HU Travellers Meeting Virginia 2024

ADVENTURE DISCUSSION PANEL with Q&A All Things Adventure and Beyond With Emy & David Woodburn / Sam Manicom / Melanie & Greg Turp. (Full panel members TBC.)

Some of the best times are real talks about real adventure stuff, conversation-style.

Join some of your favourite savvy travellers about all things adventure and beyond. You're in for a wonderful time listening inand asking these folks some of your burning questions. Does that mean they'll be on the hot seat? Nah, they've weathered the best and worst on their travels... they'll bring warm insights, hot takes, and their humanness to the table. Cosy up!

Don't miss their individual presentations! Scroll for more info below.

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.

Tom Medema, Rally For Rangers Ride, Donate, Protect Learn how Rally for Rangers has been so successful and how to get involved.

How can an adventure rider save a snow leopard or rhino? Join Rally for Rangers co-founder Tom Medema for a multi-media presentation about how Rally for Rangers has been supporting rangers and protecting wildlife for ten years.

Want to join a rally and personally deliver a new motorbike to a ranger in Bhutan, Peru, Mongolia? Interested in giving back here in the USA and supporting tribal rangers in the Black Hills? Learn more about how to get involved, how to support the work, and how all the magic happens!

[Photo credit: Fisher Creative.]

[Photo credit: Jeff Colhoun.]

[Photo credit: Jeff Colhoun.]

TOM MEDEMA is co-founder of Rally for Rangers, a non-profit dedicated to bringing new motorcycles to park rangers protecting some the worlds most threatened wildlife and protected places. Tom has traveled to personally deliver motorcycles to rangers in Mongolia (seven times), Nepal, Patagonia, and Peru.

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.

Also, be among the first to glimpse the upcoming Trans-Ontario Trail and join us at the inaugural Horizons Unlimited Quebec event (17-19 May 2024) where we'll unveil even more thrilling possibilities for your future adventures.

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.

John Panek Positively Disconnected / What is the MSTA?

JOHN PANEK has traveled by motorcycle over 300K miles, mostly in the United States, Canada, and Europe.

1) Positively Disconnected
How to come up with a "Plan B" when things go wrong.

John will discuss the highs and lows of his recent trip from Chicago to Maine to attend the Northeast European Motorcycle Rally. While en route to the rally, his motorcycle suffered a catastrophic electrical failure. Now faced with having no way to get back home, John had to use his "out of the box" thinking for what can only be described as a comedic way to get back home.

2) What is the MSTA?
An introduction to the Motorcycle Sport Touring Association.

Do you like riding twisty roads or dirt trails for miles on end in interesting and scenic areas in the U.S., guided by the knowledge that only a local rider can provide? If your answer is resounding YES!, then plan to attend this session.

Joe Sokohl, Brothers, Bikes, and Bourbon (YouTube) The Ride Is History Riding where I could go by car...but just don't. Instead, let's ride to experience history while making our own.

Riding through history means viewing the past to understand what they did there. It means encountering in-person places that maybe you've read about, but never visited. Perhaps there's a favorite old movie that you wanted to learn more about: Did it REALLY happen the way Hollywood said? And what was it about That Place that mattered?

I love to ride to historical sites to learn about things that matter... and to do so by motorcycle. From military history to literary history to musical history to political history, I'll showcase some of my journeys. I'll highlight why they mattered to me. And I'll suggest why such travel can enhance your adventures on two wheels.

JOE SOKOHL - From "Then Came Bronson" and his first bike (Yamaha 350RD), motorcycles have been a presence, a theme, and a force for Joe. With more than 25 years on road bikes, Joe writes motojournalism while also editing Brothers, Bikes, and Bourbon on YouTube...when he's not designing software experiences.

Sam Manicom No Time - Still Fascinated by the Exotic / Getting Your Work Published in Magazines

1) No Time - Still Fascinated by the Exotic
Just because it's the other side of the world and a person has a full-time job...

Fancy two-wheeled adventures in exotic lands, but don't have the time for a big trip at the moment? Let's take a look at Vietnam. What a phenomenal history this country has. It's a crossroads of cultures, has one of the most beautiful coastlines in the world, customs that will surprise you, and places where time has almost stood still. The riding is incredible in so many ways. There's much to learn and more than enough of a mix of challenges, delights, beauty, and laughter to create a full-on adventure. And it won't cost you an arm or a leg.

