Western Canada / USA, 2006: Fifth Annual HU Travellers Meeting
Nelson BC, Canada, August 25-27, 2006
We want to say a big THANK YOU to all the presenters, and those who came to watch them too!
Rally Location - Where is it?
Information about the area
Local hosts, information
Photos below...
What happened: (just so you know what you missed if you weren't there 
)
Thursday night
We showed Austin Vince's "Terra Circa" video about motorcycling the Zilov Gap – Well attended, everyone stayed till the end. (2 hours +) (The video is available, listed on our books pages)
Friday
- 6:00 – 7:00 Excellent catered supper
- 7:00 PM Speakers (actually started closer to 8pm due to the tent arriving late, and some technical difficultes) finished at 10:30
- George & Margo Coppus, Canada, “Between Mordor and Marai – Motorcycle Touring in New Zealandâ€
- Bernie, Linda and Jenny Hide, Canada, "Bikes, Beans and Borders, Arizona to Panama City and back"
- Werner Bausenhart, Canada: a pictorial summary of his many trips followed by a game of ‘name that famous site'
Saturday
- 8:00 – 9:30 Catered breakfast
- 9:30 – 12:00 Susan and Grant Johnson video: “The Achievable Dream†moderated by Ekke Kok
- 12:00 – 1:00 Catered Lunch
- 1:00 – 2:00 For Women Only, “Chatting about motorcycle travel issues specific to womenâ€
- 2:00 – 3:00 Touratech Canada session with Dave Anderson
- 3:00 – 4:00 Tire changing
- 5:30 – 6:30 Catered supper
- 6:30 – 6:45 David Breedon – Demonstration of the amazingly packable ‘Alpacka' inflatable raft
- 6:45 – 7:00 50-50 draw and door prizes
- 7:00 PM Speakers
- Klaus Exner, Canada, “From the Rio Grande to the Arctic Circle†, “To Inuvik by boat and back by motorcycle.â€
- Ramona Eichhorn, Germany "around the world" with Uwe Krauss, Germany, on two KTM 640 Adventuresâ€
- Wolfgang Simmert “Wolfgang's Australiaâ€
- Werner Bausenhart, Canada, "The Amazon - Guyana's loop: South America with a difference"
- Alec Bialski, Canada, "Central Europe, the good, the bad and the ugly"
- 10:30 Wrap up, feedback and questions
Sunday
8:00 – 9:30 Catered breakfast, and head for home!
Your HU Meeting Organizers were:
Ekke Kok - Registrations, general
Audrey Kok - Registrations, general
Chad Stocking - Registrations, general
Timo Scheiber – MC, general questions
And from Susan and Grant - a special thanks to Timo, Ekke, Audrey and Chad - your help is much appreciated, by us - and those who attended the meeting - I hear you did a great job!
Campsite owners: Steve Ramsbottom & Mary Laird - Thanks Steve and Mary!
Vendors
Dave Andersen of Anderwerks is the new Touratech Canada distributor, and he was there with catalogs and goodies, and loads of information!
Send in YOUR photos!
Photos by Ekke Kok and Audrey Allensbach-Kok
Entry sign
Women only meeting
Seminars
Seminars - intense concentration!
Sidecar rig
Fabulous camping area in the deep in the forest of British Columbia.
Check out the licence plate!
Send your photos in! See the Contact HU below, or just email Grant.
The Meeting Location
Nelson BC, Canada.
Getting There -
Distances from Nelson
| City
Castlegar Creston Spokane, Washington Osoyoos Penticton Kelowna Kamloops Banff, Alberta Calgary, Alberta Vancouver, BC |
Distance
41 km 114 km 237 km 261 km 321 km 338 km 454 km 496 km 624 km 657 km |
25 miles 68 miles 142 miles 157 miles 193 miles 203 miles 272 miles 298 miles 374 miles 394 miles |
Information about the area
Attractions include national parks all around, fantastic roads, lakes and more, so plan to spend a few days!
DiscoverNelson.com has weather, facilities, accommodation, dining and shopping info.
Local Hosts
can answer Registration questions, and on presenters and local questions, meeting logistics etc.
Short History of the Horizons Unlimited Travellers Meetings
Susan and I started the Horizons Unlimited Motorcycle Travellers Meetings in May of 2001 while we were living in the UK, with an event held in our backyard in Slough. That first event had almost 40 people show up, and we were especially pleased that some came from as far away as Norway!
