HU Travellers Meeting Western Australia 2016 Archive

Damien Roper Nevermind Adventure - Old school adventure on old school bikes.

Would you like to sit around the pool of a 5 star holiday resort and talk to your buddies about accessorising your custom built café racer while sipping cocktails and scrolling through Faceache on your spy phone? Then this may not be for you. This is an overview of Nevermind, what we offer and how we do adventures through the back blocks of India.

After a twenty plus year career in community health Damien gave it all away to become a professional adventurist with Nevermind Adventure. He now leads adventures on Royal Enfields through all corners of India.

Duncan Cartwright One year on the road from Los Angeles to Ushuaia

I have spent the last year riding through Central and south America on my Triumph Tiger 800XC. I will share a selection of photos and professionally edited videos of the experience, which took me from tropical jungles to high altitude deserts. I travelled with a Turkish rider, whose videos I helped to produce and will share. One of his photos of me won this year's Horizons Unlimited photo competition.

Grand Prize 2016 Winner (2017 Calendar Cover) - by Tolga Basol (Turkey); Photo of Duncan Cartwright in Punta Olimpica, Peru. HU 2017 Calendars available at the meeting! ;-)

Duncan finished University, decided to go to Australia, bought a motorbike and rode there via Europe, the Middle East and South East Asia. Ended up in Perth, WA, with a job and money to spend on motorbikes. Travelled all around WA and across Borneo on bikes. In 2015/2016 he rode from Los Angeles to Ushuaia then shipped to Spain to ride back to the UK. He has just taken up enduro/ trail/ trial riding to keep fit and enhance skills.

Steve Hammond Stunning New Zealand - Sensory overload

A pictorial tour of both New Zealand Islands with tips for travelling around and places to visit.

A few hours "across the ditch" lies a welcoming and stunningly scenic landfall that begs to be explored by motorcycle, campervan, bicycle or car. New Zealand is the ideal adventure destination if your time to travel is limited, and an ideal place to hone your overlanding skills for a step off to your next worldwide tours. Join me for a pictorial tour of some of my favourite places in New Zealand. Tips for motorcycling in New Zealand, recommendations for out of the way destinations and how to outsmart some of the feathered motorcycle predators that are to be found in these amazing and unique islands.

I'm a greying nomad who enjoys motorcycle touring on dirt and sealed roads equally. Have toured all states of Australia and both islands of New Zealand. Never happier than touring, photographing and camping in a different scenic location. Next trip planned is a retirement tour of USA.

Alpha Malinda, Karanga Adventure Tours Africa on Two Wheels - Motorbike Safari In Tanzania

Why take a safari to Tanzania? Alpha Malinda will be there to answer your questions, and also will talk about why you would want to go to Tanzania - nicknamed the Eden Garden!

Wild animals, scenic beauty, people and charity are the main things - expect to meet them in a very close angle. Advantage of riding in wild Africa - it will change your attitude towards conservation to be positive and support more of it to be living for more people to come and enjoy what's is living today. Disadvantage - you will be spoiled and wants to know more and come again every time.

If you're interested in:

• The Majestic Kilimanjaro, the Highest Free Standing Mountain in the world
• The endless plains of Serengeti,
• Ngorongoro, the only crater with living wild animals in it
• The beautiful spice island of Zanzibar.

... you need to see this presentation!

Alpha Malinda was born and raised in Tanzania, a professional Wildlife Ranger in African National Parks, with a vast knowledge enabling him to take clients from hiking Mount Kilimanjaro to wildlife safaris in the many fantastic parks and reserves. He has many qualifications including an Advanced Diploma in Wildlife management as well as Certificate in Basic Trekking and anti-poaching skills from The Norwegian Trekking School.

Safety is our language during all time of exploration on a bike safari, guided tours, full time mechanic and well communicated convoy with a support vehicle is our way to do this right. Expectations are to meet the real Africa, ride in the heart of it.

Karen and Vince Partridge 10 months & 2 Up - London to Bangkok

A honeymoon with a difference! After 12 months planning and with 12 months leave-without-pay granted from work, newlyweds Vince & Karen shipped their liquid-cooled GS Adventure from Fremantle to London in February 2015 for the start of their ride back to Australia. Battling extreme weather conditions, crazy drivers, rough roads, bureaucratic visa officials, and medical emergencies, Vince & Karen chipped away at their ride of a lifetime a day at a time.

Karen and Vince will present separately - contrasting his and hers perspectives on travelling two-up from London to Bangkok from planning to execution.