2) Getting Your Work Published in Magazines
How to go about doing this

Every traveller has a story to tell. Tips to share, places to go... Inspiration with words. It's what overlanders do, isn't it. Share. But how do you get your work published? I'd like to share a bunch of ideas that will help you to produce great articles in such a way that magazines will be interested in publishing your work.

SAM MANICOM set off to travel the length of Africa with just a couple of months' experience riding a motorcycle. This turned into eight years RTW. Europe, Africa, Australia, Asia, South and Central America, and North America. He and his partner, Birgit, have since travelled in many parts of the world on shorter trips.

Emy and David Woodburn How Much Can a Koala Bear? / Middle Eastern Wanderings

1) How Much Can a Koala Bear?
What do you do when, on the far side of the world, your bike is nicked?

After seven years on the road, Emy, Mattea, and I had wintered in Barnsley, Yorkshire. Over a six-week period, in a damp, unlit, single-car garage, I fettled the old bike. One wet Saturday afternoon, the machine was as ready as I could make it for a journey back out to India. I loaded our precious spares, our tools, and our manual. I felt unusually weary and tad despondent, having spent much of Saturday working out in the rain.

To add despondency to despondency, come morn our outfit was gone. That fact was taken in stride, but the matter compounded the following day. The Bobbies found the violated machine, sans the sidecar. We'd overcome many obstacles in our wonderful journeying ... from a scorpion sting to dysenteries; from Malaria to Cholera; from being crashed into to being crashed into again, and so on. Now the bike needed repair and somehow, we needed to build ourselves a sidecar.

2) Middle Eastern Wanderings
Baluchistan, Pakistan to Turkey... Israel to Egypt.

During the nineties, with a BMW outfit, we crossed this country (once known as Persia) three times. Iran has become a by-word these days. Yet, we were so often treated kindly by Iranians. By association, when Iran is mentioned, I think hospitality. Baluchistan starts in Pakistan and encompasses southern Iran.

We'd like to talk about this part of Pakistan and Iran and also Turkey... sometimes hardscrabble lands, but lands tempered with general courtesy to strangers. Then, if time permits, we can expound a little on Israel and Egypt.

Having traveled extensively in Australia, DAVID WOODBURN boarded a ship bound for Singapore in 1977, his outfit loaded into the hold. Three and a half years later a freighter from New York deposited David and EMY WOODBURN in Sydney. In 1990, Emy, David, and their infant daughter departed Singapore on another outfit. At the end of the decade, they flew themselves and the machine to Maimi from Johannesburg.

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.

Don't miss Greg's introduction to the ACCIDENT SCENE MANAGEMENT / ROAD GUARDIANS training programs. Scroll down the page for more info.

Dustin Richardson Adventure on the Cheap How to travel like a millionaire on a thousandaire's budget.

I love travel. I love adventure motorcycling. I love making my way to amazing places and returning home with stories so wild that it's sometimes not even worth trying to tell them to "normal folks" who probably wouldn't understand anyway. The problem is, I've never really had much in the way of money, but I never let that stop me and neither should you. Together, we'll learn how to see the world on a shoestring - and have a great time doing it.

DUSTIN RICHARDSON has a low-paying civil service job and a passion for travel. Reconciling those two has been his life's work. His passion for motorcycle overlanding began with a short weekend motocamping trip barely 10 years ago. Since then, he's travelled tens of thousands of miles on his bike - on road and off - camping, writing, and smiling all the way.

Petra Vergeer Riding the Waves of Resilience 30 Years Working in Conflict and Developing Countries and the Power of Motorcycle Rides for Renewed Energy

Petra will share her incredible experiences working in almost 20 developing countries. Dedicating 10 years of her life to Doctors Without Borders, she will discuss the challenges and rewards of working in fragile settings like Liberia. She will share stories of her efforts to save the lives of refugees fleeing conflict in Sudan and Kosovo, addressing emergencies such as malnutrition and cholera, and highlight her subsequent work in development, collaborating with the Ministry of Health in the Solomon Islands and contributing to healthcare improvements in countries like Haiti and Zambia.

