I couldn't disagree more. Yes there was a crowd of men peering through the doors wondering what they were talking about, but the session was obviously very popular with the women, and it's not on for the men to challenge their right to hold these sessions.

Tim

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"For sheer delight there is nothing like altitude; it gives one the thrill of adventure
and enlarges the world in which you live," Irving Mather (1892-1966)

To get back to the main reason for the thread, which was suggestions for future meets, I have had a bit of a brainstorm.

There was chat on the 'Thanks for the great meet.' thread about a second H.U. event later in the year. Some (like me) suggested the North, some prefered a meet in the south. Certainly a meet in Derbyshire would seem a bit 'samey' to do twice a year.

This North/South devide got me thinking. The Derbyshire meet is great, but the second meet doesn't have to be a facsimile somewhere else, we don't HAVE to have loads of talks and slideshows. We could just get together and share info. in the pub by the good old medium of conversation!

So to please the folks in the north and south why not make the second meet of the year a travelling meet? Maybe even a 'Lands End to John o'Groats' (or the other way round! A long weekend of four days down the best roads we can think of. Stopping in a particular campsite with pub each night and riding down together? You could call it 'The HU Grand Old British Ride Out' or something.
The beauty is people could join the ride out at any point they chose, for as long as they chose. It'd be like one of those monster Harley ride out they have in America (only quieter!).

Anyway, this may or may not be a good idea but thought I'd suggest it anyway!

Matt

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http://adventure-writing.blogspot.com

http://scotlandnepal.blogspot.com/

*Disclaimer* - I am not saying my bike is better than your bike. I am not saying my way is better than your way. I am not mocking your religion/politics/other belief system. When reading my post imagine me sitting behind a frothing pint of ale, smiling and offering you a bag of peanuts. This is the sentiment in which my post is made. Please accept it as such!

Nice one Matt! Now it just takes someone to put it together, but this forum can handle that, especially if, like me, folk don't want to be too organised.

There have been one-off HU meetings in the north of England in the past - details should be on other threads in here and your suggestion is a good extension of that development.

As for the off-thread, women-only meeting about whatever, was there a men-only meeting at Ripley and if not, then you have to wonder why not?

Dave

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Dave

Yep, I'd be happy to do a bit of research up my neck of the woods, and there's plenty of riders to suggest stop-offs and roads. Of course, you could simply stipulate stop-offs (overnight and say one during the day at lunchtime) and people could choose their own route.

Matt

__________________
http://adventure-writing.blogspot.com

http://scotlandnepal.blogspot.com/

*Disclaimer* - I am not saying my bike is better than your bike. I am not saying my way is better than your way. I am not mocking your religion/politics/other belief system. When reading my post imagine me sitting behind a frothing pint of ale, smiling and offering you a bag of peanuts. This is the sentiment in which my post is made. Please accept it as such!

How about extending that ride down to southern Spain and finishing up at a HU in Andalucia? It's in the process of being organised as we speak.

Hi

Just looking for feedback:
Have just spoken to a company regarding a first aid course to possible run at HU next year. Basically its a motorbike course that we'll design to apply to remote travel. It will be HSE certificate at the end of it. The course would be a 9 hour (one day course) and taught by medical trained bikers and expedition leaders/mountain rescue teams in groups of about 15-20 people. The cost has been negotiated to approx £60pp (depending on how much interest). They are also prepared to give a presentation on first aid kits/where there is no doctor etc.

Being from a nursing background it does look like a great course but would love any feedback before i run it past Grant.

Thanks

Becky

Matt,

Will be interesting to see what others say about your idea: it could be something akin to:-
Big Trail Bike (nothing to do with me BTW)

but with more emphasis on the UK rather than Europe, more impromptu in organisation and with camping as the main accommodation "theme"?

Dave

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Dave

It's an interesting idea Becky, but it does pre-suppose that it's not you lying on the floor under your bike with your leg bent back at a ridiculous angle. If you're lucky enough to be the uninjured member of a group, however...

I wonder if the other side: the dysentry, sting, bite, food poisoning, dehydration, fever, hypothermia etc. angles might be more pertinent to independent and potentially-solitary travellers of foreign lands. Is that a course or a book that's required?

