Many thanks to Tim for starting this really positive thread. It's great to receive so much glowing feedback.

On behalf of Sam, Grant, Susan and myself, I'd like to thank everyone who was there for creating another memorable and enjoyable event with a relaxed atmosphere and lots of laughter. Special thanks are due to all the presenters, authors and vendors, and especially to the fantastic team of volunteers who made it all happen.

We'd like to add our thanks to everybody as well. The kindness and consideration showed for our visit was lovely and the interest at our presentations was a real relief!

A special thanks to everybody who leapt out of the way as we made our way around the site with Biscuit. She had a great time as well. It will take some time for the fur to grow back on her head as she was fussed so much by everybody.

A great weekend and a lot of good memories. Thank you everybody concerned. Best wishes to you all.

Cathy, Bernard and Biscuit the Guide Dog.

__________________
Touching the World: A Blind Woman, Two Wheels and 25,000 Miles

So glad it went as well as it did. I was thinking of you all as I camped at a wedding (no consideration some people...) in Dorset. Yes it was there too!

My one and only miss of HU Ripley since I first went in 2001...

I hope to bring the good weather back with me next year

CoGS

I would also like to praise the event in its entirety.

I have learned so much and made some great mates and met some of the best people. This was my first HU meeting and I cant wait to sign up for next years. I was buzzing by the time I got home, I have a little trip planned and just cant wait to get out there.

Thanks again to everyone who was involved with organising such an awesome event, see you there next year.

Conan x

It sounds like you all had a fantastic time and I'm gutted I'm overseas and was unable to attend. Good to see rain didn't dampen spirits too much. Aren't we all supposed to be adventure travellers anyway...so what's a bit of rain to us?!
Hoping and planning to be in the UK for next year's Ripley.

__________________
Tiffany
On the road from...I'm not sure any more
http://www.tiffanystravels.co.uk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAUhV1r-kUo

....err has everyone gone home?


I'm still in my tent waiting for the rain to stop......

Oh, Bugger!

'thought it'd gone quiet'

Far too many names to mention so just a big thankyou to everyone , i was in two minds about going this year but it turned out to be my best ever.

Thanks everyone again

__________________
Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do.

Hello Everyone!

Like a few others on here I am also new to the HUBB. I've never really been a fan of forums, but I just wanted to thank EVERYONE involved in making the Ripley HU meeting such an enjoyable event once again.

This was my third trip to Lumb Farm and despite the weather I enjoyed it just as much. It really is my highlight of the year and I always come away with lots of inspiration, new knowledge, new friends and a big smile on my face!

The only downside to this year for me and I'm sure for everyone else, was that Grant & Susan couldn't be there. We all really missed you both! But it was so nice to see you on the Web Cam Link on Saturday Night. I really do hope we can see you back in person at Lumb Farm next year.

A..men to that.

I couldn't make Ripley myself as it was too close to the Ireland meeting (working on more separation next year :-)) Was concerned for the organising team as the weather forecast was for a slightly damp weekend :-( Shouldn't have worried. Sam, Iain and the rest of the team had put together a fantastic line-up and all the folks who attended provided the final sprinkling of magic which makes each Horizons Unlimited meeting so uniquely special. What an amazing privilege to be part of such a supportive community of overlanders. Congratulations to all the organising and volunteer team for another great gathering...but I know that their response will be that you all made it happen...they just provided the framework.

Grant and Susan have inspired many with their quiet and genuinely idealistic philosophy and I, like many others, look forward to their inspirational company in 2013.

And to the many who have just experienced their first Horizons Unlimited meeting....you have just found and become involved with the most supportive community of genuine travellers and friends you will ever meet. Be assured that they will willingly provide you with all the inspiration and information you need to follow those dreams. Explore the Horizons Unlimited website and you will find that there are similarly like minded people all over the world. You have only opened the door!!

And do consider paying the voluntary annual subscription of £10 to support the the invaluable resource which is the Horizons Unlimited website.

Big thanks to everyone involved in organizing the Ripley Meeting. I almost bottled out of going but so glad I didn't! Hello to everyone I met - hopefully I'll meet you all again either at the next Meet or out there somewhere.
Bye for now, Sharon

I just want to share my gratitude as well ! I have picked up so much information during this meeting & met some new friends & wonderful people.

Taking a leaf out of Linzi's book, I will set off a lot earlier next year as I was like a dog off his lead and didn't get time to settle in before being subjected to info overload.

I wish each and everyone a safe trip to wherever they go and wherever they are.

Thank you HU !

Love & best wishes
Glen aka Zeb3dee

PS Didn't catch any fish in the lake but hey ho !

Attached Thumbnails

 

Yep, I also want to say a big thank you to all the organisers; Sam, Iain and everyone else involved.

It rained. We all got wet. But what a great weekend.

You guys should be very proud.

Just wanted to echo the enormous thanks to Iain and Sam and their teams of volunteers for doing a stellar job yet again, and especially with the absence of Grant & Susan this year - thanks guys!

From the Roadkill perspective I'd like to thank Mon and Lek for adding the Thai demonstration which was well received and I really don't know how you managed it in that rain! Big thanks also to Cindy whose work goes unseen by most, but whose kitchen smelled of spruce and honey in the name of the Roadkill as well as the errands and loading and unloading of the wood and countless other 'behind the scenes' help she provides each year.

Thanks also to all those who watched the demo despite the downpour - it's a shame we couldn't cook in the fire this year, but we'll be doing it all again at the Adventure Travel Film Festival, so if you missed it at Ripley come and see us there.

I seem to have misplaced a few hours sleep, so I'm off to look for those now

Thanks to everyone. Sorry this post is a bit late, but i have been that busy looking at maps and trying to accrue some brownie points to make it happen.

I’d just like to add a massive Thank You to Iain and Sam. I've been to some very soggy events this year and your organization of it all was very efficient. I had an amazing weekend. My first HU meeting, brilliant atmosphere and I met some incredible inspiring and genuine people. No egos, no patronizing no nay sayers – just an interested and interesting bunch of people who braved the weather and were rewarded with being around like people. Oh and thanks to Caryl Jones I have the best photo of me since I met Jimmy Page. Thanks to everyone involved in staging the event and all who attended. Graham

Attached Thumbnails