two passions since I was a teenager so doing them together was natural. So far, I have travelled to over 100 countries and all seven continents and the road still beckons!"

Jean: "Started riding when the kid left home and the dog died. At 50, I became the first Canadian woman to complete the Ironbutt endurance rally which taught me how to shrink the map. But the map kept getting bigger and my husband and I have now travelled to over 100 countries."

Jeff Luttmer, Joe Enberg and Michael Fritz Three Amigos do the Trans Lab

Experience the excitement and adventure of our trek across The Rock and then over the barren lands of Labrador or what is also known as the loneliest road in the world, the TLH.
Learn from a pro rider and guide what you can expect and prepare for on this trip and how to make sure everyone comes back alive. Then hear from the rookie riders that at first thought "how the hell will I ever make it" to at the end "when can we do this again", change over as there level of confidence increased. Plus many more tips on things like riding with others that are better or worse then yourself to why it's good to go ahead with this anyway. Also learn some packing tips as to what gear needed for this trip.

Jeff Lutmer has been riding some 25 years and at first through most of Europe and now all over North America including a 52,000km trip to Alaska and then to Tierra del Fuego. He's a Road Captain with the CMC and mostly guide groups on long-haul trips across the USA.

Michael Fritz discovered adventure riding at a point in his life after a serious motorcycle accident on his cruiser and thinking of giving up riding. He fell in love (with adventure riding). "I've traveled 27 countries by backpack over the years. Now meshing my two loves and passion. The community is awesome as are the places I can now go."

Joe Enberg was involved in a wreck in 2014 that took him off his cruiser, then jumped into the adventure riding arena full-bore. The Trans-Lab Adventure was the first of many more to come.

Catharine St. Denis and Les Clarke No Agenda World Tour

Catharine and Les organized the very first HU Ontario meeting in a field near Barrie way back in 2012! Inspired by the stories they heard, they sold their house and business and headed off around the world, but with 'No Agenda'! They will talk about the No Agenda Style tour to date. Come and listen to the many things they have learned on the road, including how they work, their budget, and how they stay healthy.

No Agenda leaves lots of time for chilling!

Les and Catharine are currently on the road in South America. After 19 months of riding, they have decided to take a break, to work on a side project in Nicaragua. In June they will return home to update paperwork, visit family and attend a few events. Come Sept they will return to Arica Chile to continue the journey through South America.

Willem (Bill) Hooykaas, Asia Quest: Infamous Pamir Highway

Traversing the treacherous and volatile frontier between Afghanistan and Tajikistan after a devastatng earthquake.

In 2015, four GSs from Canada, Holland, the UK and Italy headed out unsupported from London to Vladivostok through the 'Stans along the northern edge of the Himalaya and China. Only two bikes made it home. Come hear the story from one of the survivors!

Bill is a: "Die hard BMW rider, over 1 million km ridden over the past 45 years. Discovered dual sport riding and the HU world 10 years ago and it opened up a whole new realm of adventure for me. Since then rode tip to tip in the western hemisphere and this past summer across Asia and back completing my RTW after 40 years of trying."

Lorant (Lorry) and Kelli Gombos Two up on Pamir Highway in Central Asia - Time travel to the post Soviet states

After spending our three years 'slightly extended' honeymoon in Taiwan, Kelli and I decided to ride across Asia to Europe. On one 10 year old Suzuki Vstrom 650. Wild camping, staying with random local folks, experiencing the communist 'feeling' and facing challenges on the road without a GPS were all part of this spontaneous and freestyle journey.

Kelli and Lorry have traveled on two wheels quite a lot around the world despite their young age (this passion is not age related anyways). Lorry has been riding for almost 2 decades and has always itched to go off the map, whether it be on a sports bike, dirt bike or big dual sport. Kelli has done most of their motorcycle adventures as a pillion.

Walter Romanowski and Jillian Henderson Colorado: Thin Air, Extreme Weather and Maximize Your Limited Time

Colorado: Thin Air, Extreme Weather

Jillian and Walter will share their experiences riding through Colorado and Utah in the Summer of 2015. Specifically, they will discuss how they handled altitude sickness, extreme desert heat and mountain cold. Come see some fantastic scenery and hear curious stories of adventures in the US South-West.

