Horizons Unlimited Canwest 2017 Travellers Meeting Archive

Olivier Preston How I Fell in Love with Riding Riding in Vietnam and the Himalayas

No one plans to fall in love. That's how it was for Olivier. At 23-years-old, with no plan, no prior experience, and even less money, he's just back from a solo motorbike trip in Vietnam and India. He learned to ride a bike in Vietnam... after he bought the bike... and travelled 4000 km from Ho Chi Minh to Hanoi. He then rode along the border to China for 10 days, followed by a trip through the Spiti Valley in the Himalayas in India for 20 days, having rented a Royal Enfield Thunderbird in Manali and traded some items for a tent in India. He's big on inspiring people to ride and travel as they are "by far the coolest experiences of (his) life."

It doesn't have to be that complicated to make a trip like this happen. Olivier didn't plan his trip in India until he arrived there, and relied on meeting people and asking questions. He firmly believes riding a motorcycle is one of the best ways to visit a country now and is very excited to do some more travelling by bike. While he encourages people to ride in the Himalayas in India or Nepal, he's a huge fan of the Spiti Valley which is a hidden gem for motorcyclists - a popular recommendation based on conversations with many motorcyclists from India.

Olivier just graduated university and is totally smitten with riding. Now that he's back in Canada AFTER his travels, he'll be getting his motorcycle license soon!

Leanne Amy Planning for Successful Outcomes Planning for the Unplanned

Adventure travel, by its very nature, can have uncertain outcomes. So how can we prepare for and mitigate the less desirable outcomes? Leanne gives an overview of prep, tools, and services to be aware of; registering your travel tracking devices; medical history and information sharing. When it comes to insurance, do you know what to consider when shopping around for primary, secondary, supplementary, repatriation, etc.? How about networking?... you are more connected than you know.

Leanne began riding in August 2012 as part of a friend's bucket list, not hers. As soon as the course was complete, she bought a BMW F650GS. Since then, Leanne and her husband have done numerous BC/AB, Washington, and Oregon camping trips, including a 2015 trip to Austria and the Italian Alps which has further hooked her on more exploratory moto adventure travel in the future.

Don Hatton Dakar Adventures

Don Hatton has truly chased his dreams. His adventures have taken him all over the world. He has ridden motorcycles in the outback of Morocco, Sardinian Dubai, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Italy, Tunisia, and Mexico. He has been lost in every major desert in the world. He's been mugged, lost, run over, and had a serious crash in Argentina that put him in intensive care for seven days and nearly ended his life, yet he continues to chase his dreams. Don has some amazing tales to tell - don't miss this exciting evening.

Don competed in the Dakar Rally three times, the Baja 1000, and many other international off-road motorcycle races. He competed on Sardinia Italy as a member of the Cyril Despres Factory KTM team in Sardinia Italy; was teamed with Simon Pavey on a BMW-Husqvarna supported team in the 2013 Dakar Rally; worked with Charley Boorman in the filming of Extreme Frontiers Canada (complete with a cameo appearance); and was the featured adventure-riding instructor on 12 episodes of the TSN series "Motorcycle Experience".

He's offering 2-3 riding clinics on Saturday, so be sure to sign up and be a part of it.

Bob Forster Fly Your Bike - Quick Trip to Europe 2-up on an R1200GS, Air Canada's 'Fly Your Bike' program, and the costs + experiences

In June 2017, Bob and Tracey flew their R1200GS bike from Calgary to Frankfurt to start a 26-day trip through Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Austria, and the Italian Dolomites before returning home. They'll share the pros and cons of shipping your own bike vs. renting, the costs involved, and the documents required. They'll talk about their planning, what went right, what went wrong, and what they'll do differently next time. And, of course, their experience of the places where they stayed, the people they met, and the roads they travelled.

Robert Thode See the World on the Installment Plan The Band of Brothers Tour Travelling Europe

1. Seeing the World on the Installment Plan

What do you do when you have that urge to ride your motorcycle around the world, but you have a family, an 800-acre farm, and a company with 20 employees? Shutting down your home life is not an option. Rob talks about how he travelled one "chunk" at a time, the mistakes he made, and what worked. Plenty of pictures and highlights of his travels through 76 countries, AND his plans for the next 30+ countries!