In 2002 we had moved back to Canada, so we organized a meeting in Nairn Falls, British Columbia, and also asked Chris Bright and Glynn Roberts if they would organize a second UK meeting since we couldn't be there. We had a small but enthusiastic turnout for the Canadian meeting, with folks coming from as far away as Missouri (almost 3,000 kilometres!), Alberta and California, as well as two round the world travellers, from Switzerland and the UK.
But the Brits really exceeded our wildest expectations. Almost 100 people came to the HU UK 2002 event, and had a great time. No rock bands or beer bashes, just motorcycle travellers and would-be travellers getting together to share experiences and tips - what a concept! For the HU UK 2003 event, almost 200 enthusiastic folks came together over several days and this is now well established as an annual event, with Glynn and Chris continuing to provide superb organizing, and a host of volunteers.
Ken and Carol Duval hosted Australia's first HU travellers event in 2003, and they had almost 60 people. The meetings in New Zealand, Argentina, Mexico and Portugal in 2003 were also big successes, and we look forward to many more in the years to come. It's wonderful for us to come to the meetings and visit with the many friends we've only met over the internet, and of course for everyone meeting up and sharing stories - and planning to meet in Ushuaia next year!
See you at a meeting this year!
Grant and Susan
Global Rescue is the premier provider of medical, security and evacuation services worldwide and is the only company that will come to you, wherever you are, and evacuate you to your home hospital of choice.
Additionally, Global Rescue places no restrictions on country of citizenship - all nationalities are eligible to sign-up! Travel medical insurance is also available, currently the limit is 90 days. (TIP: For Evac insurance - Click Multiple Trips and 365 days to get year long insurance.)
Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance™ combines into a single integrated program the best evacuation and rescue with the premier travel insurance coverages designed for adventurers.
Led by special operations veterans, Stanford Medicine affiliated physicians, paramedics and other travel experts, Ripcord is perfect for adventure seekers, climbers, skiers, sports enthusiasts, hunters, international travelers, humanitarian efforts, expeditions and more.
Ripcord travel protection is now available for ALL nationalities, and travel is covered on motorcycles of all sizes! NOTE: Travel medical insurance currently has a limit of 90 days.
Member login
Announcements
Thinking about traveling? Not sure about the whole thing? Watch the HU Achievable Dream Video Trailers and then get ALL the information you need to get inspired and learn how to travel anywhere in the world!
Have YOU ever wondered who has ridden around the world? We did too - and now here's the list of Circumnavigators!
Check it out now, and add your information if we didn't find you.
Are you an Overland Adventure Traveller?
Does the smell of spices wafting through the air make you think of Zanzibar, a cacophony of honking horns is Cairo, or a swirl of brilliantly patterned clothing Guatemala? Then this is the site for you!
Hosted by Grant and Susan Johnson, RTW 1987-1998
Next HU Events
ALL Dates subject to change.
2025 Confirmed Events:
- Virginia: April 24-27 2025
- Queensland is back! May 2-4 2025
- Germany Summer: May 29-June 1 2025
- CanWest: July 10-13 2025
- Switzerland: Date TBC
- Ecuador: Date TBC
- Romania: Date TBC
- Austria: Sept. 11-15
- California: September 18-21
- France: September 19-21 2025
- Germany Autumn: Oct 30-Nov 2 2025
Add yourself to the Updates List for each event!
Questions about an event? Ask here
HU Achievable Dream is Online
and available now to stream on Vimeo!
ALL 15 chapters of the HU Achievable Dream Guide are available to download on Vimeo!
Binge watch over 18 hours of inspiring, informative and entertaining stories and tips from 150 travellers!
"a cross between entertaining stories, tech tips, and reference guide"
"A timeless introduction to Motorcycle Adventure Travel!"
Originally launched as a 7 DVD set, The Achievable Dream series can now be downloaded anywhere. OVER 18 hours of solid info take up zero space in your panniers. How convenient!
Books
All the best travel books and videos listed and often reviewed on HU's famous Books page. Check it out and get great travel books from all over the world.
NOTE: As an Amazon Affiliate we earn from qualifying purchases - thanks for your help supporting HU when you start from an HU Amazon link!