Well, I had an absolute rubbish time. Got carted off in an ambulance on Friday morning after falling over - (and I hadn't even had one drink, let alone loads) - missed all of the talks I wanted to hear, missed my volunteering stint and the bonfire, mostl of the camp food, and only escaped from the Royal Derby Hospital yesterday afternoon, patched up and as high as a kite on the very generous morphine chasers they insisted on handing out all weekend.

So apologies Susan and Grant for not doing my thing, apologies Birgit and Sam for chucking your mags all over the floor, but thanks to the two top blokes who picked me up, and to the Swiss girl who fetched my mates for me. I will try harder next year.

Thanks y'all,

Belle

Thanks to everyone that organised this years meet. It was another amazing event.

Which makes it harder to say that as long as the road kill cookout is present we will no longer be attending. I found the 'entertainment' aspect of death at this years event disturbing and sick. I've been vegetarian for many years on ethical grounds and, as much as I would like to change things, I accept that most people will eat meat. However, to display the animals like trophies and to advertise 'how to stun a squirrel' is not acceptable. I could accept the concept of survival training for harsh environments, but I fail to see how a squirrel will sustain you. All that I see this achieving is to encourage the viewers to copy this at their local park (most likely doing it wrong and causing suffering). And as for them being vermin, don't get me started.

If you feel the same please post here, or better still petition Grant and Susan through feedback. If you disagree with me, well, it's a free world.

Glad to hear you're ok Belle. Hope you get yourself well again soon.

Hi Belle,

well at least the facilities at the Derby hospital were superb, as were the staff and the ambulance crew.

The only positive things that came out of the incident were;

1, you could have been in Mongolia when it happened.

2, Gord n myself had the chance to have a few s and talked about you!

If anyone wants to see my images from the event then please pop over to;

http://www.xt225.com/forums/ubbthrea...3869#Post83869

Regards

Reggie

+1 on the excellent meet! I should have done more to help at the end to help clear up (I said I would and didn't help much) - sorry about that.

It gave me serious food for thought on a number of issues - the shopping list has grown! Very inspiring - thanks to everyone. All the people there were very inassuming, willing to talk / help - excellent!

I agree with Riti somewhat. Being Vegan, I obviously didn't go to the roadkill cookout - BUT, each to their own. Whilst I have strong beliefs about eating / using animals when I don't need to (and we don't), I am aware that other people choose to / don't really think about it. I knew I would be offended / feel sick / angry by this 'talk', so didn't go. Makes sense really. I had an excellent time elsewhere, thankyouverymuch.

wow - what an absolutely fabulous weekend. Had such a blast and it was so much fun putting faces to handles, and even better, names to handles ;-)

The talks were fantastic - in particular I loved Ed March's talk about the run out to Germany to the elephant rally on a... C90... the guy is nuts - but in a good way.

I think particular thanks needs to go to Danny, Fil and all the volunteers who made the bonfire and the cookout so much fun and such a welcoming place. It's not easy to be the life a soul of the party when you have to sleep right next door to it - but these guys are the best. As is the homemade 'cordial'.

Whilst I was there - on the last day - I did get around to filming a quick cooking video - Bacon Curry (with optional bacon for our vegetarian friends) - I'll not post it in this thread but you can see it over at my blog if you're so inclined.

@riti - I need to let you know that the 'squirrel stunner' posters were me - not Danny. I'm afraid it was a bit of a joke I was having with Danny after he carried out a practical joke on me at the Adventure Travel Film Festival. It was my little get-back. I'm sorry if it offended you in any way - I can see why you may have taken it as offensive - it was intended as tongue in cheek.

It is worth pointing out that Danny & Fil are amongst the most kind-hearted and warmest people I have ever met. I know for a fact that they treat the animals they prepare with the respect and love they deserve. I keep chickens for meat and eggs as well as cows so whilst we may not see eye to eye on the meat eating front please don't take anything out on the guys who were there because of the posters.

I'm not sure this thread is the place to have a debate about having the cook out at the event - but I'm sure if you were to start a new thread there would be lots of people who would like to put their views across - both for and against - although given the popularity of the cookout I fear you may be in a minority.

Can't wait for the next meet - I may even get around to seeing the presentations I missed last time or finally getting my act together to do a cooking demo with Danny! (Danny, Fil... that's a hint).

__________________
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http://thelondonbiker.com/blog

Watch some of my camp cooking videos

AIM: mattcashmore
SKYPE: matthewcashmore
MSN: matthew@matthewcashmore.com

Many thanks Iain, Maya, Reg and Mick . I'm getting there.

Belle

I had a great time, being my first also, the 3 people all first timer's as well,
everybody there where very willing and helpful lots of different options, the talks I went to where great, the only let down for me was the loud music I had a 8 hour ride home & kept awake till 3 is not fun! may be the party should be on the Friday night.

Have added a few photos as most of the photos I took where of the bikes & Lois ;-)

__________________
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.

Hi Riti,

As one of the people who helps with the cookout I'm very sorry to hear that you found it offensive and I really hope it doesn't stop you attending future rallies.

Our section is very easy to avoid for anyone who finds this sort of thing distressing and it shouldn't stop you enjoying the rest of the event.

As Matthew has already explained the posters were a bit of an in-joke and not generated by the Roadkill crew. We do like to have a bit of a joke and there is certainly an element of entertainment we try to provide but you'll find that we care about animal welfare more than most people who've never considered where their meat comes from.