2. The Band of Brothers Tour

World War II was our fathers generation's war. This trip was a history lesson and memorial to the sacrifices their generation made. Robert read some on WWII and his wife Martha's father was an officer on the European front, was captured, and spent time in POW camps. Rob and Martha followed the Band of Brothers route with some diversions to battle sites that Martha's dad was involved with. They also made a diversion up to Keil, Germany, where his great grandfather was from to connect with some of his family roots.

3. Travelling Europe

A whirlwind motorcycle road trip of Europe - from Rome to the Arctic Circle and back to Wales. Europe is expensive, fuel is double U.S. price, food and hotels are 50% more. So how do you do it without going broke? Europe is easy to travel with most borders indicated only by a sign as long as you stay in the EU. We did travel a short way into Russia - crossing that boarder took some time. Robert shares some of the logistics and inside tips of staying in the black with your budget.

Rob's first "escape" was to New Zealand in 2006 and he was hooked. To date, he has traveled by motorcycle in 76 countries with base plans for the next three "escapes". At home, his family farms cattle, hay, raises timber, and are specialty contractors in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana.

Grant and Susan Johnson, Horizons Unlimited How it all began. The story of Grant and Susan's 11-year trip around the world, without a plan or a clue!

Way back in 1987, before the Internet, two young and naive Canadians set out from Vancouver to ride around the world on a motorcycle. The plan (and budget) was for 3 years, but it didn't quite work out that way!

Maria Schumacher and Aidan Walsh, Following Tarmac Kangaroos and Corrugations The length of India - Not on an Enfield

1. Kangaroos and Corrugations

You'd think riding around a first world country like Australia would be plain sailing. And in a way it is: spare parts are easily available and everyone speaks English. It's the rhythms of nature that will pull you this way and that, taking you on a wonderful rollercoaster ride of adventure, survival, and riding fun. The twisties in the snowy mountains will have you lose all track of time while lusciously green Tasmania seems like a world of its own, with wild Tasmanian devils and Pademelons wandering the mushroom carpeted fields. Australia's centre is so vast that a house number like 13501 is not unheard of and people have to drive for miles to mail boxes of any shape and size they fancy. You'll have to bring extra fuel, water and rations just to make it between neighbouring cattle stations, and Jackeroos heard cattle by horseback, motorcycle or helicopter. Bikers across the country will warn you that you shouldn't watch the helicopter in the sky, but flee the inevitable stampede it forebodes. We'll be telling tales of riding through Australia's eastern mountains, exploring Tasmania, traversing the dry and dusty centre, avoiding crocodiles in the north, enjoying encounters with the locals, and - if we have time for it - the wonderful west, too.

2. The length of India - Not on an Enfield

We'll tell you how to go about buying a bike in Delhi that isn't an expensive Enfield (it can be done even without the help of the famous Lali Singh). Then we'll share tales of our 6-month adventure riding around India. First, the freezing cold and stunningly beautiful Himalayas, through the recently flooded Srinagar, where we lived on a boat. The deserts of Rajasthan and the Pushkar camel fair. Bootlegging in Gujarat with its dried up salt planes that flood in the rainy season, almost cutting it off from the rest of India. Christmas amongst the ruins of Hampi and living with a tribe in the tea mountains, and the stunning hippie beaches of Goa and the waterways of Kerala. And, finally, we'll tell you how to sell the bike again.

Shannon & Mike Mills, S&M Boiler Works Perpetual Motion: RTW Motorcycle Journey Dissecting the $ - RTW Motorcycle Trip

1. Perpetual Motion: RTW Motorcycle Journey

If a picture speaks a thousand words, then we figured our movie showing the highlights of our three-year trip around the world would save us a lot of talking. S&M Boiler Works will show a movie (45-min) detailing our journey around the world on two Suzuki DR 650 motorcycles. It starts in Seattle driving south through the Americas to Ushuaia, a cargo freighter journey across the Atlantic Ocean to Europe, two months in Morocco, a race across Europe to a loop around Turkey, an air cargo hop to Nepal, then overland to Indonesia before returning to Seattle by way of the HU CanWest meeting. After the movie it is all Q&A.