Throughout her journey, Petra faced challenges, witnessed the resilience of people,; and always found solace in riding her motorcycle in-between the demanding work. Her presentation will inspire with stories of hope, collaboration, and the importance of going for a ride to regain energy.

PETRA VERGEER is an avid motorcyclist who relishes the freedom of riding. She has been working in developing countries for 30 years, striving to make a difference for those less fortunate. For her, riding is more than just a hobby; it's a way to disconnect from the pressures and reconnect with herself.

Amy & Kevin Edwards, A to Blog Electric Motorcycle Travel The electric vehicle future is here, and it's a fun twist on the traditional road trip

Electric vehicles (EVs), including electric motorcycles, have become good enough to be an interesting option for travel. EV tech and charging infrastructure are changing rapidly. In 2021, Kevin was the first to complete the Trans America Trail with an electric motorcycle. That bike was modified to increase charging speed, and to turn a commuter into an ADV tourer. Today, that same trip can be made with a stock electric ADV bike.

This presentation briefly covers EVs 101: Where do you charge? How long does it take? How far can it go? What if it gets wet? Is it even fun to ride? We'll also share a few lessons from our electric moto trips in Newfoundland and Labrador, on the NEBDR, MABDR, as well as a handful of epic electric global overlanding trips by others. Despite our enduring love of gas bikes, it turns out that traveling on an electric motorcycle has a charm all of its own.

AMY and KEVIN EDWARDS are based in North Carolina, and have traveled North America together on motorcycles for 20 years. Lately, their moto adventures have skewed more off-pavement, following routes such as BDRs and the TAT, and now often include an electric motorcycle or two.

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.

Greg Turp, Accident Scene Management/Road Guardians Accident Scene Management An introduction to the motorcycle trauma training program.

If an accident happened in front of you, would you know what to do until help arrives? Imagine you're riding your motorcycle and the person you're riding with goes down... what do you do until help arrives?

This is a brief introduction on the motorcycle trauma training program and what to do if you are first on the scene of a motorcycle accident. The program is intended for specific issues related to motorcycle accidents, traffic safety, and how to administer care. Greg will cover site management, helmet removal, jaw thrust rescue breathing, victim stabilization, basic first aid, and more as it pertains to us, motorcycle riders.

This is not a substitute for the 7-hour class that you can schedule to become a certified bystander first responder.

GREG TURP is a Lead Instructor with Accident Scence Management/Road Guardians. He has been riding motorcycles since he was 15 years old. For 35 years, he was a Perfusionist doing "heart-lung bypass" in operating rooms in Florida and across the United States. When he retired, Greg and wife Melanie rode all around the world to all 50 states and 68 countries on 6 continents. His goal is to bring knowledge about motorcycle-specific accident scene first aid to folks in the U.S. and other countries as he rides through them.

Jim Moss Travel the World While Keeping Your Home Travel to other countries by utilizing tour companies or renting a moto.

How to travel the world without selling every thing and leaving? I enjoyed my job and my house, so I visited countries by renting a moto or going on a guided tour. I have had great experiences traveling this way and made life long friends. I want to keep this up.

JIM MOSS started traveling by hitchhiking around the USA. Later, he purchased a motorcycle and has been riding ever since. He has ridden in all 50 U.S. states, North America, Iceland, Ecuador, and South Africa. He did work internationally, visited 35 countries and lived in seven.

Peter Youngblood and Mark Finkler 500 Miles Per Day the Easy Way in the U.S.A. How to ride 500 miles/day, safely, in the U.S. Tips based on experience.

It's great to experience the freedom of motorcycle travel at your own pace. Nevertheless, there are times when you simply have to get to location "A" in a given amount of time and the distance is such that you will be doing 500 mile days. That might sound daunting and not much fun. We'll give some useful pointers based on experience so the rider can easily cover that distance per day, and more, if needed, safely and in some comfort. We will talk about time management, equipment, lodging, and meeting people along the way. It's still supposed to be fun, after all.

MARK FINKLER is a semi-retired veterinarian with 50 years of road-riding experience in the USA, including multiple cross-country rides as well as one ride to Alaska. His No. 1 riding companion is Peter Youngblood.

PETER YOUNGBLOOD is a retired Army officer who has been riding motorcycles for over 50 years. Along with Mark, he has made multiple coast-to-coast motorcycle rides, mainly in the last 20 years, to include three Saddle Sore 1000 rides.

