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, or even around the world! Admit it, all your 'normal' friends and most of your family fears for your sanity! So, this is your opportunity to meet the people who will encourage you in that craziness, share their experiences and advice on how to do it, and maybe you'll meet them again in Mongolia or Timbuktu!
Freixo de Espada à Cinta, Portugal, September 19-21, 2008
The plan is simple. Show up on Thursday or at the latest Friday afternoon, meet people and setup. Travel Presentations and Tech clinics are planned throughout the meeting, starting Thursday night.
2008 speakers so far:
TurKeyXpedition - presentation by Rui Santos and Cristophe Ferreira of their trip from Paredes to Aydin in Turkey and back
Até ao Fim do Mundo – presentation by Carlos Azevedo (Carlos has been travelling RTW in several legs and manages to have time to present his trips in HU Meetings every year - thanks Carlos).
First Aid for motorbike riders - Presentation by Anatilde Ramos (Certified Nurse from INEM)
Riding Gear for motorbike riders – Presentation by José Fonseca (Spidi and Arai Agent for Portugal)
Today Adventure – Tricks and bits necessary to depart in long trip with a small 50cc scooter – Presentation by José Paulo Matias
More to be announced...
how about you?? Let us
know if you have something to show! Volunteers wanted for these and any other subjects you'd like to talk about! It's easy
and fun, and we'll help you out.
September 21st (Sunday)
Tour in the area
2007 speakers were:
The Achievable Dream
Grant and Susan Johnson, Canada Learn from Horizons Unlimited's founders and 11 year round-the-world veterans everything you need to know to ride to the next country or the next continent. Sound scary? Get the inspiration and information so YOU can hit the road! In two parts: 10-12 and 1-3PM.
Fix that flat! How to change a tire anytime, anywhere
Grant Johnson, Canada
How to prevent flats in the first place, and fix them when you get one. Grant's changed thousands, and will show you all the secrets to make it easy. The best tools and how to use them for tube and tubeless tires. Hand's on practical and tire changing contest for beginners to experts!
Prep your bike for the long trip!
Grant Johnson, Canada
Is your bike ready for long distance travel? Grant will conduct a hands on assessment and discussion of bike set up and prep, looking at YOUR bike.
Photo Composition for Travellers
Grant Johnson, Canada
The one everyone SHOULD take, but no one does... We all want to take great photos of our trip - so why don't we? This easy clinic will transform your photos from boring to fabulous! There may also be an advanced class if enough interest - bring 10 photos on a USB key or SD card for discussion.
Riding Gear - what works and what doesn't
José Fonseca, Portugal,
Sponsored by SPIDI.
Portugal goes to the USA!
Henrique Araújo, Portugal,
The adventures and misfortunes of Portuguese bikers in the US
First-Aid for Motorcyclists
Anatilde Ramos, Portugal,
The more common injuries suffered by bikers, how to avoid them and how to act in the unlucky event of suffering one
Around the World!
Carlos Azevedo, Portugal,
Até ao fim do mundo (RTW in several legs)
Orienteering
Filipe Elias, Portugal,
Everything you need to know about orienteering (in Portuguese)
South American journey
João Pedro and Américo Cardoso, Portugal,
From Buenos Aires to Ushuaia
how about you?? Let us
know if you have something to show! Volunteers wanted for these and any other subjects you'd like to talk about! It's easy
and fun, and we'll help you out.
There will be slide shows Friday and Saturday night, so come early and make it a great weekend!
Rideouts
Rideouts - will be limited to 10 people per ride per group.
Ride and Boat trip on the Douro River, register on the day.
Schedule
All times - and everything - approximate!
An up-to-date schedule will be posted at the Meeting.
Thursday morning
Hang out or go for a ride! There's plenty of amazing on and off-road riding in the area.
Friday
CHECK-IN and sign up! You MUST be registered to go on a ride or entry to any events, clinics etc.
