Horizons Unlimited Travellers' Meetings

Want to know what people thought of last years Meeting? Is it worth coming to the Meeting?

"I'm so looking forward to another UK meet. My only problem is that I simply can't get to every talk I want, such is the amount of terrific presentations on offer. Each year I've been astonished at how articulate, intelligent, informative and entertaining the speakers are. I'm willing to help with anything that doesn't keep me from a talk - and my timetable will be full to bursting!" More comments here.

Important!

Registration is limited! So to be sure you get in and avoid disappointment, get your registration and payment in early!

We really don't want to turn anyone away, but more importantly we want to be sure of having a great meeting - and overcrowded facilities will be no fun for anyone. Please be patient and bear with us - and them - as we all try very hard to bring the best possible meeting to as many as possible.

There will be slide shows and talks Friday and Saturday and possibly Sunday too - come early and make it a great weekend! We recommend planning on riding Friday morning and Sunday afternoon, and leaving time for Seminars all day Saturday.

See you there!

• Pre-Registration
  
  
  • Pre-Register to attend the Meeting
    
    
  • Present YOUR travel adventure!
    
    
  • Present YOUR Tech Clinic - good at something of interest to motorcycle Travellers? Please do a Tech Clinic for us!
    
    
  • Vendors! Register here
    
    
  • Press! Magazine, newspaper, TV, radio etc with credentials, Register here
    
    
  • Please Volunteer to help out! Odd jobs, registration, gate, etc. Just 2 hours of your time, and it's a great way to meet people! Register on this page and tick Volunteer box, OR here if you have already registered and want to add volunteering.
    
    
• Meeting Location - Where is it?
• Camping on site
• Other Accommodation
• Information about the area
• Membership
• Rides
• Local hosts, information

How you can help - put up a few posters! 2012 poster available! Please post it everywhere!

The Plan

The plan is simple. Show up on Friday afternoon, (NOT earlier, sorry) meet people and setup. Travel Presentations and Tech seminars are planned from Friday evening.

2012 Speakers and Tech Seminars (in progress, details asap):

Inspiration

Speakers will be listed here as we put it all together! There will be loads to inspire you!

• Belle Sinclair and Nadsicles
  • To China on Shit Bikes
    A scooter trip from London to China to see how far we could get!

• Zebb from Motoloco
  • Paperwork for the 'stans, and latest Tajikistan update!
    The 'stans are well know for tricky paperwork, if you're heading that way this is a must see.

• Colin and Dee Masters
  • Preparation & planning for that big trip, and all the pitfalls on the way! (Mostly learned the hard way)
  • Colin and Dee have ridden around the world, and have been on extensive trips to Australia, Asia, Africa and Europe two-up on an 1150GS.

Colin and Dee in NE Turkey, enjoying a good road!

• Simon Chegwyn
  • India / North America, UK - India 2009, North America 2008, Japan - ongoing!
    Simon is 40, single, no kids and has a permanent wanderlust.
    "He is now happily traveling until things change and needs to rerturn to 'normal' living. Previous travels include Europe, North America, Southern Africa, NZ and India more times than he can remember - He's been extremely lucky enough to have lived there off and on for quite some time - and loves it! The ride around the States in 2008 was as a result of friends (from Delhi) getting married in San Diego. Suffice to say he bought a 1982 GL500 in single seat spec - via ebay (HIS girlfriend was going to ride pillion - problem #1 - in Michigan and once all registered and worked out set off. The trip lasted a couple of months. The ride to India was in 2009 and he rode a 650 Transalp and his friend an Indian spec Bullet - he made it to Turkey! Again, another superb trip. Currently cycling and train journey around Japan before returning to UK... He then leaves for NZ in Oct - cycle trip around both Islands before returning to India and volunteering for a fantastic charity (www.asha-india.org) for as long as his visa lasts. From there who knows? Maybe Australia (not cycling!) and work his way to the UK. Then? An MT350 to Cape Town? It all depends on health, wealth and happiness!"
    

Simon at the famous Bonneville Salt Flats, USA

Northern Turkey

• Feargal O'Neill
  • Carl Stearns Clancy Anniversary Run
    Carl Stearns Clancy was the First Person to Ride a Motorcycle Around the World; You can join in the Clancy Centenary Run 2012!

