Horizons Unlimited UK Meet June 2011

There are not many places you can go where turning up with your worldly possessions strapped to a motorbike is seen as the norm, and not a reason for the men (or women!) in white coats to come knocking on your muddy tent.

But the Horizons Unlimited (HU) annual UK meet in Ripey, Derbyshire is not your everyday weekend outing. Here you'll find a collection of the world's most accomplished travellers who have quite literally been there, done that, wrote the book, filmed the DVD, and even sold the t-shirt. But they are all there camping in the mud with the rest of us, standing in the queue for the bar.

The event officially started on Thursday 23rd June, but due to that ever present dictatorship of employment, I couldn't get up until early afternoon on Friday. I arrived at the main reception tent more than a little self-conscious. As far as the eye could see was wall to wall GS adorned with the standard issue Touratech panniers, deliciously decorated with stickers from every corner of the planet. My little Suzuki GSX-R1000 was a tad out of it's comfort zone here, and we'd not even met any mud yet!

…full of questions about my bike, why it was festooned with "advertise here", and "What's TeapotOne?"

But I needn't have worried as straight from the off I was made to feel at ease by the welcoming volunteer staff who booked me in, gave me some very appreciated water, and told me what's what. They were full of questions about my bike, why it was festooned with "advertise here", and "What's TeapotOne?" Far from feeling like a fish out of water, I actually started to feel like a bit of a celebrity! But that feeling suddenly ceased when I layed eyes on her. There, parked up next to a tatty white van, looking like a war vet on R&R, stood the greatest piece of machinery known to man.

Sjaak Lucassen's 2001 Yamaha R1 shouldn't be there. It simply defies logic. It should be a pile of rust, muck and dirt, abondoned in the Congo cocooned in mud for eternity. But it's not, it's here, battered but still carrying her master around this little planet, and despite me being a devout monotheist of the gixxer, I couldn't help but fall in love. She's been through well over 250,000 miles around this planet, crossing over 75 countries in 5 years, piloted all the way by a crazy Dutchman called Sjaak Lucassen.

Sjaak is the sole reason I'm taking my GSX-R1000 on the TeapotOne trip. Witnessing his incredible achievement confirmed that it is possible to take a fully fledged sportsbike around the planet. I've watched the YouTube clips of him waist deep in mud as he battled through the Congo, axle deep in sand as he crossed the Sahara (sometimes at speeds in excess of 100mph!) and held my breath as he parted the waves and crossed swollen rivers astride his chariot. I was more than a little star struck on seeing him and it took me until the next day to actually speak to the man. But I'm so glad I did as he's one of the nicest and most down to earth people you'll ever meet. We shared our thoughts on bikes over a pint or 6, and straight away he got it. He got why I was doing TeapotOne, he understood that I'd accomplish my dream, and he believed in my own belief. I'd found a friend!

"Why the hell are you taking a Gixxer?"

But that was not an uncommon occurrence at a Horizon's meet. Everywhere you looked you'd see celebs from the 'overlanders' scene, people like Lois Pryce, Austin Vince, Walter Colebatch, Sheonagh Ravensdale and Pat Thomson (Dusty Old Bags Round The World), and Pat and Helen (www.patandhelen.co.uk) to name but only a few. Every single one of them welcomed your inquisitive approach and repetitive questioning without so much as a roll of the eyes. No matter how much you held them in awe, they seemed to be more interested in your trip and were full of questions themselves. The now common place, "Why the hell are you taking a Gixxer?" was ever present, but this time it was accompanied by marvel and not cynicism, but I had Sjaak on my side!

As the beer flowed the bravery levels increased. I'd brought 2 "I Support TeapotOne" T-shirts (available via the Shop) with me which I planned to get signed by the great and the good of the overlander world. I'd auction one off for charity and keep one myself for posterity. Out they came and were both quickly adorned with various well wishes from my new found friends. My only regret is that I didn't do this sooner in the weekend as there's still plenty room for more! Oh well, I'll just have to go back next year.

"…purpose built, all-terrain, continent conquering steeds, and they didn't fancy a bit of good old fashioned British summer weather."