Vince's presentation will focus on key aspects of the planning and execution phases of their ride, with an emphasis on what worked well, what went wrong, and what they would do different next time around. Did the bike perform well? Did the planning pay off? Did the marriage survive the trip?

A latecomer to off-road riding, Vince is a keen rider and actively encourages riders here in WA. Short overseas rides in Vietnam, Laos, India and South Africa paved the way for his biggest adventure to date – riding two-up from the UK to Australia.

Karen's presentation will focus on key aspects of travelling long-distance as a pillion for an extended period and facing a variety of challenges, with an emphasis on what worked well, what went wrong, and what she would do different next time around. Did the rider-pillion intercom perform well? Did the daily upload of photos drive her crazy? Did the marriage survive the trip?

As a dedicated pillion, Karen has her own unique perspective on adventure riding. From sidecar adventures in WA's goldfields and a short trip in South Africa, Karen then progressed to her biggest adventure ride – 10 months and 38,000km from the UK to Australia, travelling through Turkey, Iran, Pakistan and beyond.

Jenny Engwirda Thailand Tour by a Minimalist - Bangkok and beyond on a rental

Having signed up for a tour that never got organized, I found myself with a nonrefundable ticket to Bangkok and a 6 week void in my itinerary. Boarding with my gear, an unlocked smart phone and the Aussie 'she'll be right' attitude I began a 5000km solo adventure. Relying only on android apps, I rented a bike and traveled along all the famous routes and many others worth the effort. I stayed in budget motels, joined in local activities and experienced the stress of 'hoping' that the rumoured way of getting a visa extension at the border will be successful...

I'm a retired teacher/librarian and mother of 3. I learned to ride at 49 and have since ridden between SE Qld and SW WA, including Tassie. I've also ridden around Thailand (north of Bangkok).

Xander Kabat, Two Up on a Twin On the trail of Vlad the Impaler - Romania two up

We were going to 'Transylvania, and Transylvania is not England. Our ways are not their ways, and there shall be to us many strange things.' -B.Stoker.

Before Tam and Xander rode the dark continent and the orient they had a Two-up on a Twin adventure into Romania, chasing down the legendary Vlad Tepes, better known as Dracula, the son of the dragon. Not our first 'international' bike trip, but it was the first in to a completely unknown culture, to a place of unknown mystery, the 'new Europe', unexplored and undiscovered, a place we have never seen except though the insane ranting of an Irish author. Or so we hoped, 'and yet, unless my senses deceive me, the old centuries had, and have, powers of their own which mere 'modernity' cannot kill'-B. Stoker.

This was a short-break-trip, starting and ending with iron-butt-marathon like rides crossing the UK and most of EU in just a couple of days each way. Looking back on this trip, will be a nostalgic walk in to Xander's and Tam's beginning into two up travel to parts unknown, the trip that opened the door to the world. We will look at what worked on that trip what did not and what was changed for a Two-up on a twin adventure home to Australia.

Xander started riding as a small child, and for the last 15 years he and his wife have been touring two-up, including in Australia, Europe, and a 17 month trip from the UK to Australia through Africa and SE Asia.

Xander has been riding since he was 5 yrs old and has never stopped for long. He started travelling on his bike as soon as he got his license at 16, travelling North America and Canada. He always travelled solo until he was 25 yrs old, when he met his wife Tam.

"The weekend that changed our lives - Horizons Unlimited UK 2008. Day one (Thursday night): Tam reported to me that she felt 'really out of place, around all these bikers'. Day two: she felt comfortable but intimidated by all the 'really serious travellers and bikers' (she is not really a biker just likes to travel that way). Day three: really like it and felt everyone was extremely nice; Day four: although we have only done some shortish trips together, she felt 'that the long trip was possible, and lets start to plan it!!' "

Since then, they have been travelling two-up through Australia, Europe, Africa, and SE Asia.

Ewen MacGregor Adventure Riding in Europe and Bridge to Bridge

Adventure Riding in Europe - highlights

Over the past seven years Ewen has completed five major motorcycle journeys in Europe covering over 30,000 km through some of the most spectacular riding countries including: Spain, Portugal, Morocco, France, Italy, Switzerland, Andorra, Austria, UK and Germany.

Europe presents some of the greatest motorcycle journeys in the world - the keyword for Europe is diversity, as it consists of a number of small countries, and within each are many different regions, cultures, people and of course cuisine. In Europe, the landscape in places just a couple of kilometres apart can be completely different and ancient cultural history is everywhere. One day's riding can take you across several countries.

