Go Back   Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB > Ride Tales, Trip Reports and Stories > 4 Wheels Travel Reports
How it used to be done How it used to be done
Register FAQ Calendar Today's Posts
4 Wheels Travel Reports Post your overland travel reports for a weekend trip or around the world. Please make the first words of the title WHERE the trip is. Please do NOT just post a link to your site. For a link, see Get a Link.
Photo by Alessio Corradini, on the Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia, of two locals

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Alessio Corradini,
on the Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia,
of two locals



Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 10 Jan 2011
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: J10 M40 UK
Posts: 362
How it used to be done
Just a link to a very interesting travel report from 1953 !

The Great 1953 Trek

If this isnt the right place please feel free to move
__________________
Current : 2007 Mowag Bucher Duro 6x6 Motorhome , 2006 Sedici 4x4, 2007 Range Rover supercharged
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 10 Jan 2011
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: cardigan,wales
Posts: 249
Fantastic! An excellent excuse not to go out into the garage (again) with the rain lashing down outside.
__________________
Just going for a short ride on my bike....
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 10 Jan 2011
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: UK
Posts: 1,232
just fantastic. showing that you don't need all that tat they sell you nowadays. a whole familly in an 80 inch land rover!
I think the 50s were the golden age of travel of this type, before the world got smaller and global corporations hadn't made everywhere look the same.
love the picture of waiting at Le havre for documents to be cleared, how times have changed!!
__________________
1990 Landcruiser H60. Full rebuild completed 2014
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 11 Jan 2011
farqhuar's Avatar
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Oztralia
Posts: 646
A great read, it brings back a lot of memories of my own ride across the Sahara in '78.

Yes that was 25 years after Diane's journey but it was also 33 years ago today but given her description of road conditions I suspect the experiences were more similar than they would be to a journey through the same area today.
__________________
Garry from Oz - powered by Burgman
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 11 Jan 2011
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Oxford UK
Posts: 2,116
It really makes me wish I'd kept more detailed notes of the early trips I did but there was very little interest in or outlet for such scriblings then - unless one had the writing talents of Ted Simon or the like.

I did like the bit about the French embassy saying that there should be a law against trying to do the trip without firearms. I wonder if that's still their position!
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 11 Jan 2011
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,598
How times have changed
quote "Still with the hope that we would get away in time, we travelled by train to London during the big smog to confirm with the Automobile Association that everything was in order and to check the clearance of firearms we wished to carry. The A.A. in turn passed us onto the French and Belgian Embassies. The French informed us it was quite in order to carry firearms, in fact there should be a law against trying to do the trip ahead of us without firearms; they thought them a definite necessity."

I used to carry my shotgun into the local post office each Saturday when I paid in to my savings account. The mile walk to the post office took me through good rabbit country
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 12 Jan 2011
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Oxford UK
Posts: 2,116
Yes, as they say "the past is a different country, they do things differently there". As a schoolboy back in the 60's, living on a farm in Essex I was given an old shotgun when the farm manager bought a new one. No one was concerned (although I did get a bit of a b*ll*cking when I shot one of the game birds).

My North London school had a rifle range in the grounds (used to train future soldiers of the empire in the cadet force) and the teacher in charge of it gave me one of the rifles when the bolt action mechanism developed a fault and it was due to be scrapped. He said it wouldn't take much to fix it!

More recently, the last time I passed through the Ceuta/ Morocco border the vehicle check consisted of looking at the paperwork and asking me if I was carrying any pistols (presumably he'd be able to spot a rifle on a motorcycle). Made me wonder how many do come through with guns.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 12 Jan 2011
Mehmet Zeki Avar's Avatar
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: istanbul
Posts: 755
unfortunately only the daughter of the family is alive and just received her reply for congratulating.
Always been a dream to realise such an adventure without any technology support.
heartful thanks for that nostalgy.Thanks and regards diane.

Re: the great 1953 trek
From:
Diane Stuckey <dianes356@yahoo.com>

View Contact
To: zeki avar <mrcolonel50@yahoo.com>

Many thanks and I wish you all the best for 2011. Diane
__________________
Mehmet Zeki Avar
''Borderlines divide countries,HU friendship finds a way to reunited"
https://www.facebook.com/mehmet.avar.12?ref=tn_tnmn
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 18 Oct 2011
silver G's Avatar
Gold Member
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: south Cumbria
Posts: 364
A lovely story, thanks for posting.
__________________
Chris
-----------------
"Never have a stupid argument with an idiot - he gets a lot more practice than you"
there I go again
not too hard really
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 5 Feb 2012
Registered Users
HUBB regular
  
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Scunthorpe
Posts: 25
Simply Fantastic!!
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 5 Feb 2012
Selous's Avatar
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: England
Posts: 437
Great find
Here is something simlar but via a bike Brough Superior SS100, Brough Superior, 1953 European Trip, Triumph Thunderbird, Triumph Motorcycles

look at the cost! lol
__________________
We are the Pilgrims, Master, we shall go Always a little further: it may be beyond that last blue mountain barred with snow, Across that angry or that glimmering sea.
Reply With Quote
Reply

« Previous Thread | Next Thread »

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 Registered Users and/or Members and 1 guests)
 

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On

 
 

Announcements

Thinking about traveling? Not sure about the whole thing? Watch the HU Achievable Dream Video Trailers and then get ALL the information you need to get inspired and learn how to travel anywhere in the world!

