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Horizons Unlimited Travellers Meetings

First Annual Italian Travellers Meeting

Lake Garda, July 15 - 18, 2010

in cooperation with
Quality Touring equipment worldwide.
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Why Come to a Horizons Unlimited Motorcycle Travellers Meeting?

You can meet people who don't think you're crazy for wanting to ride your bike to South America or Africa or across Asia, or even around the world! Admit it, all your 'normal' friends and most of your family fears for your sanity! So, this is your opportunity to meet the people who will encourage you in that craziness, share their experiences and advice on how to do it, and maybe you'll meet them again in Mongolia or Timbuktu!

Roadside stop, Lake Garda

Passo di Stelvio


How you can help - put up a few posters! NEW Poster available! Event poster available! Please post it everywhere!

Want to know what people thought of other HU Meetings? Is it worth coming to the Meeting?

"I'm so looking forward to another UK meet. My only problem is that I simply can't get to every talk I want, such is the amount of terrific presentations on offer. Each year I've been astonished at how articulate, intelligent, informative and entertaining the speakers are. I'm willing to help with anything that doesn't keep me from a talk - and my timetable will be full to bursting!" More comments here.

The Plan

Registration is LIMITED to the first 60 persons!

The plan is simple. Show up on Thursday or at the latest Friday afternoon, meet people and setup. Travel Presentations and Tech seminars are planned throughout the meeting, starting Thursday night. More Detailed Schedule here.

We can always use some help! If you want to assist, please sign up to volunteer to assist on the day or here for advance work or to ask questions. Thanks!

2010 Speakers and Tech Seminars (so far, more to come):

  • We'll have some interesting speakers for you soon!
  • Africa, mon amour
    • Hans von Fintel, Germany (Vaufi)
      Travelling through southern Africa
  • Capetown to Kitzbuhel, September 2009 -Jan 2010
    • Miles Gregory
      4 months, 16 countries, 1166 litres of petrol, 21514 ks, 3 blown shock absorbers, and a bloody good laugh.
  • Dakar Rally 2009 the easy way
    • Jens Ruprecht, Germany
      Argentina/Chile and the Dakar Rally 2009 on a 125cc Suzuki
  • Women only
    • a very popular session - I'm told it's a must for the ladies, so be sure to plan on being there! A chance to talk to experienced travelling women without the men around!
  • Fix that flat! How to change a tire anytime, anywhere
    • Workshop
      How to prevent flats in the first place, and fix them when you get one. The best tools and how to use them for tube and tubeless tires. Hand's on practical and tire changing contest for beginners to experts!
    • Changing a tire.
      Tech session

  • How to write and publish your travel book!
    • Jens Ruprecht, Germany
      Want to get your story published and on Amazon? Jens did it, and here's how!
  • Experienced Travellers Panel - ask the experts anything you want!
  • and more to come as we get closer to the date.
  • How about you? We're all here to learn, and there's LOTS to learn! We want to do more presentations and seminars - but we need volunteers to give them! Any topic you can contribute having to do with motorcycle travel, maintenance, planning etc, lasting 20 minutes or more, would be great. Please contact me here to volunteer.

There will be slide shows and talks Thursday, Friday and Saturday night, so come early and make it a great weekend! We recommend planning on riding Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

Rideouts

Waterfalls on the many beautiful roads in the area

Rideouts are limited to 6 or 10 people per ride, no exceptions.

All rides will be back on site at or before 5.00pm

Road Rides - two planned, details to come.

Off-road - we could use some help - any ideas, locations, routes, off-road tracks?

The cost of going on any ride is included in the registration fee.

All rides are "register on the day." There will be signup sheets for each ride posted the evening before. First in best dressed.

 

Books - get your signed copy direct from the Author!

Jens Ruprecht

anyone else?

Schedule

Very simple - ride your brains out all day, and sit back and relax over dinner, a beer or two, and enjoy a presentaiton or two by the fireplace. :)

All times - and everything - approximate!

An up-to-date schedule will be posted at the Meeting.

Thursday morning

CHECK-IN and sign up! You MUST be registered to go on a ride or for entry to any events, seminars etc.

Friday

08:00 - Breakfast

CHECK-IN and sign up! You MUST be registered to go on a ride or entry to any events, seminars etc.

09:00 Ride briefing. Be gassed up and ready to ride if you're going.

Friday night

21:00 Speakers presentations start sharp at 2000, so be sure you've eaten early!

Saturday morning

8:00 - Breakfast

8:30 - 9:00 Late Check-in.

9:00 Ride briefing. Be fueled up and ready to ride if you're going.

Saturday afternoon,

Rideouts - details here if you're riding on your own.

On road runs - we'll post a sheet of paper up for you to add your name to a destination, volunteers to lead appreciated!

Saturday, dinner

See Saturday lunch above.

20:00 sharp:

Speakers presentations

21:00 (not sharp) - Door prizes - you have to be there to win!

Sunday

Breakfast served from 8:00

Miscellaneous notes:

Organizers will be there all of Thursday, hopefully Wednesday evening, if anyone wishes to arrive early and just hang out or go for a ride in the area. There is no problem arriving a day early, our hosts will be happy to see you. Please LET US KNOW you will be arriving early.

Pre-Registration is required!

  1. Registration is LIMITED to the first 60 persons!
  2. Register and PAY before 5 July. Includes admission to all slide shows on Thursday, Friday and Saturday night and Sunday am, and rides during the day Friday and Saturday. Accommodation, breakfast and dinner are included.

How to Pay

Please PRE-BOOK by filling in the form below and click the "Count me in" button below it. NOTE: Use one form per person!

