Mexico, 2003: First Annual HU Travellers Meeting

Tarahumara house in Cusarare

Tarahumara house in Cusarare

Following by Dan Toporoski:

Dan Toporoski, USA; Tiberio Jaramillo, Colombia; and organiser Juan Carlos Ibarra, Mexico.

Ready to ride outside the Villa Mexicana

Following Photos by Glen Davis

Basaseachi Falls

Basaseachi Falls

Cusarare Falls

David at Cusarare Falls

Following photos by Tiberio Jaramillo:

Kurt Wilde and Dennis Latzy

Following Photos by Kurt Wilde

Most of the attendees at the Meeting, unfortunately just after dark - we were having so much fun we lost track of time. (click the above photo for a larger version)

The Tarahumara did a very special presentation and musical show for us, with one of the top Tarahumara composers in Mexico, and led us in a traditional dance. I think they were having as much fun as we were! After, they even gave us a demonstration of some of their amazing running games. (click the above photo for a larger version)

The Tarahumara Dancers (click the above photo for a larger version)

Following Photos by Tiberio Jaramillo

The Tarahumara Dancers (click the above photo for a larger version)

A demonstration running race - the women shown here were having a great time, and we had to stop them or they would have run all night!

Following Photos by Gerardo Ibarra

El Rio

Arareco

Basaseachi Falls

Juan Carlos, Tiberio Jaramillo, Grant Johnson, Gerardo Ibarra

Mark Summer, ?, ?, Allan Karl

Rosa, Tarahumara

Valle Monjes

By Jim Donaldson...

Dennis Latzy from Cool, California - the only one to ride a streetbike down to Batopilas - and back.

Short History:

Susan and I started the Horizons Unlimited motorcycle travellers events in May of 2001 while we were living in the UK, with an event held in our backyard in Slough. That first event had almost 40 people show up, and we were especially pleased that some came from as far away as Norway!

In 2002 we had moved back to Canada, so we organized a meeting in Nairn Falls, British Columbia, and also asked Chris Bright and Glynn Roberts if they would organize a second UK meeting since we couldn't be there. We had a small but enthusiastic turnout for the Canadian meeting, with folks coming from as far away as Missouri (almost 3,000 kilometers!), Alberta and California.

But the Brits really exceeded our wildest expectations. Almost 100 people came to the HU UK 2002 event, and had a great time. No rock bands or beer bashes, just motorcycle travellers and would-be travellers getting together to share experiences and tips - what a concept! For the HU UK 2003 event, almost 200 enthusiastic folks came together over several days and this is now well established as an annual event, with Glynn and Chris continuing to provide superb organizing, and a host of volunteers.

Ken and Carol Duval hosted Australia's first HU travellers event this year, and they had about 60 people. Portugal had 30 people at their first ever event! the Canada/USA West (Revelstoke, BC) had 60 people turnout for the second CanWest Meeting, Mexico was a huge success, Bolivia was unfortunately cancelled due to the political turmoil at the time, and Argentina still to come at this writing.

More details on HU Traveller's meetings history here on the meetings home page.