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25 Aug 2009
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Join Date: Aug 2009
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A Few More Miles - A Motorcycle Journey Through The Americas
Hey Folks,
I've been poking around the HUBB for a while now, silently gathering information for my trip. In mid October 2009 I'll be departing on my KLR to ride from the USA to TDF.
I wanted to thank everyone who's already contributed to this site for all the amazingly useful information. I'll be sure to put it to good use in the months to come and will certainly be asking lots of questions from the road.
I've set up a simple blog to stay in touch with friends and family. Feel free to check it out at A Few More Miles. I welcome any and all advice for the journey. Perhaps I'll run into a few of you out on the road.
All the best,
-Ben
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25 Aug 2009
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Hi Ben,
Welcome to the HUB. Good luck and have fun!
Suerte,
Sander
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8 Nov 2009
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I traveled along the states for 3 weeks and have arrived in Mexico. It feels great to get some miles under the belt! Feel free to check in: A Few More Miles
-Ben
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16 Nov 2009
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Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Bury, Quebec, Center of the middle of nowhere in Canada
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![Welcome](https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/images/smilies/welcome.gif)
Nice to see a southernly ![Palm Tree](https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/images/smilies/palm.gif) neighbour!
I'm just north of NH, Have a good one
I'll be following your trip...keep us posted!
__________________
"Coffee should be black as hell, strong as death, and sweet as love."
RIDE like your LIFE depends on it.
BMW R1150GS '02 crashed
BMW R1150GSA '04
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16 Nov 2009
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Hi Serge - Thanks for your support! I'm in San Miguel de Allende now and enjoying the ride! Cheers.
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26 Mar 2010
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I guess it's been a while since my last update... I made it to Ushuaia 2 days ago! I'll get that blog (see signature) updated soon. Cheers!
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26 Mar 2010
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Ride Tales?
Hey, Congrats on making it to TDF!
Doesn't look like you shared your trip here on HUBB. I'm not a Blog reader, but would follow your ride if posted here on the Ride Tales forum.
I'd love to read an abbreviated ride report with Pics and post it in chronological order and in bits and pieces as you get time. Ride Tales isn't used much, be nice to have more longer reports.
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31 Mar 2010
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__________________
"Coffee should be black as hell, strong as death, and sweet as love."
RIDE like your LIFE depends on it.
BMW R1150GS '02 crashed
BMW R1150GSA '04
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20 Jul 2010
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Hey Guys,
Thought I'd share a few photos of the journey. A full report is on the blog: A Few More Miles. Cheers,
-Ben
A few photos before leaving home
Key West, Florida
Mexican Pyramids
Tacos in Mexico, mmmmmm
Fixing a friend's flat
Micatech Pannier cup holders hard at work
Random guy with guitar singing about moto travel
Sleeping in the NEMO tent at Laguna Bacalar
Christmas in Guatemala
Rainy day in Guatemala
Local boy selling sticks to climb Volcan Pacaya
Busted CDI entering El Salvador. Fortunately, I met some great locals to pass the time
Getting a tow to the city
Entering Nicaragua
Loading the bike onto the boat to cross the Darien Gap
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20 Jul 2010
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SCUBA in Colombia
Privacy
Cruising around Colombia
Good looking Mannequins in Cali
Military Checkpoint
Ecuator
Carnival in Quito
Picking up the bike after being run over by a Land Rover
Testing the limits of a carburated bike
Flat deserts in Northern Peru
Canon del Pato - Backroads in Peru
The kind of roads that make a motorcyclist happy
Road Construction - you can't stop me!
Bridge closed - not for my moto!
Rainy day crossing of Lake Titicaca
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20 Jul 2010
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Best llama photo ever
Bolivia beauty
Land Cruiser on the Salar
Cooking up tiny people in the Jetboil
Nasty gas in Bolivia
Dinner in Chile
Hand in the desert
Still a long way to go
Beautiful Carretera Austral
Argentina
Getting Dirty
Fluffy traffic on Tierra del Fuego
USHUAIA!!!
Crowded passport
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20 Jul 2010
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Back home
First shave in 6 months...
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24 Aug 2010
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So What's Next?
Hey Guys,
It's hard to believe that I've been back in the USA for over 4 months! Spending time with friends and family has been great and the summer weather has been beautiful here in New Hampshire. So... What's been going on? Well, 6 months without regular exercise coupled with 3 or 4 daily meals of delicious fried food plays a toll on the body. I weighed myself when I returned home - I gained 15 lbs... YIKES!!! Riding the motorcycle everyday was exhausting but it wasn't stimulating my cardiovascular system. Now back at home I've been kayaking, running, biking (of the pedal variety), and hiking on a daily basis and I've shed that baby fat. Here's a shot from the absolutely stunning Acadia National Park in Maine.
Have no fear though, I'm still riding the motorcycle nearly everyday. My car has only seen a few days of use this entire summer. Being stuck inside the 4-wheeled box is near torture. The KLR, a.k.a. El Burro, has been a true workhorse. He now has roughly 35,000 miles (I say roughly, because I've been without a spedo/odometer cable for the past 12,000-ish miles). All that traveling has taken it's toll and I now have piston slap. It looks like I'll be rebuilding the engine's top end...
This Bike Climbed Mt. Washington
I recently presented the my journey through the Americas at the New Hampshire Latino Festival. Latinos and Gringos alike came up and asked all sorts of questions. "Are you ****ing crazy!?" was a popular one. I met Salvadorians, Mexicans, Colombians, and Guatemalans. Their eyes opened wide as I described riding through their countries. Many young kids who are still learning about their heritage stopped by to check out my photos. Their parents would point to a picture and say "That's our country." Who knows, maybe in a few years I'll inspire one of these kids to jump on a bike and ride through their country to experience it first hand. I made this highlight map to have on display.
Crucial to the success of my journey were the Micatech panniers and top case. You've seem then in every photo with my bike and I certainly put them to the test. With over 50 tip-overs ,they are still in excellent shape and waterproof (although a bit dirty). The boxes are made only 30 miles from my home and since returning home they've contracted me to do some engineering and design for new products. The projects have been fun, challenging, and engaging. Designing and building adventure motorcycling products is great. One key element in product development is field testing... Alright, so what's next??? Ya, it's about time for a new adventure. Well, in 3 short weeks I'll be back on the bike, riding 3,300 miles across the country to California where I'll be presenting my journey through the Americas at the Overland Rally. Are you interested in traveling the world by car/truck/van/motorcycle/bicycle then this is the event for you. So, if you're in the Bay Area between September 23 and 26, sign on up and check out the rally.
After the Overland Rally I'm headed south to Mexico! Wooo Hooo! I'll be riding down the Baja Peninsula and then crossing over to the mainland where I'll be riding for 5 weeks. While south of the border I'll be filming for a How To Guide for Motorcycling in Mexico. I'm super excited about this project and hope to inspire others to go and ride their dream. Check out the website at Motorcycle Mexico. Interested in following the new journey? Then sign-up for email updates by clicking here. When I make it back home at the beginning of November I'll have put on another 10,000 miles. Anyone headed south and interested in sharing some tacos and cerveza?
Ride & Explore!
-Ben
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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...
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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
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"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
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Lots more comments here!
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Back Road Map Books and Backroad GPS Maps for all of Canada - a must have!
New to Horizons Unlimited?
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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.
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