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
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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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*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

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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

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?

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!

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!!

I have done one before but repetition is the best way to rememeber.. I.E.. I would be interested!

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I would very much like to do this, whether wrapped up in a HUUK or separately.

First aid idea is excellent. Agree with above comments that maybe the 9hr training should be done seperately as it will eat into other presentation times.

Maybe have an away weekend specifically for this training course where anyone interested gets together at an agreed venue/camp site whereever and does the course over 2 days.

I'm sure a presentation on all the most common travellers bugs you can get and basic remedies per continent would be very well attended at the HU Meeting; or a breifing on some of the really gross nasties that you could come across; or all the diseases that are spread by flying insects (that will keep you busy for hours); or the contents of a travellers First Aid bag. Also just finished working through "Travel medicine for Health Professionals" and it is terrifying how many things can get you out there...forget about the big five, rather be worried about the little five

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Errr No ... a 1 day course is not long enought for remote area care... that is a 3 day course here .. I've already email grant with this but ..

Get them to do a 'sales' presentation - 1 hour .. cover
helmet removal (you need 3 people - the victum err patient, and two first aiders).
basic DRABC .. or what ever the procedure is in your country.
And what types of courses they offer.


Maybe a second one on the first aid kit ... ? I'm changing mine to one that will hang from the handle bars/tree - better access, less problem getting to the thing I want.

The remote area course .. well first aid courses cover the frist 30 minutes before the ambo arives .. in some places there is no ambo so you need training on what to do past that 30 minutes .. to a number of DAYS.. and you won't get all the info in a one day course. Here the basic motorcycle course takes one day ... and covers burns, gravel rash, amputations ... you get the idea - it is full on. The remote area one is .. well more ... toileting ... transport .. monitoring ... long term reactions ..

I'm mostly a solo traveller .. but you still need to know what to do .. the 'helpers' may not know what to do - so you provide the instruction.. not ideal but better than the alternative

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Other rambelings

If you alocate one (or two) tracks for in/out then it will get very muddy with the rain in those tracks...

Dogs - if you bring it, it is your problem not mine.

You are spoilt for meetings .. here in OZ the is so far only one .. on the east coast .. a very long way from the west coast ... so if you want one in the south use the spanish one! It is a good excuse to get away...

Noisy neigbours? Ear plugs... I even use them at home when they relay the balist on the train line .. now that is noisy!

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Regards Frank Warner
motorcycles BMW R80 G/S 1981, BMW K11LT 1993, BMW K75 G/S

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

BRILLIANT IDEA

!! Lets hope it can be arranged

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