HU Travellers Meeting Virginia 2025

Sam Manicom Shot At, Jailed, and Bone Fractures! / Trip Sponsorship: Should You and How?

1. Shot At, Jailed and Bone Fractures!
Overlanding is an incredible mix of possibilities, but the unexpected adventures are the best

Overlanding is all about the joy of the open road, isn't it? About learning, the chance to take advantage of unexpected opportunities, challenging ourselves and dealing with the things that go wrong; sometimes badly so. It's all of these things, but the surprises often have laughter attached and that puts the harder times firmly in their place.

2. Trip Sponsorship: Should You and How?
The dream of funding your trip via sponsorship is worth having, so how does one go about arranging it?

The idea of getting sponsorship to help fund your trip is a fine thought, isn't it. In this session, I'd like to take you through some thought processes which will help you make up your mind, if you should chase after it. And if you are enthused by the idea, how you have a chance to be successful.

SAM MANICOM travelled around the world on his trusty BMW R80GS for eight years and six continents. A self-confessed travel addict, he's the author of four adventure motorcycle travel books and writes travel articles for magazines around the world. He is also a co-host on Adventure Rider Radio RAW.
NOTE: Sam's busy tour schedule means he's at HU Virginia 2019 for Thursday and Friday only, departing early Saturday morning.

Dylan Wickrama When the road ends - Beating the Darien Gap on a Boatercycle

Then you arrive at a point where there is no road to continue. Between Panama and Colombia, there is one of the most dense jungles of this planet: The Darien! Stretching from the Pacific coast from the West to the Atlantic coast on the East, the Darien is home to many different groups of guerrilla fighters, drug smugglers and randomly scattered but notorious tribal groups which makes it to one of the most isolated and dangerous regions on Earth.

A perfect challenge for Dylan! As the first man ever he sails, solo, 650km around Darien, on the Pacific Ocean from Panama into Colombia on a self-built raft propelled by a motorcycle and experiences one of a kind adventure! A journey that is not only takes him across country borders but also tests his personal limits.

Constant break downs, storms, currents and zero sailing experience were some of the challenges of his incredible journey. When things go from bad to worse, dolphins come to his rescue! Watch the video excerpt of his trip.

Dylan Samarawickrama has travelled around the world for three and half years and modestly says he has 'done some interesting adventures'.

Dylan's book 'When the Road Ends' has now been published in English! Ask him to autograph your copy at the meeting!

Elspeth Beard One of the Early Globetrotters A two-and-a-half-year solo journey around the world by motorcycle in the early 1980s

Slideshow/Presentation about a two and a half year, 35,000-mile solo adventure around the world by motorcycle. In 1982, at the age of just twenty-three, Elspeth set off on her 1974 BMW R60/6 and describes the challenges faced as a solo woman on the road. Four decades after her journey, she published her book Lone Rider which finds new meaning within today's contemporary context recounting the journey in a different era before technology. Her journey saw her survive life-threatening illnesses and numerous accidents. She witnessed riots and civil uprisings that forced her to fake documents, and she fended off physical threats, sexual attacks, biker gangs, and corrupt police who were convinced that she was trafficking drugs. Returning home in 1984, Elspeth finished her architecture degree and now runs her own architectural practice and still enjoys riding her collection of motorcycles.

ELSPETH BEARD is a motorcyclist and award-winning architect. In 1982, at the age of just twenty-three, Elspeth set off on a 35,000-mile solo adventure around the world on her 1974 BMW R60/6 with no sponsorship or support, in an age before email, cell phones, and satnavs.

Lynn Howard Exploring Newfoundland & The Maritimes Discovering music, mountains, fish, and super friendly neighbors to the north.

A land of epic views and great big seas. Newfoundland wasn't on my radar until Horizons Unlimited held its inaugural meeting there. It was a wonderful departure from my often south-of-the-border rides. Nature is on full display in so many ways, the picture-perfect towns and coves along the coast are beautiful. The people are so nice that you don't want to leave and music fills the air with wonderful festivals. Getting there is fun, too, as there are so many things to see and do in the Canadian Maritimes. It takes a little time to get there, but is well worth the effort!