Riding twisty European roads, or 'twisties', is most motorcyclists' nirvana, but after several weeks you will look forward to straight Aussie roads again! "...matching speed and gear to a curve as it comes up, smoothly clutching, downshifting, decelerating, turning, accelerating and then upshifting. Riding a twisty road properly is sort of like skiing, or even dancing, you get into a flow..."

The presentation will cover some of the best places and roads to ride, highest roads in Europe, things to avoid, what you can expect in European campsites, some of the fabulous cuisine and some of the country specific alcoholic beverages.

He will also explain how you can fly into a European city, hire a bike or book a bike inclusive tour and experience some of the fabulous riding Europe has to offer, in a short or mini adventure.

Illustrated with action photography and video this presentation should inspire you to visit Europe and explore, whatever your expertise on a motorbike. Go plan your next adventure!

Bridge to Bridge – Melbourne to Sydney Harbour Bridge Adventure Ride/ TK Memorial Ride

Ewen recently completed almost 3000 km of off-road Adventure motorcycle riding from Melbourne's Westgate Bridge to Sydney's Harbour Bridge. The navigation challenge ranks as one of his toughest rides to date. It took him outside of his comfort zone, and was more challenging than his previous exploits both here and overseas with numerous river crossings, steep mountain descents and tough riding conditions.

The off-road route took 70 riders through some of the most stunningly beautiful countryside in Australia including the Victorian High Country, the Snowy Mountains, Kosciuszko National Park and the majestic Blue Mountains.

Ewen's presentation will cover both low and high points: "a low point was when tackling Devil's River Crossing on the Cattleman's Link Trail of Tantawangalo Creek where I drowned the bike during a long sandy river crossing".

Ewen MacGregor is a passionate adventure motorcycle rider and was the inaugural Perth Horizons Unlimited event organiser.

John Lizamore For the sake of propriety – 12000km trip on a 2016 Africa Twin 'straight off the boat'

A planned 3 week trip to Adelaide in South Australia turned into a monster. "Wait a moment, if I take another week here, I could possibly include this" followed by "another there would allow me to..." quickly saw the trip snowball into an 8 week affair. To make matters worse, it coincided with the launch of the 2016 Africa Twin... And apparently this is all you need to start an adventure (or so I'm told).

So a quick look at the perils of taking a new model, with zero accessories available, on an extended blast through the South Australian countryside in search of places "to do absolutely nothing".

And in-between the great moments, places and experiences with motorcycle mates that makes South Australia one of the best motorcycling destinations one could hope for.

Tam Kabat The Idiot's Guide to Crossing Australia

Don't let your size, gender, bike size, or lack of experience stop you from having the adventure of a lifetime!

As a pretty inexperienced return-to-riding rider, I somehow ended up deciding to go from Perth to Melbourne & back for my first solo trip...& only the second trip with luggage I'd taken on my bike! And I ride a 250cc...With only 6 weeks to prepare, I kitted up with totally new luggage & little clue. I haven't let my size (I'm 5'2"), gender, small bike, or lack of experience hold me back (despite the stupid things I did along the way), & I've been inspired by a bunch of people through HU who've done the same.

I want to share my experience with anyone who thinks they can't get out there & explore on their own, or thinks it will cost too much. Where there's a will, there's a way! I set myself a series of challenges on my trip - to complete the trip alone, to be as self-sufficient as possible, to do the trip on a minimal budget, to camp every night & especially free camp, & to road-test as much new gear as possible. I also set out to raise money for a charity close to my heart, & to shave off my waist-length hair if I met my target. Come along to find out how well I met my challenges (hair length will be a dead giveaway ;-) ).

I first rode dirt bikes as a kid & teenager, but started road-riding in my mid-20s. As a pillion with my husband, we travelled in Oz & Europe before completing a 17-month trip through Africa & SE Asia. I've recently started riding my own bike again & on my second long trip rode from Perth to Melbourne & back. Hey, why not?!

Bob Cooper and Janine Nicholas, Rider Down Survival Tips & Fast Aid for Motorcyclists - How to save a life, including your own.

Medical and Survival join forces to provide a lifesaving session on how to save a life, including your own.

Janine will be presenting a section from the unique and innovative 'Rider Down' program. The key focus is on providing the right education and skills to the types of injuries typically encountered by the Rider Down. Janine will be putting the knowledge gained by professionals and the military into the hands of those who can save lives in the first 3 to 5 minutes. It will be the person closest to you that may be the only one who can "stop the bleed" fast enough. DRINK not SIP is the lifesaving message presented by Bob Cooper. The world's driest continent presents a serious challenge to those who hope to explore its vast unforgiving landscape. Australia's outback is arid and can indeed be dangerous, but is surprisingly beautiful when experienced firsthand. Learn how to remain hydrated and also the effects of dehydration on the body.