Clancy at the beginning

• Simon Jarratt
  • 52 Not Out, Oz and NZ in a UK camper
    "After several years exploring Europe's quieter areas and approaching the Big 50 we decided in 2009 to ship our trusty VW camper to Auckland for a year in NZ. Leaving almost no corner untouched we then crossed the Tasman to experience the contrasting vastness of Australia with another year on the road meeting amazing people, visiting iconic landmarks and discovering the hidden gems that really make a trip. Now back in the UK another major venture is planned - the question is: the Americas or Asia - suggestions please!"

  
  Aussie wildlife hits the road!
  

• Graham Field (flid)
  • "Budget Overlanding. Dispelling the myth that only the privileged and those who lead a charmed life can do a trip. Keeping the challenge and avoiding the endurance test. Well this is how it worked for me!"
  • Graham says:
    • "A Bit about me.
      • From back pack to bicycle to motorbike and always on a budget, after a quarter centry of travel I'm beginning to get it figured out. I like to go away just long enough so that coming back is a joy. My definition of 'Marta' is 'not having a bacon sandwich' because everyone wants a bacon sandwich really, deep down inside, the smell, the taste, it's a universal craving. Even experienced by Rabbis and vegetarians, probably. And the best one I ever tasted comes out of my own kitchen. When palm trees or snowy mountains, extravagant architecture and ancient history lose their wow factor, it's time to go home for a bacon sandwich, enjoyed with a greater world knowledge and with a new appreciation for the simple things. Until once again the freedom of the road beckons with renewed enthusiasm, when targets and dates are reached and work clothes are put away and the passport is taken out.
    • A Bit about my trip.
      • Reflections can be distorted, through an open visor into an open mind I saw things as they appear for that second in time as I passed by. Pumping water from the communal village well, gathering a wandering herd on an endless Mongolian steppe. You can't buy experiences like that, you can only witness them, appreciate them and keep them with you. It's the joy of my budget travel, having the time to take it all in and gaining fulfilment of such simplicity. Thankfully I can buy my happiness on a modest budget."

I think he's going to get wet...

That looks like a very very dry desert... I wonder why?

• Cynthia Milton
  • How to bodge your way around the planet using duct tape, cable ties and cheap flip-flops. And, obviously, a big hammer.
  • Cynthia rode her R80G/S aroundf the world, and learned a few things along the way!

Cynthia's G/S in a rainforest "Little Chef"

Cynthia - Disaster in Patagonia. Where's the hammer?

• Women only
  A VERY popular session - It's a must for the ladies, so plan on being there!

• Ask the Experts!
  Panel Session! Still have a nagging question or two? Want to ask, but not sure who? There will be a panel session to get all those last details covered - ask anything at all! MOST of them we'll answer...

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 etc., lasting 20 minutes or more, would be great. Please contact me here to volunteer.

Videos to give you a flavour of what you can expect...

Important!

There are two rooms for presentations, so there will be often be TWO shows happening simultaneously, so you can pick and choose what you watch. We will do a few popular shows twice.

There will also be Breakout sessions, which anyone can call! We'll have signup sheets for breakouts, just grab a sheet and list what subject you want to talk about and where and when, and people can sign up and meet you there! Sessions can be during dinner, or over breakfast or meet at someone's bike, whatever, it's up to you.

There will be slide shows and talks Friday and Saturday night, as well as all Saturday morning and afternoon, and possibly Sunday too, (see the schedule, come early and make it a great weekend! We recommend planning on riding Friday and Sunday, and leaving time for Seminars all day Saturday.

The HU Travel Bike Show!
Free to enter, open to all bikes.

Prizes for:

• Most Unsuitable
• Most Stickered
• Best Modification
• Most Travelled

Shine it up - or perhaps get it dirtier... and show it off Saturday afternoon - details at registration.

Money Market!
Bring your unused foreign currency:

- get it exchanged with others in readiness for your next trip!
- or donate it to Motorcycle Outreach

Further details about the Money Market will be given on arrival at the Meet.

See the Schedule here

Rideouts

Charity Draw

2012 Charity is Motorcycle Outreach, through the sale of raffle tickets and the generous donation of prizes from all the vendors on site and from afar. If you'd like to donate a prize for the charity raffle, please contact Charlotte below.

Motorcycle Outreach does much the same as Riders for Health, but in Indonesia! :)

Draw will be held at 6:30 pm on Saturday, and numbers will be matched to prizes. Prizes will be available to pick up from 7 pm Saturday until noon Sunday, so no need to be there to win!

Camping

Camping is INCLUDED in your registration fee.