My 2p

Should women talks be open to men?
- I can understand that for some women having men present would be embarassing, but equally some men will be interested in the talks either for their own information or possibly for their partners. We used to be embarassed about talking about condoms once but now it's OK - the barriers only get broken by talking about 'it'. Someone suggested that in the main these should be women only, but have at least one session which is open to men.

Should the inidividual tent pitches be marked out beforehand?
No - a nightmare to do, it simply wouldn't work. I think the best solution is for the 'meet and greet' volunteers to mention to people as they arrive the need to keep exit routes clear.

Should the showers be open earlier?
- Much as it would be nice, my understanding of this is that the pub dictate this not HU. They work hard enough and stay open late so I think it's unreasonable for them to also open early. We just need to respect their position on this.

Pets: Stay at home, add to roadkill cookout, tolerated?
- I think it should be made clear to pet owners before they register that pets are allowed but it's strictly 'one complaint and you're out'

Early morning drunken shinanigans. Just some fun or public nuisance!
- It can very quickly go from one to the other. If people are being loud and drunken, why not just ask them politely to be quiet? I think a 'quiet' area is a good idea.

Should scratch patch be donation free?
- yes, and no. There should be no obligation to donate, but a tin should be available for those who wish to do so. I know I'd feel bad about taking off the table if I had nothing to contribute to it, and I'd happily put something into a charity tin as an altruistic gesture in keeping with the ethos of the scratch table.

Should alternative catering be available eg massive BBQ?
- again, I think we need to respect the fact that the pub is serving food. They need that trade in order to make it worth their while hosting the event. I feel that the roadkill cookout already does plenty enough without adding a massive BBQ. Leave as is.


My own suggestions:

Many people found the timetable of events were too thinly spread out. The venue doesn't really allow many other places where these could be placed, so how about having an A4 photocopy available from some of the traders - or maybe left on the scratch table? I put my own name forward for arranging, artworking and financing this.

Assuming bad weather: I have access to a large number of pallets, but not to a van. If someone can pick these up from Cambridge we could use them to keep access ways and traders stands mud-free and they can be chucked on the bonfire at the end of the meeting.

Stand-pipe.
I felt this was hard for people to find and the access was not brilliant. The floor was constantly wet and I'm amazed the washing machine didn't get short-circuited given the amount of water poured on it. I'd suggest that a longer piece of pipe and perhaps a sign "water point in here" is all that would be needed.

My dear Saga

Nothing could be further from the truth! I dont want to force anyone to do anything. I am sorry youre not happy with an open society free from division, but I cant help you there. You'll have to work on that yourself.

No, I only want to discuss issues freely, but I get the feeling that you lean towards suppression. I hope I'm wrong there!

But I'm glad you agree with me in general terms - I'm happy with that! And one thing is beyond dispute - your TDM is very tidy.........

Buen viaje!!!

Nice idea Becky
But if it meant missing a lot of talks then perhaps the take-up would be minimal? 9 hours is a big chunk of time on the weekend.

I may be wrong but I also think it's a great idea - go for it!!

No man. I'm recognising the simple fact that most UK women would prefer not to discuss certain things in front of unfamiliar men and completely respecting their wishes.

This HUMMS idea looks so interesting - it's not competitive, it's free spirited and independent, there are few rules. AND because its on existing dirt tracks it doesnt stuff up the environment.

Its a terrific idea!!!

Buen viaje!!!

Who would have thought that there'd be so many storms in this little tea cup!

The Women's only talk was mirrored by a Men's only talk in a previous year.
So - both genders benefitted.
I like the suggestion of just renaming the talks for next year - make it unmistakable what the content is, possibly having the closed first session as earlier suggested (good plan!) and then an open second session.

The ethos of the Scratch Patch - since I was the one who suggested it and set it up - was a no strings, no cash, give and take idea. Those that have stuff to give - do, and those that need it - take it.
The idea was to do something that was moneyless, for once.
Charity collections should be separate.

Camping chaos can definitely be avoided by marking up access routes to the tops of the fields that are no-pitch areas.
I'm not sure about quiet zones... what will you do with the snorers? (put them with the naughty dogs?)

Matt - great idea about the roving meet!!

Could you rove it on over to Oz for me?

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Basically any first aid is subject to you not being stuck under a bike!
Having just finished a tropical medicine course, I had so many questions from friends at HU about stuff, I thought it would be nice to cover these diseases in a talk for all to hear - i promise it will be more than Immodium for dystentry!