Bob Cooper is Australia's leading survival expert, Bob Cooper has been filmed by National Geographic America conducting his advanced survival courses in the television series True Survivors which featured on the Oprah Winfrey Show. Bob has also recently participated in two documentaries with the BBC in the UK and a segment on 60 Minutes in Australia. His experiences include living for extended periods with Aboriginal people in our Western Desert, sharing bushcraft abilities with the Bushmen of the Kalahari in Botswana also with the Lakota Sioux Indians in Dakota and jungle time with the Orang Asli people in Malaysia.

Janine Nicholas is a former paramedic and founder of Medic One, which was the first Registered Training Organisation (RTO) to offer formal VET Paramedic education in Australia. Janine is a qualified Emergency Medical Service educator in both the USA and Australia and has been responsible for implementing paramedic education in the Middle East. Janine was placed amongst an elite group of Australian businesses whose outstanding practices demonstrated great success and achievement, and as such, was awarded the Telstra Australian Business Awards WA finalist for 2 consecutive years. Overland travel experience includes frequent riding throughout Tasmania, Western Australia and parts of the USA.

Steve Fraser, Steve Fraser Photography Capturing the Journey

Whether you are heading out for a year long adventure or a weekend in the bush, capturing and sharing your experience is an important part of the journey. In this workshop you will receive some valuable tips on how to capture those incredible moments and share your story. Regardless of your photographic ability, this workshop will give you practical skills and
ensure you get great shots on your next adventure.

Red Ranges, Western Australia. Photo by Steve Fraser.

Steve Fraser is an internationally renowned photographer and adventurer recently described by Australian Geographic as "A master of light and composition who is one of the Australia's foremost photographers. Steve has a spirit of adventure and the desire to share some of the world's incredible locations with others". "Steve particularly loves the extreme challenges of his work – whether it be cave diving with sharks in Tonga or hanging out of a stock mustering plane over the WA outback – that result in such unique images".

Steve has authored Four books: Fragile, Moments In The Light, Inspirational Moments and The Wild Frontier: Western Australia and has collaborated on several others including Vision of Hope and Focus on Australia.

His work has been published in books, print and electronic media as well as being used in major advertising campaigns. Private, corporate, governments and royalty from all over the world collect Steve's fine art images. He is also in demand as a travel and adventure writer and speaker. During 2015 Steve was a Ted speaker in San Francisco.

After spending time with the founders of Water for Africa in Tanzania during 2013, Steve was so touched by the amazing work that they are doing that he agreed to be the 2014 and 2015 Ambassador for Water for Africa.

Steve has been riding since he was 8 years old, in his younger years racing motocross and enduro before switching to desert racing. Still an avid rider both on and off-road with a passion for travel and adventure. "Every year I plan to do something that is adventurous, something that pushes my limits and is not always a guarantee of success, but it is always a guarantee on making me feel alive. I have swam with sharks, trekked through the Andes, been to Antarctica, lived with the Masai in Africa and slept in a swag in the Australian desert. These moments allow me to feel alive, they test and stretch me and I get to experience a world far beyond anything I could imagine."

Frank di Giovanni Be Published in Your Favourite Magazine

In our new media world, it's very hard to be noticed. I can show how you can be recognised and paid for your passion, words and pics.

With examples and anecdotes collected over 35 years of dealing with editors, journalists and public relations people, I hope to show how you can take the heady leap into the ranks of the paid, freelance and independent journalists. If you have a passion and can express it clearly, you are bound to find others who love what you do.

I've had a couple of careers but my real passion is photojournalism and writing. I have been paid for my photos since I was 17 and I still love it. I've been a staff photographer for major Perth newspapers, have been a stringer for national magazines and have had my own freelance business for 35 years. My secret, I think, is to always say 'Yes!' and worry about the logistics later. I know anyone can be published and paid in the new media landscape for what they know and love to do.

Tony Friday Liars, Thieves and other African Officials, The Art of Getting Lost, and Short Break Adventures

Liars, Thieves & other African Officials - Cynical strategies for travelling in one of the most violent and corrupt regions on the planet

The mystery and romance of Africa is often marred by officialdom, bribery and violence. Far from discouraging African travel; this presentation presents a range of scenarios and offers simple strategies to deal with the many minor inconveniences of travelling in developing nations.

The Art of Getting Lost - Navigation needn't be complicated, new tools make getting lost quite difficult.

