Horizons Unlimited Mountain Madness - 28th -20th July 2008

[Stormforce8]

From the HUBB website:

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/humm/

July 28th - 30th 2008

Basics: A two-day, no GPS, orienteering event in the eastern Pyrenees of Catalunya, Spain and Andorra. Test your map reading and navigation skills, find hidden secrets and enjoy the fabulous riding. The roads are amazing, the scenery is breath-taking, and the people are wonderful - so why not come on down with us in 2008?!
For 2008, there will be TWO classes:

1 - Dual-sport off-road, all bikes with off-road pretensions are suitable. The trails are amazing - the reviews from 2007 say it all - see the event report below. For 2008 Austin and Lois have outdone themselves and laid out 69 new markers, more than twice as many as in 2007! Austin was heard to mutter something like "No way is anyone finishing this course early!"

2 - Pavement only, anything will do - Susan and I rode (two up on our ancient R80 G/S) the many well-paved, twisty and fantastic roads in the area for almost 2 weeks, loving every minute. Awesome twisty roads, from first gear slip the clutch hairpins to high speed sweepers, with amazing views, minimal traffic, some roads you'll see one car in 10 minutes or more - and some less than that - roads you dream of...

OFF or ON road, it's the most fun you can have on two wheels

This event was won by our very own iswooley this year - you can read his excellent report here

I've also added this event in the Calendar here

[Jenna]

Places for HUMM are apparently going fast so thought it may be wise to bring this to the front!!

If anybody is looking at doing this event please shout as it has to be a team entry, I will be taking the XTZ850rx out to play (and possibly another one!) if anyone is interested to join us please shout soon as the paperwork will be submitted in a few weeks.

[Cie]

Damn this looks good, I'll have to check the work diary tomorrow.

Fantastic location , just a short blast from Santander

[boboneleg]

I will be riding in the Pyrekneesup event the week before , I'd like to stay on to do this as well but cannot get enough time off work

[Jenna]

just been looking at ferry costs for the HUMM.... if its any help to anyone.

Plymouth to Santander, Sun 27 Jul 2008 16:00 (Vessel is PONT AVEN)
Santander to Plymouth, Thur 31 Jul 2008 15:00 (Vessel is PONT AVEN)
recliner seat both ways £198 with a road run of 720kms (can be dropped to 620kms if the slower mountain route is used!)

the dates on offer from Brittany Ferries arent really helpfull as they dont leave a great deal of 'travel' time betwen event start or event end so i also checked the Portsmouth to St Malo route wich is a little more flexable.

Portsmouth to St Malo, Sat 26 Jul 2008 20:30 (Vessel is BRETAGNE)
St Malo to Portsmouth, Fri 1 Aug 2008 10:45 (Vessel is BRETAGNE)
recliner seat both ways £127 with a road run of 950kms
(a 4 berth cabin on this run is cheap and works out at £15 pp each way)

all based on 1 bike and 1 rider.

[Jenna]

OK this how things stand at the minute....

Crossing by
SpeedFerries’ new catamaran which makes the crossing in just 50 minutes
Using a flex ticket £60 (bike and 2 passengers) Return.

Speed ferries
25.7.2008 @14:20 –
Dover / Boulogne with Fast Ferry
Arriving 25.7.2008 @16:10

Road run of 1200kms to site
0000> Boulogne
>375> Nantes
>730> Bordeaux
>987> Pau
>1120> Llavorsi

HUMM event 28th/29th/30th July 2008 entry £110 per person

Local camping
25th @ Caen
26th @ Niort
27th @ Mont-De-Marsain or Llavorsi
28th @ Llavorsi
29th @ Llavorsi
30th @ Llavorsi
31st @ Mont-De-Marsain or Llavorsi
1st @ Niort
2nd @ Caen

3.8.2008 @10:00 –
Boulogne / Dover with Fast Ferry
Arriving 3.8.2008 @09:50

This not the fastest of routes, and i have allowed an extra day both ways this is simply to get a chance to see some of France on route. Also because of the flex ticket an earlier ferry on return can be taken if required.

I'm expecting to put in my entry just before Christmas, It would be nice to have a group so its open to anyone else if not we will just enter a second bike ourself to make up the team.

If anyone wants more info just pm me.

[boboneleg]

This is the route I took in 2006.

LeHavre - Lisieux -Allencon - Le Mans - Le Lude - Noyant - Borguueil - Loudun - Poitiers - Angouleme(stop o/night). St. Aigulin - Montpon - Duras - Marmande - Nerac - Condom(hee hee) - Lannemezan - Montrejeau - Fos, Spain (Hurrah) Vielha - Llavorsi.

All backroads apart fron one dual-carriageway, bloody great stuff

[Jenna]

yep bit more east than i thought but sounds nice, I'm in no hurry too so its back roads most the way ( lol and the odd stop off for a bit of a nose arround!)... might use your run on the way back for a bit of a change.

[iswoolley]

Has anyone put their entry for HUMM '08 in yet?

[Jenna]

super ten club are putting theres next week.