Maximize Your Limited Time

Jillian and Walter squeezed in three motorcycle trips in seven months while balancing work and family. Find out how they did it. If you find yourself challenged to make the time to get out on your bike, come out and see us. We will discuss our motorcycle trips to Florida, Arizona and Nova Scotia.

Jillian Henderson is entering her fifth season riding. She seeks out new challenges wherever possible. Jillian tries her best to eke out every chance to get a ride in, before work time, after work, even during work. All vacation time is motorcycle time.

Walter Romanowski is entering his sixth season. He loves the techie side of motorcycles. He is a proud gearhead. Traveling to new places with breathtaking scenery is high on his list of priorities.

Greg Powell and Bill Hooykaas, Two Ways Down

Tip to tip in the Americas. Two friends head out to Ushuaia in 2011, one rode solo, one with GlobeBusters. We'll discuss the pros and cons of each method, so bring your questions!

Grant and Susan Johnson, Horizons Unlimited How it all began. The story of Grant and Susan's 11-year trip around the world, without a plan or a clue!

Way back in 1987, before the Internet, two young and naive Canadians set out from Vancouver to ride around the world on a motorcycle. The plan (and budget) was for 3 years, but it didn't quite work out that way!

Shane Stoehr Design Your Own Gear!

Design Your Own Gear: an Introduction

Have fun learning about the design process and gain the confidence you need to complete your own product design journey.

Have an idea for a new overlanding or adventure product? Let's make it real! In this seminar, the leadership of Journeyman Products, an adventure-centric design service, will introduce the six­-step process used by successful product developers: Ideation, Research, Design, Modeling, Prototype, and Sharing. This introductory class will help you move your custom design from out of mind and into hand.

Adventure4Action–Support, Strive, Succeed (co-presented with Jim Bordell)

Adventure for Action helps people achieve their dreams of adventure while raising awareness for societal causes.

How do you combine your quest for adventure with your desire to campaign for a charitable cause? Adventure 4 Action will lay the groundwork and show you how to direct your ideas for a journey towards your chosen cause. In this presentation, we will review how A4A can help turn your adventure themed pursuit into a way to raise awareness, raise funds, and raise spirits to benefit your project's campaign.

Shane is the founder of Journeyman Products, a product design and prototyping company, as well as a founding member of Adventure 4 Action, a service that assists adventurers aiding worthy causes. He is a professional ski patroller, classic 4x4 enthusiast, and avid motorcycle adventure tourer.

Jim Bordell Adventure Travel Planning - get there!

Presentation will extensively cover travel planning from conception to completion including research, computation, preparation and execution

Want to get there but perhaps are daunted by the overland trip planning process? The Adventure Travel Planning presentation is bound to give you ideas on how to better plan your next journey. We will review the entire process from conception to completion.

This presentation will allow for plenty of self assessment on what your travel concept's purpose or destination will be. We will review different research methods and how you can compile all these bits into a logical travel plan. The final piece will be the preparation involved and the execution of your quest for adventure. Get there.

Adventure4Action–Support, Strive, Succeed (co-presented with Shane Stoehr)

Adventure for Action helps people achieve their dreams of adventure while raising awareness for societal causes. See above.

Jim has centered his life around adventure performing search and rescue, disaster response, and leading an active outdoor lifestyle. He is a founding partner in the Adventure 4 Action Fund, a program which assists adventurists aiding worthy causes. Jim has launched Overland Quest, an adventure travel planning and support business.

Ross and Jean Copas Packing for Zero to Sixty - Degrees!

Riding from the tip of North America through the heat of Central America to the tip of South America then sailing south to Antarctica required clothing to cover 70 degrees of fluctuation in temperatures and had to be small enough not to take up too much room. It also meant taking parts and tools that you wouldn't normally carry as well as reams of paperwork and documents. And the final challenge-fitting it all into two panniers to prevent theft.

We did it and we'll show you how. This will also be a great opportunity to share ideas so bring your favorite packing tip!

Wolfe Bonham Fly and Ride DIY, Making the Dream a Reality, Moto-Camping Tips and Hacks AND Going the Distance

Fly and Ride DIY - How to Arrive In-Country, Grab a set of Wheels, and Go!