This presenter has managed to get lost at least once on every continent and on every journey. His geographical ineptitude has not decreased, but technology has made getting lost increasingly less likely. Tony will use a simply app to describe how he manages to lead groups of adventure motorcyclists on tours to some of the more remote corners of the planet without expensive and complicated electronics.

Short Break Adventures: How to travel overseas for a week's bike adventure for less than $1,500

Tony's HUBB session is all about being a short-break adventurer; balancing 9 to 5 with feeling alive. Using a couple of example adventures that you could book tomorrow, he will talk you through the process of exchanging less than a thousand dollars for an experience that you will remember for the rest of your life (and he's not talking about an Elvis wedding in Vegas to that 'waitress' you met last night).

You will leave this session equipped with the knowledge and tools to efficiently organise your own short break motorcycle adventure any time you choose. He will also provide you with access to his secret squirrel tools for securing cheap flights and accommodation, and for getting someone else to do most of the hard work for you. The most difficult part will be choosing the destination.

"NOTE: Bikes Abroad will sponsor a raffle prize for one HU attendee to join me on a ride in October 2016; with flights, accomodation and bike hire all covered. The plan this year is to ride out to the Mount Pinatubo volcano crater in North Luzon; a truly magnificent off-road adventure."

Tony Friday is a passionate motorcycle adventurer, visiting more than a hundred countries in his travels. He has sweated the Sahara, shivered in Russia, surfed a volcano in Nicaragua, and stayed as the guest of an African king. He now regrets these experiences, as his two children seem to share the thirst for adventure.

John Lizamore Mechanical maintenance workshop & The Zen of long distance travel

Mechanical maintenance workshop

So you think about travelling the wide open (unpopulated) spaces. But the travellers that have done it seem so blasé about the subject, which is ok if you can overhaul a motorbike in the middle of the Simpson Desert with an old boot, a Swiss army knife and a pair of pliers. But not everyone is a mechanic...

This interactive workshop session will focus on the main mechanical aspects of motorcycle preventative maintenance, as well as minor repairs. Although this is not a hands-on session, we will be demonstrating some items on a bike. Aspects and topics include:
• Oil change
• Air cleaner maintenance
• Daily checks
• Weekly checks
• Chain tension and adjustment
• Tyre pressures and wheel inspections
• Wheel bearings
• Chains and sprockets
• Clutch and brake adjustment
• Electrical fault finding
• Basic fault finding methodology (i.e. she's not going, and where do I start...)

The workshop will include a basic introduction to more popular and commonly used adventure machines, such as:
• Air-cooled singles (e.g. DR650, XR650L, XT600, etc.)
• Water-cooled singles (e.g. KLR650, CRF450, DRZ400, etc.)
• Suzuki DL and Honda V-twin range
• BMW singles, twins and boxers
• Triumph triple

If you are interested in attending this workshop, after you have registered, contact John on pert...@horizonsunlimited.com with the make & model of your bike, & note any specific maintenance requests so he can come prepared.

The Zen of long distance travel

I'll discuss how its possible to do hundreds of kilometers per day with an adventure motorcycle without breaking the bank on accessories.

Distance is relative. Some people will be bone tired after 300km/day of motorcycle travel. Others only really get the blood flowing after 800km/day. So how do you manage long distances without growing callouses on your petouch? Well, the short answer is that it's all in the laws of physics, not your personal physique.

The presentation will take an informal look at bike ergonomics, do you need all the accessories like screens, air-cushion seats, etc; and planning your battles better.

Traveled more than most, but less than others. I prefer solo trips, but can be persuaded to join groups if I know the people. I prefer motorcycle, but have extensive 4x4 and trucking travel experience as well.

Xander Kabat, Overlander Adventure Equipment Packing Light and Fix that Flat!

Packing Light

'Overweight is underprepared' has become an anthem for overlanders. However, the debate of what to bring, and how much to carry is as enduring as what is the best bike. It is agreed that the 'lighter the better', but what does that mean? What do you need to 'live on the road'? We will explore some of the advances in Camping and Motorcycle gear that is designed to be lighter and more comfortable than ever before. Be it a week end, a week or year the advances in gear may make your travels more enjoyable (or at least easier).

Xander Kabat packing workshop

Fix that flat! Tyre changing

In the style of Grant's tyre changing seminar Xander 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.

Xander has been riding since he was 5 yrs old and has never stopped for long. He started travelling on his bike as soon as he got his license at 16, travelling North America and Canada. He always travelled solo until he was 25 yrs old, when he met his wife Tam. Since then, they have been travelling two-up through Australia, Europe, Africa, and SE Asia.