Have YOU ever wondered who has ridden around the world? We did too - and now here's the list of Circumnavigators!
Check it out now, and add your information if we didn't find you.

Next HU Eventscalendar

ALL Dates subject to change.

2025 Confirmed Events:

  • Virginia: April 24-27 2025
  • Queensland is back! May 2-4 2025
  • Germany Summer: May 29-June 1 2025
  • CanWest: July 10-13 2025
  • Switzerland: Date TBC
  • Ecuador: Date TBC
  • Romania: Date TBC
  • Austria: Sept. 11-15
  • California: September 18-21
  • France: September 19-21 2025
  • Germany Autumn: Oct 30-Nov 2 2025

Add yourself to the Updates List for each event!

Questions about an event? Ask here

See all event details

 
World's most listened to Adventure Motorbike Show!
Check the RAW segments; Grant, your HU host is on every month!
Episodes below to listen to while you, err, pretend to do something or other...

Adventurous Bikers – We've got all your Hygiene & Protection needs SORTED! Powdered Hair & Body Wash, Moisturising Cream Insect Repellent, and Moisturising Cream Sunscreen SPF50. ESSENTIAL | CONVENIENT | FUNCTIONAL.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

"Ultimate global guide for red-blooded bikers planning overseas exploration. Covers choice & preparation of best bike, shipping overseas, baggage design, riding techniques, travel health, visas, documentation, safety and useful addresses." Recommended. (Grant)



Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance.

Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance™ combines into a single integrated program the best evacuation and rescue with the premier travel insurance coverages designed for adventurers.

Led by special operations veterans, Stanford Medicine affiliated physicians, paramedics and other travel experts, Ripcord is perfect for adventure seekers, climbers, skiers, sports enthusiasts, hunters, international travelers, humanitarian efforts, expeditions and more.

Ripcord travel protection is now available for ALL nationalities, and travel is covered on motorcycles of all sizes!


 

What others say about HU...

"This site is the BIBLE for international bike travelers." Greg, Australia

"Thank you! The web site, The travels, The insight, The inspiration, Everything, just thanks." Colin, UK

"My friend and I are planning a trip from Singapore to England... We found (the HU) site invaluable as an aid to planning and have based a lot of our purchases (bikes, riding gear, etc.) on what we have learned from this site." Phil, Australia

"I for one always had an adventurous spirit, but you and Susan lit the fire for my trip and I'll be forever grateful for what you two do to inspire others to just do it." Brent, USA

"Your website is a mecca of valuable information and the (video) series is informative, entertaining, and inspiring!" Jennifer, Canada

"Your worldwide organisation and events are the Go To places to for all serious touring and aspiring touring bikers." Trevor, South Africa

"This is the answer to all my questions." Haydn, Australia

"Keep going the excellent work you are doing for Horizons Unlimited - I love it!" Thomas, Germany

Lots more comments here!



Five books by Graham Field!

Diaries of a compulsive traveller
by Graham Field
Book, eBook, Audiobook

"A compelling, honest, inspiring and entertaining writing style with a built-in feel-good factor" Get them NOW from the authors' website and Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk.



Back Road Map Books and Backroad GPS Maps for all of Canada - a must have!

Your ad could be here, on EVERY page of the HUBB, or the whole website, or as many as you like!

New to Horizons Unlimited?

New to motorcycle travelling? New to the HU site? Confused? Too many options? It's really very simple - just 4 easy steps!

Horizons Unlimited was founded in 1997 by Grant and Susan Johnson following their journey around the world on a BMW R80G/S.

Susan and Grant Johnson Read more about Grant & Susan's story

Membership - help keep us going!

Horizons Unlimited is not a big multi-national company, just two people who love motorcycle travel and have grown what started as a hobby in 1997 into a full time job (usually 8-10 hours per day and 7 days a week) and a labour of love. To keep it going and a roof over our heads, we run events all over the world with the help of volunteers; we sell inspirational and informative DVDs; we have a few selected advertisers; and we make a small amount from memberships.

You don't have to be a Member to come to an HU meeting, access the website, or ask questions on the HUBB. 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. Contributing Members and Gold Members do get additional features on the HUBB. Here's a list of all the Member benefits on the HUBB.



All times are GMT +1. The time now is 07:16.

Contact Us - Horizons Unlimited Motorcycle Travellers Website - Archive - Privacy Statement - Top