Australia 2007: Fourth Annual HU Travellers Meeting

Tintaldra VIC, Australia, February 23-25, 2007

See what people thought of a previous years meetings here. Or get the DVD about the 2005 HU Colorado Travellers Meeting! Free trailer here.

Comments in so far: (meeting report below)

Bob Kendell , Australia, said:

"Hi, just want to say had a great time at Tintaldra meeting, enjoyed the speakers and everyones company. Congratulations to the organisers Sian and Arno"

Shirley Hardy-Rix , Australia, said:

"Congratulations to Sian and Arno on the HU meeting at Tintaldra on the weekend. They did a terrific job and a good time was had by all."

oVe Gehrmann said:

"Just like to Congratulate for your vision in setting up HU world wide. I am sure your dedication will bring you the rewards you are looking for.

The purpose of these lines is to express my appreciation to you and the Aussie ground team for having organized an absolute great meeting.

The venue + location could not have been better! What an atmosphere. Not to mention the roads in the area. I am sure that many who attended an HU meeting for the first time left with the assurance that they can do one of those MC adventures they had dreamt of. Myself, it gave me the "push" in getting a step closer to my own trip.

I give you all a rating of 90 out of 100. The only thing I could suggest to improve on is on the administrative follow up / follow through. Though, what right do I have to say that as I was only a participant. Again, Thank U all, Regards, oVe"

(We're working on a new system for admin of meetings - as is, it's all by hand, and we just don't have time to be near as good as we'd like to be!)

• Meeting Location - Where was it?
• Information about the area
• Local hosts, information

Meeting Report and pictures.

by Sian and Arno, organisers

The tiny town of Tintaldra – population 30- was busier than usual on the last weekend in February, as people gathered for the 4th Annual HU meeting.

Thursday saw the first arrivals get the best camping spots by the river

Camping by the river.

Camping by the river.

By Friday afternoon the town really began to fill up, international riders from the UK, Switzerland and Germany joined riders from most states of Australia.

The German corner.

After supper, Bob Kendall go the evening off to a flying start with his slide show of South Africa during a few technical difficulties, Ralph Green gave some advice on shipping a bike, then presented on Mexico and South America. Didier Martin showed some photos of his Ride 4 The Kids, and then Arno Backes took everyone from LA to Ushuaia, with a few stops in between. Alec Simpson rounded the night off with his hilarious adventures in the countries that made up the former USSR.

Overnight rain didn’t deter those keen for a morning ride up into the hills,

Off riding

while others took part in breakout sessions. Adrian practised his tyre changing technique,

The only flat of the weekend

and there was the usual bike comparisons and exchange of information.

Lots of bikes in front of the hotel.

Ken and Carol Duval got the afternoon underway with their packing display, demonstrating that every bit of room can be utilised.

Carol and Ken, packing wizards.

Frank Wheeler and Charlie Miller talked about their respective adventures

Charlie Miller, talking about his travels. He travels only on his pension.

Then it was time for a spit roast supper, during which we enjoyed a DVD of Didiers exploits on his round the world trip. After supper, Tom Forde shared his highlights of Asia, then Adrian Scott took us from Magadan to Istanbul – an amazing story that had all 115 attendees enthralled for a couple of hours.

The prizes kindly donated by Lachlan of Jesse Luggage, Shirley Hardy-Rix, Peter Stevens Motorcycles, Horizons Unlimited and Sian & Arno were raffled off, raising $342.

Grant Forbes then presented photos from Central and South America, followed by Brian and Shirley Hardy-Rix who took us through their Two for the Road adventure, overland from Ireland back to Melbourne. Last on for the evening was David Breedon, with his exploits in Canada and Alaska, sharing his no shipping tips of buying and equipping a bike abroad.

With riders from Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, NSW, the ACT and Melbourne, packing up started early on Sunday morning. Goodbyes and thank-you's took until late morning, a quick picture and a big thank you to hosts at the Tintaldra Hotel, Alf and Maija then it was time to enjoy the ride home and think about doing it all again next year – maybe!

Meeting organisers, hosts and riders.

2007 Speakers and Tech Clinics were by:

• Magadan to Istanbul
  • Alec Simpson and Adrian Scott
• The Achievable Dream
  • VIDEO - Grant and Susan Johnson, Canada
    Learn from Horizons Unlimited's founders and 11 year round-the-world veterans everything you need to know to ride to the next country or the next continent. Sound scary? Get the inspiration and information so YOU can hit the road! (Grant and Susan can't make it to the Meeting, but you'll enjoy the video!
• South America
  • Ralph Green
• Around the world
  • Didier Martin
• South America
  • Grant Forbes
• How to buy a bike abroad and live to tell the tale
  • David Breedon, Australia
    There's loads of tricks - here's a chance to learn BEFORE you go.
• Take it or leave it, Packing for the road ahead
  • Ken and Carol Duval
    Everyone's list is different. This clinic will help you decide what really matters to you, so that you'll only carry what's needed and leave the rest behind.
• Fix that flat! How to change a tire anytime, anywhere
  • Arno Backes, Germany / Australia
    How to prevent flats in the first place, and fix them when you get one. All the secrets to make it easy. The best tools and how to use them for tube and tubeless tires. Hand's on practical and tire changing contest for beginners to experts!
• Which Stove?
  • Various Presenters
    Bring your stove.
• GPS workshop
  • Touratech Australia.
    Bring your GPS and your questions, or just your questions if you haven't got a GPS yet.
• For Women Only
• Panel discussion, Sian Mackenzie and others.
• South America and beyond...
  • Arno Backes and Sian Mackenzie
• Canada!
  • David Breedon
• South Africa
  • Bob Kendall
• Asia: Best and Worst
  • Tom Forde
• How to avoid making the same stuff-ups as me. A question & answer Session.
  • Charles Miller, Australia, Around the World.

• For next year, how about you? We're all here to learn, and there's LOTS to learn! We want to do more presentations and clinics - 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 me here to volunteer.

Display:

• Touratech Australia - will be there with products to see and catalogs to hand out, and will be running a GPS workshop.
• Lachlan Campbell - from Jesse Luggage will be there to show you the latest products.

There were be slide shows and clinics on Friday and Saturday evenings, and all day on Saturday. Plan on being there in 2008!