Being prohibitively expensive to freight his motorcycle to SE Asia, this past winter Wolfe flew into Indonesia, then later to Thailand, where he rented a set of wheels to get around. This allows you the freedom to stop wherever you'd like, make your own itinerary, and get into some locations that may not have been available to you.

Making the Dream a Reality

For many of us the demands of work, family, mortgages, and societal pressures keep us from taking a leap of faith to step away from "normal life" and venture out on a "journey of a lifetime". In this talk Wolfe will walk you through how he was able to create a lifestyle that allows him frequent long term travel windows, along with all the planning and preparation steps he took in order to begin his semi-gypsy lifestyle.

Moto-Camping Tips and Hacks

From solo moto-camping in the jungles of Guatemala, to backpacking through SE Asia, these are some of the tips, tricks, and techniques that have helped me create a 'home away from home' while on the road. Learn about gear choices, what you can't live without, and what you can leave at home.

Going the Distance - An Introduction to the Iron Butt world

While RTW travel should be about taking your time, sometimes logging as many miles as possible in a day become a requirement. However, for some of us, it's just about the challenge of how far we can go - in one go!

Come learn from Wolfe about what it takes to log over 1600km per day, continually, over several days. Learn about bike mods, state of mind and focus, nutrition/hydration, route planning, and all the wonderful events that you can choose to compete in.

Check out this video of Wolfe on the AlphaButt 1000 - attempting to hit every letter of the alphabet city, in order, in under 24 hours!

A study in contrasts, Wolfe is a tattooed Motorcycle Rebel Horticulturist who travels the world investigating the outdoors, gardens, and flowers. Wolfe is always on the lookout for the next cultural experience, the next great garden, the next winding road, and the next stunning sunset...

Liz Jansen, Author, Speaker, Adventurer Ride, Write, and Publish

Ride, Write, and Publish

How to write about your travels so others will want to read it, what you need to know about photography and how to get your work published.

Learn how to capture your stories in words and pictures, so that others are intrigued and want to read them. Find out if you need a blog, best blogging practices and what it takes to get your work published.

Shattered Dreams - What to do when you hit a trip-interrupting detour

Last year Liz set out on what was to be a minimum one year trip through the Americas, learning about indigenous wisdom.Barely three weeks into the trip, she had an accident which injured her and totalled her motorcycle. Reluctantly, she returned to home base to recuperate and plan anew. Only home base was now different. She'd given up her residence, sold her car and now had no motorcycle.

This is a story about embracing change and seeing life's detours as part of the journey.

Jennifer Page and Adam Tworkowski A First Aid Kit for Mental Health?

Have you considered a maintenance checklist for your own mental health? While the topic of mental health may not be as sexy as packing lists or motorcycle modifications, sustaining good mental health is vital for peak travel experience.

Drawing from the highs and lows of traveling for nine months on the Trans-Continental Mambo Latin America tour, we will be recounting personal challenges to mental health - including homesickness, anxiety, depression, burnout and self-confidence issues - from several perspectives, and presenting the idea that regular mental health maintenance is as important as your motorcycle maintenance checklist.

Jennifer Page (Art Therapist) and Adam Tworkowski (IT Professional) are self-professed late bloomers to the motorcycling world. Not content on being an 'arm chair traveler' via Skype, Jenn got her motorcycle license in 2010 while Adam was on a solo Latin American adventure. In 2013 Jenn and Adam embarked on the Trans-Continental Mambo Latin American tour. It was Jenn's idea.

Clinton Smout, SMART Adventures Dirt is not just for potatoes! Practical demonstration of traction loss control in sand and gravel on large dualsport m/c.

I am a passionate rider who has taught rider training for over thirty years. I own an off road rider training school that includes curriculum for adventure touring / large dualsports. I am a BMW GS off road instructor and love helping fellow riders become more comfortable with their own m/c in challenging traction situations.

Initiating traction loss and then practicing how to control it is a great way to develop the muscle memory habits of handling traction problems on loose surfaces. I would also like to illustrate the best way to pick up a fallen m/c, how to mount and dismount a fully laden m/c, how to use your feet to steer a m/c.

I will be riding a BMW GS or a Yamaha Tenere. I will also suggest ways to setup your m/c for extended off road riding (tire pressure, bar and peg adjustment, shut off ABS and traction control etc.) Lastly, I would like to demo slow speed control, counter balancing, and tight turns.