Steve Madden, Mad Moto Across the Water Somewhat Prepared; Totally Successful Even if you think you are not ready, you may be. If you're curious enough to be here, you will be successful.

I was largely unprepared for my RTW when I left solo in 2018. I was 64 years old, riding a Honda Africa Twin I had spent no time on with, and next to no off-road experience. My packing was horrendous; my communication and navigation skills lacking. Yet I managed to get my bike to Korea and, four months later, flew home from Switzerland. I have learned much since then. I will share a slide presentation with anecdotes of my experiences, both good and bad. Learn how a naïve average rider can accomplish such a feat. Hint: it's easier than you think.

In September 2022, I took off for Ushuaia. Along the way, I visited Machu Picchu, rode the salt flats in Bolivia, narrowly avoided unrest in Peru, and was stopped by guerrillas in Colombia. I will also share some of these moments. Let's flip the switch to adventure.

STEVE MADDEN is a recovering lawyer from Cincinnati who rode his Honda Africa Twin RTW solo in 2018 at age 64. The bike remains in Europe for future adventures which included Tunisia in 2019. He began riding at 54 and has logged 300,000 miles in 29 countries on four continents.

David Woodburn & Charlie Pearce Tires! / General Maintenance Workshop

1) Tires!
How to change a tire and fix punctures

David and Charlie are letting out all the hot air about fixing tires. The key is to the know-how, which this duo will provide. The rest is just a little extra elbow grease. Easy peasy!

2) General Maintenance Workshop
Servicing your motorcycle. Tell us what you want to know about!

Superduper Duo, David and Charlie, show you how to do your own service, including adjusting chain tension. Ask us anything you want about maintenance issues.

(Photo credit: Chris Smith, Chris and Cami Photography.)

CHARLIE PEARCE is a qualified engineer, but learned how to get around any and every mechanical problem over the years. Problem-solving is a passion as well as riding on- and off-road, and travelling with his wife Linda by any and every means.

Farkle Walk of Fun with Annette Seek out and explore the various ways people add to or modify their bike Ladies of Adventure ~ Facilitated by Annette Adventure ladies gather!

Annette Stout and her smile returns to host the annual Farkle Walk of Fun. FARKLE = accessory. The word is generally accepted to mean a combination of "function" and "sparkle"; hence, farkle. We'll go on a walk-about to interview riders and examine their bikes for a detailed breakdown of their farkles and kit. How did they decide which farkle to add and which ones to subtract? and why? Check out different storage solutions, protective gear, navigation options, and comfort customizations. We'll also look at sidecars and trailers if they catch our eye or any interesting conveyance at the campground. If you've ever wondered, "What IS that?!?" when looking at a traveler's bike, this is your chance to find out!

Annette will also be there with the annual gathering of the ADVENTURE LADIES OF HU VIRGINIA 2023 to share experiences, strength, hope, and all that fun. Gather together to share a bit of your story. No matter how you explore the world, we want to get to know a bit more about you.

Always the explorer, ANNETTE STOUT faces the world with humor, an open mind, and intense interest in all things involved with travel. Her experience with motorcycle camping combines her lifelong connection with the outdoors, powersports, gadgets, and the people whom she meets along the way.

Alex Reponen, The Spy Who Loved to Bake Motobaking: A Delicious Art & Science An introduction to understanding and mastering proper baking while traveling

"Motobaker" Alex will share his dual passions of baking and motorcycle travel to introduce fellow travelers to the joy, satisfaction and delicious possibilities of baking while traveling. Covering a range of equipment options, basic theory of successful "motobaking"; and practical tips and tricks to ensure consistently delectable results while on the road. Whether you have the desire to bake everyday or just once in a while, these are game changing skills to add to your arsenal and require less dedicated equipment than you might think! A practical demonstration of various setups from the "field expedient" to the more elaborate, with tasty freshly baked treats to sample, this presentation will definitely leave you wanting more! There are even a few giveaways for this interested in elevating their camp cooking repertoire!

ALEX REPONEN is a relative newcomer to motorcycling (approx. 11 years), but is a professional baker and seasoned international traveler. Having swerved from his previous career as a CIA officer overseas, he now satisfies both his passions by "motobaking" whenever possible; baking off the back of his motorcycle!