HU Travellers Meeting Australia Victoria 2015

Brian and Shirley Hardy-Rix, Aussies Overland Two up across Europe, Scandinavia, Russia and Central Asia

World travellers Brian and Shirley are just back from a ride across Scandinavia, Europe and into Russia and Central Asia. Extreme temps and extreme conditions! New stories and great pics!

A bit chilly for summer, especially for Aussies!

Brian and Shirley rode from the bottom of South America to the top
of Alaska. A lap of Western Europe and southern Africa before heading home to Australia. 16 months on the road, more than 82,000 ks through 32 countries. They crossed the Andes, deserts, visited Antarctica and Galapagos.

On their next trip, they rode from London to Melbourne through Europe, Iran, Pakistan, Nepal, India, Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia and Singapore!

Shirley and Brian have written a book about their travels: Circle to Circle - a journey through the Americas and beyond. The book will be available at the event - get your copy signed by the authors!

Scott Cairns Riding Solo Through East Africa - Diving in the Deep End - What I learnt on my first ever Adventure Tour and why YOU can do it too!

So what Is Africa really like? Is it "safe"?

From dealing with police road blocks to having a lion run out in front of the bike, I share my experiences through East Africa.

I also talk about border crossings, food, camping and accommodation, seeing the gorillas, doing a safari, muddy roads - anything and everything that we have time to cover!

So far Scott has lead a fairly adventurous life; from paragliding to spending two years in the Commando regiment. He didn't think there was much left to excite, but Adventure Touring fulfills that need!

Sherri Jo Wilkins, Because I Can World Tour South America

A closer look into this part of the world. From arriving Colombia on one very scary boat from Panama, right down the tippy bottom, Ushuaia, Argentina. Plenty of drama and adventure in between!

Sherri Jo is originally from America, now a proud citizen of Australia with a goal to ride a motorcycle around the world! She had owned and ridden a Harley in the States, acted as a navigator and co pilot in light aircraft and sailed a yacht dodging pirates through the islands of the pacific – surely this was the next logical step...

Traveled 3 1/2 years around the world on a KTM 690 Enduro. Now exploring my own country on smaller trips with my new Triumph Tiger 800 XC.

Aidan and Maria Schumacher The length of India - Not on an Enfield

We'll tell you how to go about buying a bike in Delhi that is not an expensive Enfield (it can be done even without the help of the famous Lali Singh).

Then we'll show you lots of pictures and tell you of the adventures we had during our six months 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. Not to forget a Christmas amongst the ruins of Hampi and living with a tribe in the tea mountains. And finally the stunning hippie beaches of Goa and the waterways of Kerala.

We are Aidan and Maria and we are on our big RTW. We set off from London, where we both lived for several years, in February 2014 and headed east. Like most plans, this one changed several times and our one big trip is turning more into a lifestyle of lots of trips. We haven't actually made it around the world yet so we're just working and traveling, having lots of adventures and meeting great people along the way. We thought we'd share a few stories with you while we're in Australia.

Geoff Bransbury, Dopey Old Bloke Finding Serendipity in Russia & Mid Asia

Drama, amazing hospitality, stunning scenery, history & hilarious moments riding solo in Russia Mongolia, Stans, Pamirs and Iran!

I hadn't ridden for 35 years when I attended my first Horizons meeting. Now, aged 70, I'm into my RTW and ready for more!

My solo 2014 trip through Russia, Mongolia, the Stan's and Pamir Mountains and Iran to London was life changing. It had it all... Drama, and near catastrophe, inspirational places and history and lasting friendships.

My presentation is more than just photos showing the journey, and the adventure. I try and bring to life the views of the people, their history which has so much relevance to us.

Geoff Bransbury, 70, started riding again at 65 He recently travelled from Vladivostok Russia to London via the Stans, the Pamir Mountains, Mongolia, Iran, Turkey. Previous bike trips include Europe, South/Central America, USA, India, Bhutan, Nepal.

Horizons meetings gave Geoff the inspiration, confidence and knowledge to travel the world alone by Motorcycle.