For LYNN HOWARD, travelling by motorcycle is an incredible way to be more connected to people and places while exploring. She's always on the lookout for the next adventure with a long list of places to check out. Upcoming adventures: riding with Rally for Rangers (Peru) and a Texas -to-Panama ride.

Chip Nelson & Ken Showalter, RTW North to South Virginia to Ushuaia on Dirt Bikes Two Suzuki DR350s journey south through Mexico, Central and South America

After a successful 2014 circumnavigation of the northern hemisphere, two longtime adventure junkies didn't wait long to start planning their next adventure. It was clear very early on that riding to the bottom of South America was the obvious choice. Ken and Chip left chilly Virginia on October 28, 2017, and found themselves in chilly Ushuaia, Argentina, 95 days and 15,000 miles later. They share their perspective on the choices they made during preparation in terms of bikes, mods, riding gear, luggage, spare parts, camping equipment, and trip expenses. You'll see and hear a taste of their experiences and encounters while riding through 13 countries and crossing 16 borders. Their hardearned insights to the pros and cons traveling on smaller bikes vs. bigger BMWs may also help others make bike choices that are best for their trip type and situation.

KEN SHOWALTER lives on a farm in northwest Virginia with his wife Marybeth. CHIP NELSON has lived for past 20 years on and off in the mountains of Colorado and several Caribbean Islands. They have taken two big trips together - 2014 on big BMWs around the world through 22 countries and just this past year through 13 countries to Ushuaia on the smaller DR350s.

Michelle Solaro Himalayan Hospitality A love story involving a husband, a Royal Enfield, and the people of Nepal

MICHELLE SOLARO took up motorcycling 25 years ago and has never looked back. It has brought all the best things in life: fun, adventure... and her husband.

A "Plenty of Fish" promise turns into a Christmas gift of plane tickets to Kathmandu where, in 2016, Michelle falls in love with exotic, intoxicating Nepal. Upon acquiring her leaky, rattle-can 350 Enfield, she dodges the butt-clenching madness of Kathmandu traffic for the serenity of the Kali Gandaki Gorge before heading west to the earthquake-ravaged Jiri region. From the snow capped Annapurna mountains to the steam of Sauraha's jungles, she clatters her way around a country where neither she nor her mate can read the signs or speak the language. A one-month vacation leaves a permanent mark on her heart.

Marc Chartrand, Trans-Quebec Trail Conquering the Trans-Quebec Trail (TQT) An epic motorcycle adventure

Calling all adventure motorcycle enthusiasts!

Brace yourself for a great journey as we present the Trans-Quebec Trail, a 5000-mile adventure route located north of the Canada-U.S. border. Discover some of the awe-inspiring beauty of Quebec's wilderness and its hidden gems as you conquer diverse terrain, from remote forests to majestic mountains to stunning maritime views.

Gear up and join us as we conquer the Trans-Quebec Trail, one epic ride at a time.

MARC CHARTRAND is the Project Manager of the Trans Quebec Trail efforts and the Regional Ambassador for the Basses-Laurentides Montérégie area.

Tammy Perry Holiday in Cambodia Four strangers, four Hondas, four weeks... what could go wrong?

It's all about connection. That's not the first thing that comes to mind when I think about motorcycling. In fact, as an introvert, I think of solitude and soaking up the scenery on my own time and schedule. A funny thing happened though when four strangers from three countries hooked up in Cambodia on a mission to deliver laptops to a remote village in the Cardomom mountains. [Note: this presentation includes video.]

TAMMY PERRY's father taught her to ride a street bike as a teen - they planned to ride across the country someday. Someday never came as the cancer got him just after his 50th birthday. Tammy got away from motorcycling while the kids were young, and went back to it on a dual sport in time to make it from St. John's to Vancouver before her 50th birthday. Well, then it was impossible to stop and since then she's been to almost every U.S. state, from St. John's to Guatemala and all over Mexico, Cambodia and, of course, lots of roads all over Canada.