Friday night
18:00h Official Opening of the meeting/Registration
19:00h Dinner at a local restaurant
21:00h
TurKeyXpedition - presentation by Rui Santos and Cristophe Ferreira of their trip from Paredes to Aydin in Turkey and back
22:30h Até ao Fim do Mundo – presentation by Carlos Azevedo (Carlos has been travelling RTW in several legs and manages to have time to present his trips in HU Meetings every year - thanks Carlos).
Saturday morning
10:00h Boat trip in the Douro International Park
Saturday Lunch
noon-ish! :) Feed yourself... or join us for lunch in a local restaurant
Saturday afternoon,
Rideouts
14:30h First Aid for motorbike riders - Presentation by Anatilde Ramos (Certified Nurse from INEM)
16:30h Riding Gear for motorbike riders – Presentation by José Fonseca (Spidi and Arai Agent for Portugal)
Tech Clinic, see above for what, times posted on the day. If you want to volunteer to lead a clinic or breakout session, on any appropriate topic, please contact us. We have had lots of interest in clinics, ranging from 30 minutes to several hours, on subjects from GPS to packing lists to tire changing.
Saturday evening,
18:30 sharp, barbecue! Barbecue dinner (by the river side)
20.30h Today Adventure – Tricks and bits necessary to depart in long trip with a small 50cc scooter – Presentation by José Paulo Matias
22.30h To be announced (Share your trip with us!)
Sunday
Breakfast in town
Head for home, hang around and chat, or head out for a last ride!
I hope everyone enjoys the meeting, and wish you a great journey home.
Antonio
Membership - Show you're proud to be a Horizons Unlimited Traveller!
Just to clarify the membership situation: Currently there is no requirement to be a member to access the website, the HUBB or
to receive the monthly e-zine. For now, what you get for your membership contribution is our sincere gratitude, good karma and
knowing that you're helping to keep the motorcycle travel dream alive.
We will also upgrade your status in the HUBB to Member. In addition to recognising your contribution through your status,
this will allow you to upload a custom profile picture and custom avatar, store more private messages, upload more pictures
(10 MB maximum storage) and create polls.
Another benefit we can provide is if you decide you want a t-shirt, mug, fleece jacket or other Horizons logo product from the
Souk, you can purchase Member logo products at the basic price. Just let us know and we can arrange access to the Members Private
Store.
You can help!
If you have a few minutes, please download one of these
two posters - (Adobe pdf format) and print off a few and hand
them round your club or your local bike shop or anywhere seems like a good place.
(You may need to right click and choose "save
target as...")
Na Praia fluvial da Congida, em Freixo de Espada à Cinta
Freixo de Espada à Cinta is located about 80K south from Bragança in the right bank of Douro River. It is located in the border line with Spain.
The area has great roads to ride a bike. Good tarmac, lots of curves and a landscape with plenty of medieval villages, roman roads, pre-historic drawings in the stones and impressive natural park with eagles, vultures, hawks and other species.
We’ll have the chance to make a two hour boat trip in the Douro River that will present a good opportunity to see and to photograph pre-historic engravings in the stones, Vultures, Eagles, Falcons and other species inhabitants of the Douro International Park, classified by UNESCO.
Other Accommodation Possibilities
For those that may prefer a proper bed to the sleeping bag there are some apartments to rent on the area. The prices are:
70€ for 2PAX
80€ for 3PAX
90€ for 4PAX
Note: the apartments only have two beds so any other occupant must sleep on the sofa
António Caldeira is the organizer for this event. Thanks António! If you want to help make this an even better event, please contact
António. He could use some assistance!
If you have any questions, he can be contacted here:
António Caldeira
Rua Marques de Oliveira, 22 - 1º
4250-280 PORTO
Check out the Books pages for Travel books and videos. Remember if you go to Amazon from our books page, we get a small percentage of every purchase.
Thanks!
Grant and Susan
Editors note:
We accept no responsibility for any of the above information in any way whatsoever. You are reminded to do your own research. Any commentary is strictly a personal opinion of the person supplying the information and is not to be construed as an endorsement of any kind.