NO 4 wheeled vehicles in the main camping field, too much damage to the grass, and too crowded, so there is an area specifically for you.

Showers - limited but adequate showers are available in the main building

Wi-Fi - none.

Barbecues
NO barbecues, fires etc. in the camping fields AT ALL!

Camp STOVES OFF the ground are fine.

Water

Yes, on site.

Dogs - Due to a particularly noisy dog in '07 at Ripley, there will be no dogs allowed to camp in the main camping areas at all. VERY sorry we have to do this, but there were a lot of complaints, and understandably so, about a dog barking all night, so we're forced into this restriction.

Children - the organizers have come to the conclusion that this is not a suitable event for children. Safety concerns have been raised, especially with folks riding around on motorcycles, not always sober! Some of the presentations are absolutely inappropriate for kids, and yet their parents brought them along anyway! It is not fair to the presenters (or the audience) to expect them to censor themselves so that children can attend talks that are intended for an adult audience, and we could run afoul of child protection legislation. So, IF you wish to bring your kids along, YOU must sign a waiver on the day taking FULL responsibility for kids under 16 (and 14+ year olds will pay full adult price). NO children admitted to talks after 9pm.

Equipment for Sale

There will be a pin board for you to post equipment, bikes etc. for sale.

Free stuff - A Scratch Patch

Travel Vendors

Vendors sign up here to join us!

To be Confirmed:

• Stahlkoffer Bespoke motorcycle panniers and accessories as well as motorcycle clothing
• Touratech UK, the adventure travel specialists - everything for your bike!
• Traveldri-Plus, motorcycle travel and camping goodies specialists
• Two Wheel Trekkers, Jesse Luggage Europe
• Zen Overland Off-road and adventure equipment for overland motorcycles

Overall Schedule (not Seminars and clinics)

Friday

NO entry before noon Friday.

 

Registration

Registration will be CLOSED when we fill up at 250 people. Check back here to be sure we're full.

Admission pricing (for PAID pre-registration):

Register and PAY before August 15, 2012, admission is £40.
After August 15 the price is £45.

At the door, IF space is available, admission is £50 including camping.

Friday ONLY £25 at the door, no camping.
Saturday ONLY £30 at the door, no camping.

Entry fee includes admission to the slide shows on Friday and Saturday night and Sunday am, and other events during the day every day. Camping is also included in your entry fee for Friday and Saturday night.

Accommodation other than camping, and meals are NOT included.

Please PRE-BOOK by filling in the form below and click the "Count me in" button below it.

NOTE: Use one form per person - Everyone must register! Vendors see here, Presenters see here.

Option 1. Pay by PayPal

a. You will shortly receive an e-mail confirmation. Check to ensure the details are correct. If you don't receive an e-mail confirmation within a few minutes, it means your e-mail address wasn't correct, (or the Internet has eaten your e-mail). Try again. A human being will actually get a copy of the e-mail, and we promise we won't sign you up multiple times. ;-)

b. After you have filled in the form and submitted it, you will have an opportunity to pay by . Please be careful calculating the amount, the form isn't that smart yet!

OR:

Option 2. Pay by cheque

a. You will shortly receive an e-mail confirmation. Check to ensure the details are correct. If you don't receive an e-mail confirmation within a few minutes, it means your e-mail address wasn't correct, (or the Internet has eaten your e-mail). Try again. A human being will actually get a copy of the e-mail, and we promise we won't sign you up multiple times. ;-)

b. PRINT THAT EMAIL (or write out the important bits by hand if you don't have a printer) and MAIL it with a check (in GBP or Euros)

made payable to Horizons Unlimited, and mail to:

Grant Johnson,
Suite 621
24 St. Leonards Road
Windsor, Berkshire SL4 3BB
UK

Membership - Show you're proud to be a Horizons Unlimited Traveller!

T-Shirt Deal

You can help!

If you have a few minutes, please download the poster (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...")

Poster in PDF format (380kb) full colour 2012 poster.

Thanks for the help!

The Meeting Location

Fernhill Farm,
Cheddar Road,
Compton Martin
Bristol, Avon
BS40 6LD

http://www.fernhill-farm.co.uk/

Camping IS included in your entry fee!

Getting There - GPS, Maps

Other Accommodation Possibilities

Please contact the Lead Organizers Gabe and charlotte Bolton (see below) and they will be able to give you all the information you'll need.

Information about the area

 

See you at a meeting this year!

Grant and Susan