Rob and Kath Gordon Small bikes in big places - Travel hints and tales from two Aussie idiots, on sub-200cc bikes, traveling the Americas.

In 2014, two Aussie idiots gave up work for the year, piled their remaining belongings in storage, and went riding. 5 months were spent in South America traveling on local 125cc bikes. Then, they flew to the USA and bought big 200cc beasts to tour another 10,000 miles.

Intertwined with trip tales are various lessons learned; from buying bikes in Chile & the USA, what worked/didn't work, what we used/didn't use and other hopefully helpful info.

In 2014, Rob & Kath took a year off work and spent it traveling the Americas on little bikes. We bought wee 125s in Chile, and rode almost 20,000ks through Chile, Argentina, Bolivia and Peru. We then sold the bikes, flew to the USA and bought 200cc bikes to do 10,000 miles...

Tim Sleeth Between Hither and Yon - Tales from the ride from Melbourne to London

In February 2014 Tim set off on what would turn into 45,000km journey across 33 countries lasting 11 months.

Leaving on a whim and intent to plan on the go led to many adventures including crossing Myanmar, getting locked in an Indian jail and riding through the Himalayas in Ladakh.

He will also touch on having his bike stolen in Budapest and how this challenge was overcome with the help of the local biker community to finish the journey.

Tim is a 26 year old adventure motorcyclist from Melbourne, Australia. After having backpacked around Europe, Asia and the Americas he decided to combine his passion of bikes and travel by riding from Melbourne to London.

Back in his hometown of Melbourne Tim is readily pursuing his next adventure and hopes his experiences will inspire others to try their own.

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!

Grant crossing a river on a pipe bridge in Peru

11+ years later, they finally made it, through 50 countries - Europe, Africa, New Zealand, Australia, North and South America, with a side trip to Antarctica! Hundreds of great pics and some amazing stories!

Aidan and Maria Schumacher Breakdowns = Adventure

We were told BMWs are pretty much the most reliable bike you can take on a RTW. Well, in that case I must have had the exception to the rule. As soon as we'd left our comfort zone of central Europe and reached Greece, where they use a different alphabet, the breakdown saga began and followed us around for months. Sounds like a nightmare, right?

Well, it actually provided us with some of the greatest adventures! The kindness and helpfulness of people is immense regardless of language or religion. We will share the great experiences we had and tell of the people we met because of my unreliable bike. And we'll show you how we've always found a way to fix the bike and carry on, even in countries where things work differently and people don't speak English.

Things may not have worked out the way you'd planned - they hardly ever do. It can get really frustrating but don't let a breakdown make you give up. Just keep at it. Chances are you'll get to know the locals and have some great experiences when your bike forces you to stop for a while. So don't let the worry that you might break down stop you. It's just part of your great adventure!

Anthony and Janet Morrison What to take, South America with a tour company, and Trials and Tribulations of 2-up camping in Europe

What to take & how to take it

This presentation is for those of us who just want to know where to start. I will talk about what to take and how to get it there for those going on a tour with a company or are doing their own thing. I will also show you how I packed the motorcycle for a three month two up camping holiday around the UK and Europe. I will also give you some help with the paper work. what is required and what is handy to have.

South America with a tour company

This is a short summary of our experiences in riding across South America with a large Australia tour company. I will talk about the lead up to the ride including medical, paperwork visa's etc. Included in the talk will be slides showing some of the places and things we saw and experienced.

3 months, 2 up camping around Europe - the trials and tribulations

This is a short summary of our experiences in riding around Europe. I will talk about the lead up to the ride including medical, paperwork visa's etc. Included in the talk will be slides showing some of the places and things we saw and experienced.

Anthony and Janet Morrison have traveled around Australia, South America and Europe. They have traveled with a tour company across South America but more recently have done two trips to the United Kingdom and Europe, camping two up for up to three months.

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

Grant's tyre 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 tyre changing contest.

Grant's tyre changing seminar at HU California meeting.

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 'How To' travel overland topics. Includes content from the Achievable Dream series and great pics from HU Photo Contest winners!

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.