2. Dissecting the $ - RTW Motorcycle Trip

Three years ago, we gave a presentation about planning for a short trip as well as our three-year around the world trip. Now with the three-year trip nearing completion, we can revisit our assumptions. We will share our lessons learned, where are budget was correct and where we were way off the mark. The books will be wide open. We will discuss where money could be saved, what costs are unavoidable, how to plan and budget for your own epic journey whether two weeks or five years. We will also share information on border crossings, navigation tips and tricks, routes, and more. S&M Boiler Works will share all costs, hard won lessons, and strategies from their 3-year journey around the world.

Doug Laird Nordkapp 2017 - The Last Corner Half the FUN is planning the ride. Things I have learned about planning and then riding these adventures.

Over the last five years, I've planned my trips to include the length of the Pan America Highway and a ride around the world. Having visited three corners of the world, I had a goal of visiting Nordkapp. On my way home from this adventure, I want to share with you the planning process for these self-directed rides and lessons I have learned. I must admit that, for me, half the fun of an adventure is the planning process. It is not as difficult as you might believe to plan your own trip of a lifetime. I'll share some resources available to you for the initial planning and then more specific details for obtaining visas, shipping the bike, getting insurance, finding hotels, communications, setting up your GPS, etc. I look forward to sharing my experiences with you and also learning from you.

Trevor Marc Hughes Riding Across Historic British Columbia B.C. is full of wonderful historic places to travel to on a motorcycle. Join Trevor as he shares his travel tales and welcomes your ideas, too.

Join author and motorcycle travel writer Trevor Marc Hughes as he tells of his journeys across this huge and wonderful province. What he likes to do most is combine his love of motorcycle travel and his interest in British Columbia history. He'll speak of journeys along challenging roads to unique ghost towns, travelling twisty roads to lands end on Vancouver Island and forest service roads that will take you to the oldest forest in the country. From natural history, to First Nations history to European settlement history destinations, the roads of British Columbia can lead you to so many fascinating discoveries. Come and hear Trevor tell of his adventures and be prepared to share some of your own B.C. history travel stories.

Trevor has been riding a motorcycle for nearly 20 years. His current bike is a KLR650 and he writes about motorcycle travel in British Columbia for several magazines. His two books, "Nearly 40 on the 37" and "Zero Avenue to Peace Park", explore the history of the province via the motorcycle journey.

David Rankine Motorcycling from Korea to Europe Motorcycling To and From Alaska Riding from the U.S. to Argentina

1. Motorcycling from Korea to Europe

A presentation on riding a motorcycle from Korea to Europe emphasizing practical advice for those contemplating such a trip. Dave has spent his retirement riding the world which he has been around two-and-a-half times.

2. Motorcycling To and Around Alaska

A former Alaska resident, Dave will give a slideshow of the various routes to and around Alaska emphasizing practical advice on roads and climate to aid one planning a trip there.

3. Riding from the U.S. to Argentina

This is a slideshow and talk about riding a motorcycle from the U.S. to Argentina. The emphasis is on practical advice on climate and distance.

9 Minute Moto Film Festival Brand new films for your viewing pleasure

9MMFF is premiering brand new films during the weekend. Sit back, relax, and enjoy what fellow motorcyclists have created from their adventures. Who knows... maybe they'll inspire you to see the story hidden within the hours of video footage at home. 9MMFF founders, Nevil and Michelle Stow, are conducting a video workshop, too. Check below for more info.

The 9 Minute Moto Film Festival (9MMFF) is the brainchild of Nevil and Michelle Stow. They seek to showcase short (maximum 9 minutes, to be precise) movies made by motorcyclists and travellers around the globe at their annual festival at the Mad Dog Cafe in Alberta.