Miguel Arango First Aid

As an amateur rider and with not much time to travel for long periods of time, I am always looking for time to my motorcycle. Unfortunately the risk of an accident is always present and almost for sure I will be the first on the scene. A good management of an accident can make a difference not only in the immediate survival but also in the medical prognosis.

This year, we will have an excellent group of physicians and paramedics talking about different first aid procedures that should and should not be done during an accident. It will include topics such as basic cardiopulmonary resuscitation, evaluation of consciousness, fracture stabilization, proper removal of the helmet between others.

We also will include topics around how to prevent illness during our travels, signs and symptoms of dehydration, gastrointestinal infections etc etc. Everything related to a good first aid kit will also be discussed: essential, necessary and optional objects.

Miguel is an amateur rider, originally from Colombia. He is an anesthesiologist with 20 years of experience and a main interest in Neuro-anesthesia. He shares his motorcycle passion and the love for the Canadian and Colombian countryside with his wife Diana.

Diana Londono Yoga for Motorcyclists

Yoga for Motorcyclists - Foundation (60 min talk & demonstrations)

Join me to learn the basic understanding of the importance of keeping proper alignment in your bike and how to build balance between strength and flexibility plus improving endurance. You will learn techniques to improve awareness and how to recover faster through YOGA, supporting your ride even beyond your destination.

From the bike to the mat. (90 min yoga practice)

As bikers we are enthusiasts; we ride matching the intensity of any perceived boundary, so let's use this intuitive desire for joy and freedom by working from our body to our rides, to our life. As you learn to connect deeper to your body your ride experience will be greater, softer in the body, clearer in the mind, attention sharpens, we respect our limits, we live in more connection within our self and with the beautiful environment that is given to us to enjoy and protect.

Recovery between bike rides is important to rest your mind, recharge energy and balance your body with strength and flexibility towards a wonderful journey. Improve your recovery time, sleep and circulation through an all around YOGA practice.

Diana is a certified Hatha yoga teacher. As an engineer and former nationally ranked athlete, she combines the qualities of commitment, organization and responsibility with creativity and compassion. Central to her teaching is her awareness of proper posture and alignment. The teachings of yoga have been a tool to prepare her better in enjoying her rides, a reminder that it is about the Journey, not the destination.

Andrew Pain, the Minimal Motorcyclist Anatomy of Cheap and Take Control of your Packing

Anatomy of Cheap

It's one of the most common questions overlanders are asked - "How do you pay for it?"
Starting with the choice to go, all the way through prep, planning, time on the road and returning home (if you ever do!), Andrew Pain walks you through how to budget for your long overland adventure.

Take Control of your Packing

Tired of being overloaded? What to carry (and what not to carry) on your motorcycle.
Andrew Pain has traveled all over North and South America, most of it on a small, 250cc motorcycle. In this class you will learn about luggage, how to pack your motorcycle for a long trip, as well as what to pack and what to leave behind.

Grant and Susan Johnson, Horizons Unlimited 4 Easy Steps to Overland Travel! You can do it - we can help! Finding your way around Horizons Unlimited, other resources. Lots of great pics and video clips.

"Grant and Susan Johnson are icons in the round-the-world (RTW) motorcycling community. The Johnsons host - or more appropriately write, edit, produce, manage and coordinate Horizons Unlimited - a global network of motorcycle travelers... and a bona fide adventure motorcycling phenomenon." Dan Hilton, Rider Magazine

This seminar will be an overview of 'How To' travel overland topics. Includes content from the Achievable Dream series and great pics from HU Photo Contest winners!

Grant Johnson, Horizons Unlimited Fix that flat! How to change a tire anytime, anywhere!

Grant's tire changing seminars are always well attended and appreciated. This seminar covers: how to prevent flats in the first place, and fix them when you get one; the best tools and how to use them for tube and tubeless tires; hands-on practical for beginners to experts, optional tire changing contest.

Grant's tire changing seminar at HU California meeting.

Grant Johnson, Horizons Unlimited Bike mods and ergonomics!

Grant will host a bike 'Show and Tell' - bring your bike and show us your favorite travel mods. Critique and discussion.

When you picked up your new bike, did they take the time to make it fit you? You'll learn the amazing difference a properly setup bike makes to your riding fun.

Ergonomics demonstration at HU Canada West meeting.