Option 1. Pay by PayPal

a. You will shortly receive an e-mail confirmation. Check to ensure the details are correct. If you don't receive an e-mail confirmation within a few minutes, it means your e-mail address wasn't correct, (or the Internet has eaten your e-mail). Try again. A human being will actually get a copy of the e-mail, and we promise we won't sign you up multiple times. ;-)

b. After you have filled in the form and submitted it, you will have an opportunity to pay by Click to go straight to the PayPal Payment link.. Please be careful calculating the amount, the form isn't that smart yet!

OR:

Option 2. Pay by cheque

a. You will shortly receive an e-mail confirmation. Check to ensure the details are correct. If you don't receive an e-mail confirmation within a few minutes, it means your e-mail address wasn't correct, (or the Internet has eaten your e-mail). Try again. A human being will actually get a copy of the e-mail, and we promise we won't sign you up multiple times. ;-)

b. PRINT THAT EMAIL (or write out the important bits by hand if you don't have a printer) and MAIL it with a cheque for the full amount, made payable to Horizons Unlimited, and mail to:

Please use the Canadian address.

OR:

Option 3. Pay by Bank Transfer

a. You will shortly receive an e-mail confirmation. Check to ensure the details are correct. If you don't receive an e-mail confirmation within a few minutes, it means your e-mail address wasn't correct, (or the Internet has eaten your e-mail). Try again. A human being will actually get a copy of the e-mail, and we promise we won't sign you up multiple times. ;-)

b. Make your Payment to:

Jens Ruprecht
Konto-Nummer: 20562200
BLZ: 553 900 00

 

Payment and Registration Details AFTER 5 July

a. IF there are any spaces left, please fill in this form to let us know you're coming. Payment in advance is REQUIRED, so you will have to pay by PayPal. There will be NO extra tshirts after July 5, so don't order one!

b. You will shortly receive an e-mail confirmation. Check to ensure the details are correct. If you don't receive an e-mail confirmation within a few minutes, it means your e-mail address wasn't correct, (or the Internet has eaten your e-mail). Try again. A human being will actually get a copy of the e-mail, and we promise we won't sign you up multiple times. ;-)

Sorry, Registration is now closed!

If you've already registered - and just want to pay, click here!


Membership - Show you're proud to be a Horizons Unlimited Traveller!

Just to clarify the membership situation: Currently there is no requirement to be a member to access the website, the HUBB or to receive the monthly e-zine. For now, what you get for your membership contribution is our sincere gratitude, good karma and knowing that you're helping to keep the motorcycle travel dream alive.

We will also upgrade your status in the HUBB to Contributing or Gold Member. In addition to recognising your contribution through your status, this will allow you to upload a custom profile picture and custom avatar, store more private messages, upload more pictures, add events to the calendar and create polls.

If you wish to buy a t-shirt, mug, fleece jacket or other Horizons logo product from the Souk, you can purchase Member or Gold Member logo products at the basic price. Just let us know and we can arrange access to the Members Private Store.

Note that new Memberships with your Meeting Registration are applied as of the Meeting date or as soon as possible thereafter, not earlier, unless you make a special request in the Comments box when you register.

T-Shirt Deal

Cotton: Top quality heavy cotton t-shirts in black or grey.

Synthetic: (Dri-Fit) t-shirts are in a beautifully made wicking material, and make great travel / riding t-shirts as well as all-round wear t-shirts. Available in a variety of colours at most meetings, and always black or grey. The order section will list the colours available.

Note that we will have a very few t-shirts extra at each meeting, but very limited - we can't carry many! So please pre-order and pay in advance so you can be sure of getting what you want.

2012 Tshirt slogan "The open road is calling, and I have a world to ride!"

Back:

(large, full back)

The open road is calling, and I have a world to ride!

Front:

Front 'Pocket patch' logo on all tshirts

You can help!

If you have a few minutes, please download the poster (Adobe pdf format) and print off a few and hand them round your club or your local bike shop or anywhere seems like a good place.

(You may need to right click and choose "save target as...")

Poster in pdf format, English (886kb) full colour Event poster.

Thanks for the help!

The Meeting Location

We're in the Italian Alps – right between Lago di Garda and Lago di Idro, close to the village Capovalle. We will stay at a very old farmhouse in beautiful surroundings! The farmhouse is very simple and rustic, with a great fireplace to tell stories around.

Farmhouse in Lake Garda area

Our farmhouse

You can explore the area in daytrips without packing every day. Some examples: Full day ride over the famous Passo di Stelvio with its 48 switchbacks, or a leisurely ride down to Lake Garda for a swim! Even Off-Road is possible – the owner of the "HU Travellers Farm" is a motorcyclist and will be very happy to show you the best dirt roads in the area!

Mountain Pass and snow

There is also a workshop if you need repairs or maintenance.

Getting There - GPS, Maps

GPS-Coordinates and directions will be supplied after you register and pay for the event.

Camping

Accommodation is INCLUDED in your registration fee. You have a choice of tenting or rooms on site. See registration section for details.

Other Accommodation Possibilities

None needed. Food and accommodation are all included in the package!

Information about the area

Lake Garda and the Passo di Stelvio - what else do you need to know :)

If you have any links or details for the area please let us know.

Local Hosts

Jens Ruprecht is the lead organizer of this event. Thanks go to Jens for volunteering to bring Horizons Unlimited Travellers Meetings to Italy, and all his hard work!

If you have any questions, contact with rideout registration, vendor, venue and speakers questions.

See you at a meeting this year!

Grant and Susan

Editors note:
We accept no responsibility for any of the above information in any way whatsoever. You are reminded to do your own research. Any commentary is strictly a personal opinion of the person supplying the information and is not to be construed as an endorsement of any kind.
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All text and photographs are copyright © Grant and Susan Johnson, 1987-, or their respective authors. All Rights Reserved.