During initial registration upon my arrival I was asked if I wanted to go on the accompanied road-ride out on Saturday morning. As I've never ridden up this neck of the woods I thought I'd give it a go. So bright and breezy I met up at 0900hrs on Saturday morning to be met by mist and rain, a chap called Dave, and nobody else? Apparently the previous nights festivities had claimed a few casualties, but believe it or not people didn't want to go out riding in the rain? On their purpose built, all-terrain, continent conquering steeds, and they didn't fancy a bit of good old fashioned British summer weather. Oh well, never one to pass an opportunity to eat up some tarmac, I accompanied Dave out on the road and we set off for what turned out to be over 5hrs of beautiful, flowing, twisting, sliding, biking heaven.

We took in snakes Pass, the Cat and Fiddle, and over 5 counties that morning, with every twist and turn captured on my new HD quality Go-ProHD camera. Or so I thought! The old adage, "buy cheap, pay dear", rung loud and clear in my ears as I tried to view back the footage after that memorable ride out. Nothing, absolutely nothing had been captured on my economy SDHC memory cards bought at a bargain price on flee-bay. "ROLLOCKS!"

Oh well, lesson learnt I suppose and I'd rather find things like this out now than later on when on the road around the world. I'm off to the Nurburgring this Friday 1st July and then down to the Black Forest for a week so I'll test out the cam and new replacement (and more expensive) memory cards there. Standby for some footage on my return – hopefully!

By the way, if you ever get the chance to ride the famous Cat and Fiddle pass, there are 2 things you need to know about.

1. Average Speed Cameras:- They are all over the top of the pass and are specifically for bikes with rear facing cameras. It's a 50mph limit so stick to it if you don't want a ticket. However, there are some short cuts off the route that may offer a way out of a ticket on a technicallity?
2. The Tea Room:- Located near the top of the pass is a tea room (pic shown above left) that offers a welcome roaring fire, and the most impressive selection of homemade cakes that would give Delia Smith a run for her money. Superb.

"Everything from Roadkill Cookouts, bushcraft practicals, and tyre changing demos…"

Back at Ripley the event was in full swing with a continuous flow of informative talks and demonstrations on offer. Everything from Roadkill Cookouts, bushcraft practicals, and tyre changing demos by the guru that is Grant Johnson (Co-founder of Horizons Unlimited) were available outside come rain, wind or shine. Inside were a plethora of talks from all manner of experts on previous trips, experiences, lessons learned and more. Ramey "Coach" Stroud held invaluable talks on body mechanics and how to make your life easier on long distance riding.

Alun Davies (editor of Adventure Bike Rider magazine) offered advice on writing articles for publication and obtaining sponsorship, which was personally invaluable. Alun spent a couple of hours with me over a few beers discussing the best way to progress TeapotOne's continual strive for corporate backing. His advice was superb and I can't thank him enough. Needless to say a battle plan was formulated and I've wasted no time in putting it into play so standby for some exciting developments – hopefully!

Come Sunday morning there were sore heads a plenty, but it wasn't just the sun that was shining and soaring high. I'd had an absolute blast, met some personal heros, and made many more. I'll definitely be at next years HU UK meet and hopefully I'll even get to some of the overseas meets during my travels. A huge thank you to Susan and Grant Johnson, the founders of Horizons Unlimited, for their incredible efforts, knowledge, friendliness and support. I wish I'd taken the chance to talk to both you guys but I'll be back. Also a massive thanks to all the volunteers who made the event possible.

If you'd like more info on Horizons Unlimited go to their website at www.horizonsunlimited.com If it's to do with motorbike travel and you can't get an answer on there, then it's nothing to do with motorbike travel! 😉

So what's next for TeapotOne? The quest for corporate backing is a continual and ongoing effort which makes inroads everyday. Events wise we are off to the VWBusStop at Crowborough on the 16th July after being invited by South East Biker (SEB) magazine. Why not come down and see us, have a chat, and have a brew, it's good to talk after all!

But all that happens after the Germany trip which starts this Friday 1st July with a trip through the twisties to the Nurburgring. If we survive that then it's down to the Black Forest for a weeks playtime in the twisties, returning on the 9th July, exhausted but happy!

Take care for now, keep spreading the TeapotOne word please, and thanks for stopping by. Come see us again soon.

Bruce