Brent Carroll Traveling the World by Moto Changed Me Petrified, I took on a TransCan and PanAmerican trip by moto. It changed me.

I gave up nearly everything I had to chase the dream of traveling the world on my motorcycle; and I am so glad I did. After one year to the day travelling across the U.S., Canada, and the Pan-American Highway from Prudhoe Bay through 18 countries to Ushuaia and back, I observed strong evidence to confirm a few beliefs I had held: that the world is full of purposeful, striving, thriving, happy people; and that the world is also full of jaw-dropping beauty. But the most important things I learned were about myself: coming to know what happiness in life really means, how patience is totally relative, and how important it is to savor every moment in life.

Molly Harrison Riding Solo Through Mexico and Baja Riding in Mexico is easier (and more beautiful, more delicious, more fun, more exciting) than you imagine

Road tripping through Mexico is easier, closer, cheaper and more fun than you think. This presentation will give a tiny glimpse of our amazing neighbor to the south- and celebrate the trials and trails, the food and drinks, the warmth and magic of solo travel. I'll give some fun intel on the Baja 1000, as well as the baja ferry between Mexico and La Frontera. Be warned, you'll be planning your ride to Mexico soon!

MOLLY HARRISON has been riding since about 2000. She taught MSF classes for eight years and has ridden multiple times to southeast Asia (Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam), through Europe and especially the Alps (Slovenia, Italy, Austria, Switzerland), all over the USA and Canada, through Mexico and Baja, Costa Rica, and Guatemala. She is excited to scope out South America and do more exploring in Baja and Mexico.

Oliver Solaro Ice Dog A BMW 850GSA... on the sea ice?

OLIVER "BROKENTOOTH" SOLARO at your service. My nutty little shtick is to incessantly force the spirit in my machine to cry uncle while being tasked to go places and do things it was never designed for. Feel free to point and mock at will.

For decades, my cranial "voices" have whispered many a scheme to facilitate my ongoing teenage rebellion against societal expectations of what travel on a motorcycle should be. This past winter has taken this philosophy and cranked it up to 11 with a little sojourn that I guarantee will leave you scratching your head. With any luck, this may be just an engineering exercise for something even more, um...frosty coming down the pipe.

[Don't miss Oliver's GERTRUDE walk-around, the BMW850GSA that broke the mold for Arctic explorations. See more info in the Workshops and Tech Sessions section below.]

Melanie and Greg Turp, 2WANDRRs Fresh African Tracks / Yes, You Can!

1. Fresh African Tracks
Our three-month ride around the southern countries in Africa

Huff...HUFF!

"What was that?", we whispered to each other from the safety of our small tent. Earlier we had had elephants within meters of our camp. We also knew the sound we were hearing were lions.

Come with us as we visit the highlights of South Africa, ride the Skeleton Coast and camp in a game reserve, visit Vic Falls, camp with elephants walking beside our tent, and camp in Kruger searching for the big five.

2. Yes, You Can!
Stop making excuses and make a commitment to travel. Tomorrow may never come. How we did it.

How and why we decided to "take off". We have now ridden on six continents and through almost 70 countries. Don't let life get in the way of living your life. We had kids, grandkids, parents, and pets. Tomorrow may never come. Make the choice to travel, and go.

MELANIE and GREG TURP sold everything 13 years ago and decided to work part-time and travel the rest. In 2017, they decided to stop working and travel more. They're on a Patchwork RTW journey. To date, they have ridden in every state plus six continents and over 70 countries.

Tom Medema, Rally For Rangers A Rally for Rangers This new award-winning documentary follows volunteer riders as they bring new motorcycles to park rangers in Mongolia, Nepal, and Patagonia.

