Hello from Chicago
 

Hey everyone,

I just signed up and wanted to introduce myself. I'm Mike and currently in Chicago. I've been into motorcycling for the past few years, but this year I rented a BMW GS1200 in Mexico and Colorado and finally saw the light of how amazing adventure motorcycles are to ride.

I bleed wanderlust. It all started when I was in the Navy, where I visited 14 countries in three years. Then, after I finished my enlistment, I lived in Thailand for two years to fight muay thai. Then when I did my master's in journalism, I visited Pakistan and did a summer in Prague. Overall, I've visited 25 countries, but I want to see more of course. And not in that superficial way where I can take a selfie and get likes on social media, I want to understand a culture and make a few friends along the way.

I made the goal to begin to save up for a RTW trip and set out in five years. I ride a 2009 Vulcan right now, but want to save up for a Triumph Tiger 900 Rally Pro, the bike just speaks to me. I want to take some off-road lessons as well, maybe even hostile environment training. With the pandemic and working from home the norm, I decided to move back in with my parents to save the money for my trip. So yeah, it's what I'm focused on doing at the moment.

Nice to meet you all and I hope I can give back to the community as much as I learn. Hope to see you out on the road or even a HU meet up.

Welcome to the Horizons Unlimited Community of Travellers Mike, you'll find kindred spirits here, and they're all very helpful and welcoming. Browse the site - especially have a good look at the drop down menu at the top of every page, that's a wonderful guidebook to a huge and varied site.
We look forward to hearing your stories, and seeing you on the road someday, somewhere...

Hi Mike

Welcome along - they are a pretty welcoming lot on here and are happy to share information to help others along - this place is really a great resource and putting into the site is good for everyone.

Do you have any plans for trips at the moment or is it too early to name something?

All the best

Jay

Hey Jay,

I have nothing planned right now. I'm either thinking doing the whole Prudhoe Bay to Patagonia thing since I'm on this side of the world, but I also dream about Africa as well. But right now, it's just dreams to keep me motivated during these pandemic times.

I have to say that the idea of going from top to toe of the Americas, or vice versa, has an appeal but there is the issue of the Atlantic that needs to be crossed so I am not making any plans to do it just yet.

My plan is essentially a trip around Africa doing as much scuba diving on the way as possible whilst still making some progress. I was given the Michelin maps of Africa - 3 maps - and have started poring over them to figure out reasonable routes that will allow me to dive and visit places that interest me en route. Heck, I might even meet up with my wife and kids on the way.

In the meantime shorter, 2 week, trips to Europe will be the order of the day going to see things like the Northern lights in Norway, concerts at Carcassonne in the south of France, etc.

Enjoy the planning, at the moment it is as close as we are going to get until the vaccines kick in.