The more serious side of the demonstration is to let people experience something they seldom get a chance to do. We don't let people have a go at killing animals, but are happy to show and discuss humane ways of doing so.

For the most part the animals we have are pests which endanger local species (such as the American Signal crayfish and the grey squirrels) or are part of population control as part of responsible conservation (rabbits).

While I suspect you and I will never agree on the morality of taking the life of an animal I do assure you that we don't do it in some sort of gung-ho bloodlust way. In among the banter there is a definite element of conservation and animal welfare which we try to convey.

I reiterate - please don't let this spoil a rally it sounds like you otherwise enjoy and I am genuinely sorry if our demonstration is offensive to you. We don't set out to offend people, but the demo is inevitably challenging and we do hope people go away thinking about where their meat comes from and perhaps choose free-range over a battery hen.

Thank you for the response and clarification. And thank you Mat for stating the posters were not from the cookout crew. I appreciate that you've both been very mature and considered in your posts, something I'm not always able to do.*Probably you're right that we'll always have a difference of opinion (although I hope not

Because of the posters I had read between the lines and interpreted a callous attitude towards the animals involved. I don't agree with some of your statements regarding them as pests, but this is a very different topic for another time and place.

As I've said elsewhere, I choose to try and live without using animals, and in my ideal world we would all feel the same. I do realise though how unlikely this is, and if this ideal is not to be then I am massively in favour of everyone being educated in where their food comes from, and if the cookout encourages this then great.

I'm still unsure about future events, but you've certainly given me more to consider. Thank you.

Rich

Rich - that's a great response, thank you.

I hope you do come again. We were slightly let down this year and failed to do so but we always do also try to offer vegetarian alternatives.

This year we only managed smoked cheese and Cogs & Lisa brought some cashew nuts which we cold smoked with great success - so they'll probably be on the menu next year.

We will probably also have nettle soup and battered elderflower - you'd be very welcome to have a sample. also if there's anything you'd like to have a go at hot or cold smoking we're happy to give it a go. You bring it, we'll smoke it!

mm looks like I will bring some ingredients to make Biltong next year.

__________________
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.

Over the past days I've had loads of brilliant emails sent to me at home. I've copied out a sentence or so from each to post here. I'm sure the guys won't mind.

§An amazing event again. We’ll be back.
§It was my first time. I had no idea how special this Meet is. Can you pass on thanks to all.
§The volunteers did a great job. Everything seemed to run so smoothly. Can you thank them please.
§I’d never been before and to be greeted in such a friendly way at the Gate made the rally special from the moment I rolled in.
§I was amazed at how many presentations there were and how few issues you had on the IT side. You have some brilliant digi guys. Must have been loads of work.
§I’ve never been to a rally where everything was so clean and tidy.
§What a great atmosphere! Everyone was so friendly!
§The toilets were always clean – not a fun job for the volunteers but tell them we noticed and it was great. Oh and we never had to hunt for loo paper – that was a bonus!!!!!
§Really good that HU do recycling. Thank you – even though we saw some people putting the wrong stuff in. How did the volunteers have the patience to deal with that?!
§The Registration people were great. Organised and knew the answers. If they didn’t, they found out. Couldn’t ask for more.
§The raffle was good this year. How much did we raise? £1,580!!!!! Simply amazing!!! Thank you to all for buying tickets and a big thanks to all who provided prizes!!!
§It all seemed so laid back. I’ve organised things like this myself so I know how much effort the volunteers put in to make it seem this way. I thoroughly enjoyed myself. Have to bring the wife next year.
§Car parking fee? Great. It’s a motorcycle event! Good to use it to raise money for MOR. I heard some of the volunteers being spoken to in an unpleasant way. I hope that didn’t happen too often. There’s always going to be at least one isn’t there.
§Next time I’m volunteering. This was my third year. Never volunteered before. I really should. Look out for my name. I’ll do anything.
§I'm glad I didn’t need first aid help but it was good to know the guys were there. I know some of them and I’d have felt safe being looked after by them. What happened to the ambulance lady? (Belle) Was she ok in the end? Previous posts answer that : )
§The slow bike race was great, but I was too slow to enter! Next year! You are doing it next year?
§Who kept the fire area clean? When I went to bed at night I could see the mess but in the morning it was spotless.
§Next year I’ll volunteer to stay behind to help with clearing up on Sunday. I should have this year but didn’t think about it until I got home.
§An amazing atmosphere. So many of my questions answered. Great people to be around. Made loads of new friends.
§I saw some volunteers helping Jane from Motorcycle Outreach to set up her tent. That was great. She looked too tired to do it herself. This sort of care shown by volunteers towards people that come to HU is one of the reasons I come, and I volunteer.

Thanks all for taking the time to write. Chuffed with your thoughts and I'm sure that everyone who went or was involved with making it happen will be chuffed too

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http://www.sam-manicom.com

Here's the pictures I took:

Horizons meet 2011 pictures by Dave_ett - Photobucket

Another great visit - my second year. Met even more amazing people, was inspired by so many talks, and just loved the whole atmosphere.

Why can't the rest of the world be like a HUBB meet?

""my second year.
Met even more amazing people,
was inspired by so many talks,
and just loved the whole atmosphere.""

Just like to add a BIG Thank You,
to all who made it such a great weekend !

Some ... (lots) ... photos here

https://picasaweb.google.com/superte...47054260318066

... though next year I hope to include some people in the shots too