Don Hatton, Hatton Insurance Agency Riding Clinics (Saturday, Aug 26th)

A BMW-certified, international, off-road motorcycle instructor, Don has taught with world-renowned BMW off-road riding instructor Simon Pavey. Don runs a very popular adventure rider training facility in Duncan, British Columbia, along with a very successful insurance agency specializing in motorcycle insurance.

Don competed in the Dakar Rally three times, the Baja 1000, and many other international off-road motorcycle races. He competed on Sardinia Italy as a member of the Cyril Despres Factory KTM team in Sardinia Italy; was teamed with Simon Pavey on a BMW-Husqvarna supported team in the 2013 Dakar Rally; worked with Charley Boorman in the filming of Extreme Frontiers Canada (complete with a cameo appearance); and was the featured adventure-riding instructor on 12 episodes of the TSN series "Motorcycle Experience".

He's offering 2-3 riding clinics on Saturday, so be sure to sign up and be a part of it.

Michelle and Nevil Stow, 9 Minute Moto Film Festival Video & Filming Workshop Uncover your creativity from your moto adventures

Nevil and Michelle will cover the type(s) of cameras to carry, choosing your equipment, what works for you, and what video-editing programs are out there. They will discuss how you want to make your movie - the "storyboard" is your journey, so how do you go about filming it? There will be info on copyrights, drone use, permission forms, and composition. Bring all your questions for the Q&A at the end, 15-20 min.

The 9 Minute Moto Film Festival (9MMFF) is the brainchild of Nevil and Michelle Stow. They seek to showcase short (maximum 9 minutes, to be precise) movies made by motorcyclists and travellers around the globe at their annual festival at the Mad Dog Cafe in Alberta.

Herman Kovacs Making Your Own Custom Seat How to customize your M/C seat so your trip will be more enjoyable

Herman will show you how to customize any motorcycle seat for touring or off-road bikes. He has been making custom motorcycle seats for the past thirty years, on all brands of bikes. He'll show you, and bring his tools (knife, sandpaper, drill, the right glue). You have most of these items at home now. Using the correct density of foam is extremely important for this will determine how long the seat will last. Herman will bring samples of the foam and glue as well as large pictures of various seats he has made in different stages of production, including at least one motorcycle with his custom seat at the event. Don't worry about making the seat cover - even Herman sends out his seats to one of the local upholsterers in town. They are the experts in that area.

The seat must be made ergonomically correct for the rider... Herman will share all. If you are on a trip and and your bottom is hurting and don't know where to sit on your bike anymore, He has some suggestions that should help you finish the trip more comfortably.

Herman has ridden motorcycles for forty years. In the past nine years, he's toured Alaska, Yukon, Northwest Territories, four western provinces, and the Maritimes. Previous to all that, he's visited the Grand Canyon and, in the winter of 2015, a second trip to Death Valley.

Grant and Susan Johnson, Horizons Unlimited 4 Easy Steps to Overland Travel! You can do it - we can help! Finding your way around Horizons Unlimited, other resources. Lots of great pics and video clips.

"Grant and Susan Johnson are icons in the round-the-world (RTW) motorcycling community. The Johnsons host - or more appropriately write, edit, produce, manage and coordinate Horizons Unlimited - a global network of motorcycle travelers... and a bona fide adventure motorcycling phenomenon." Dan Hilton, Rider Magazine

This seminar will be an overview of various 'How To' topics. Includes 'How to' content from the Achievable Dream series and great pics from HU Photo Contest winners!

Grant Johnson, Horizons Unlimited Fix that flat! How to change a tire anytime, anywhere!

Grant's tire changing seminars are always well attended and appreciated. This seminar covers: 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; hands-on practical for beginners to experts, optional tire changing contest.

Grant's tire changing seminar at HU California meeting.

Grant Johnson, Horizons Unlimited Bike mods and ergonomics!

Grant will host a bike 'Show and Tell' - bring your bike and show us your favorite travel mods. Critique and discussion.

When you picked up your new bike, did they take the time to make it fit you? You'll learn the amazing difference a properly setup bike makes to your riding fun.

Ergonomics demonstration at HU Canada West meeting.

LOTS of presentations to come! As people register to present we'll list them here.

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 us here to volunteer.