HU Travellers Meeting Maritimes 2014

Paul Mitcheltree Riding The Himalayas to Leh - Riding the Enfield Bullet over some of India's highest pass roads

"In 2000 I took an escorted tour with 7 Germans from the Kullu valley to Leh. We crossed 6 mountain passes up to 17,300 ft and rode the old style Enfield Bullet 500 bikes. The 21 day return trip to New Delhi was an amazing excursion on very interesting bikes in an area of India/Kashmir that has changed little. It is called Little Tibet and has wonderful people and some of the best unpaved high road scenery you will see anywhere."

Paul has been riding since 1968, NS to Alaska trip 1998, Trans Lab hwy 1999, India Himalayas ( Enfield Bullet) 2000, Colorado 2003, James Bay by route du nord 2005, Perth to Queensland 2011. Cameraman and grip on various films. Rode a BMW R11RS on most trips above, now own a DR650.

Willem (Bill) Hooykaas, Finding Colorado Ghost Towns - Some of the best off road riding in the Americas can be found in the US.

"Come see why I take a few weeks nearly every year to explore the back roads and trails of the Colorado high country. It can be a gruelling ride, so be prepared, mechanically, physically, mentally and of course have the KSAs to come out in one piece!"

Bill Hooykaas has logged well over 1 million kilometers on BMWs, riding the length and breadth of the Americas, all over Europe, parts of Africa and Asia. His next adventure will be riding from Japan to Europe through Russia and the Stans in 2015!

Terry Burt Two Wheels Through the Big Land - A documentary on riding the Trans Labrador Highway

A condensed version of Bigland Adventure Films "Two Wheels Through the Big Land" a five part web series on riding through Newfoundland and across the now famous Trans Labrador Highway. Join Terry Burt and Peter Oxley, two middle-aged family guys trading their normal lives for one of adventure on a ten day kitchen pass, covering 4200km through Newfoundland and Labrador by motorcycle.

Terry: "I am a 45 year family guy with a craving for motorcycle adventure. My ten day trip over the Trans Labrador Highway was my first adventure which was filmed and edited by myself and Peter Oxley for the "Two Wheels Through the Big Land" web series on Youtube and Vimeo."

Peter Bodtke, Clockwise around South America The Roads Less Traveled: My Latin America Sampler

After deciding to head down to South America, Peter thought it would be a great idea to go against the flow and head south down the east side of South America. On the way home, he was also struck by the excellent idea of riding the Stalhratte to Jamaica and Cuba which was an adventure by itself.

Oyapock River from Saint-Georges, French Guiana to Oiapoque, Brazil.

Yungas Road (the Death Road) Bolivia

Philip White My most excellent adventure! Nova Scotia to Ushuaia, emphasis on South America

A trip from Nova Scotia, Canada to Fin Del Mundo, end of the world in Ushuaia with more of an emphasis on the South American section

Phil says: "I'm a 66 year old would be world traveller who has managed a start on my dreams. In 2012/2013 I travelled from Nova Scotia to Ushuaia and back up to Brazil where my ride ended. Waiting to see what the future will bring!"

David Allen, UK Highlights of a RTW and the Trans Canada Adventure Trail

Highlights (and lowlights) of a RTW

Having being medically discharged from the Royal Navy in 2005, David watched the Long Way Round Series and decided that he would like to do something similar. In 2009 he left London, UK to ride around the world on a Yamaha XT660 and whilst in the USA decided to include South America in the journey. After 36 countries and a year later he returned home.

A quick year in the UK was followed by 8 months in Buenos Aires and then by a 'bovine' shortening whilst part way through a circumnavigation of South America.

The Trans Canada Adventure Trail

In 2013, David was studying in Halifax and needed a way of venting the frustrations associated with being a mature student. He recruited an experienced off road rider from the UK and they departed from St Johns, heading west into the vast and beautiful expanse of Canada. "The route and weather at times made the journey challenging and the aim of the presentation is to convey the highs and lows that were experienced. Actually there weren't any lows. Just a conveyor belt of great enjoyment."

Willem (Bill) Hooykaas, A-Z of Overlanding

All you need is money, time, skill, and a sense of adventure!

"I had several years of riding under my belt when I set out on my first adventure way back in 1974 on my second BMW, a 1974 750/6 that I bought new in Rotterdam after finishing school. This was a road bike, but my touring 750cc choices back then were either a BMW, a Moto Guzzi, a Norton or a Royal Enfield Interceptor (remember those?). Then there were only two tour companies conducting bike tours in Europe: Von Thielmann and Bob Beach. I couldn't afford either one so decided to simply head out on my own until my money ran out and see what happened. I had no plans, experience or itinerary.

Bill Hooykaas then and now

Today, I have well over 1 million kilometers on BMWs. I have ridden the length and breadth of the Americas, all over Europe, parts of Africa and Asia. But there is still more to see, so my 2015 overland adventure is riding west from Japan, through Russia, Mongolia, the 'Stans, Moscow, Poland and back to Europe with 4 other riders. Hopefully this talk will not only feed your desire to explore those roads less travelled but also assist you in preparing and avoid some of the pitfalls I have encountered.

This multi-part series of talks will not be definitive or maybe not even how others would do it, but it will be my small contribution to encourage you to realize your dreams. I hope you come, enjoy and bring your questions."

Madeline Velazquez, Boston to Panama and back Fears, overcome them, how?

Are the jitters holding you back from venturing out alone for a long motorcycle ride? Learn what it takes to overcome that fear.

Many ask, "aren't you scared?" Learn what it takes to find the courage to venture out alone on your motorcycle and ride thousands of miles without support. Learn how to overcome the fear of being alone on the road with your best friend, "your motorcycle". I will also share some of the ups and downs of a ride through Central America, is it better to ride alone or with a group? A female solo rider in the United States riding from the cold island of Newfoundland to the Florida Keys. I'll share the experience and reaction of people when they see me with my bike fully loaded so far away from home alone.

My first major ride was from Boston to the Panama Canal round trip. Everyone kept telling me not to go because of the dangers to a female solo rider. I did not listen and completed my 15,000 mile round trip motorcycle ride in 60 days. This ride created a deeper thirst for extreme riding. What will quench MissRIDER's thirst? Perhaps a RTW tour scheduled for 2017!!

Craig Cairns First on Scene Medical Care

What do you do when you're the first on the scene of a wreck when you're far out in the boonies and there's no doctor for miles around?  A presentation on the best approaches to provide care for injured riders, including proper helmet removal.  This clinic will also focus on injuries that can be expected and how to mitigate risks to ensure that the patient makes the best recovery.

  

Craig Cairns - Photo by Kelsow - RideAtlantic.ca

Craig is a Nova Scotia Intermediate Care Paramedic with 18 years experience providing Emergency Medical Care and First Response.

Craig Cairns What's in your First Aid Kit?

What should you be carrying in your First Aid kit?  This discussion will include what the basic necessities are to care for yourself day to day and what you might need to help yourself and others who may need your assistance on the road.  How to build a fully functional kit to maximize space, and dollars!