Since 2014 more than 80 volunteer adventure riders have travel tens of thousands of rugged kilometers across Mongolia, Nepal, Peru, Patagonia, and Bhutan in order to provide park rangers new motorcycles to combat poaching and protect natural and cultural world heritage. More than 160 new bikes have been donated to-date through this effort. A Rally for Rangers is the culmination of four years of filming and brings vivid detail to the challenges and dangers faced by the worlds park rangers every day, as well as the commitment and passion of the men and women riders who journey to support them.

TOM MEDEMA is co-founder of the Rally for Rangers project, a non-profit organization with the mission of "protecting the world's special places one motorcycle at a time." He is a career park ranger with nearly 30 years' experience protecting special places in the United States such as Yosemite, Mount Rainier, and Rocky Mountain National Parks. His ADV riding began less than a decade ago with a last-minute trip to Mongolia for a ten day rally.

Chris Smith, Jason Bennett, and Steve Roos Moto Photo Adventures Conquering the Trans-America Trail How three goofy guys conquered the TAT during the height of the pandemic

Finding themselves with very little work during the height of the pandemic, Chris, Jason, and Steve set out to fill the void by checking-off one of their dream adventures from the proverbial bucket list! Dipping their toes in the Atlantic Ocean, they headed west along the famous Trans-America Trail.

The "Trail" is a patchwork of dirt trails, fire roads, and back-country lanes that allows travelers to bisect this great continent of ours in the most remote way possible. From the curvy mountain roads of the Blue Ridge, to the lush valleys of Tennessee...from the rolling hills of the Ozarks to the great plains of Oklahoma...from the treacherous mountain passes of the Rocky Mountains...to the deadly deserts of Nevada...this trail is an adventure rider's dream! Join us as we tell our tale and share tips for those looking to conquer the TAT.

MOTO PHOTO ADVENTURES bring together three friends who share a common passion for motorcycling, photography, and adventure. Whether you're looking to take your bike on a weekend camping trip or planning your big Round the World (RTW) adventure, we're here to help. If you're not sure you can do it, yes, you can! If you're struggling with how to get started, we can help. Maybe you want tips on how to capture your trip with your new GoPro? Maybe you're looking for photography advice on how to create dramatic images of the marvelous sights you'll encounter? Hopefully our adventure videos will give you inspiration, our tutorial videos will give you knowledge, and our product videos will give you guidance. We LOVE what we do...and love inspiring others to follow their dreams too!

Andrew Pain, The Minimal Motorcyclist THREE high-value presentations covering budgeting, mental preparation for extended trips, and prepping for injury or illness. And don't miss his review of Minimalist Packing workshop (in Tech Session below).

1. Building and Following a Budget
How to find the money and how much you actually need for a long overland journey

It's one of the most common questions asked of overlanders - how to pay for it? Andrew breaks down what needs to be planned for to build an overlanding budget, how to find the money, and how much you actually need for a long overland journey.

2. Finding the Time To Go
How to find the time to travel, deal with obstacles and delays, and how to come home

It's one of the most common questions faced by overlanders, and perhaps the biggest hurdle that prevents people from taking long journey of their dreams. Leaving work, home, and loved ones to travel is a huge change, and Andrew Pain works on how to approach finding the time to travel, dealing the obstacles and delays, and how to come home and start again after the trip is over.

3. Medical and Trauma Preparedness
A different perspective for on-the-road

No one wants it to happen, but injuries and illness happen while on the road. Packing all the gear and medications to face every possible scenario is impractical at best and impossible at worse. Andrew Pain has worked as a paramedic in Milwaukee for 17 years, and traveled around North, Central, and South America on a small motorcycle. He explains what you don't need, what you should have, and where you should get it, as well as a few simple tips for dealing with the things that go wrong.

For ANDREW PAIN, it all started in the rain in 1992. Since then, he has ridden more than 300,000 miles. In 2011, he took his $65, 250cc bike to South America (stopping in Alaska, which is clearly on the way, if you hold the map right) along with a stuffed bear named Blue. Recently, he's been speaking at motorcycle and travel events across North America, reminding people it's the trip that matters, not the gear.