Horizons Unlimited Indonesia: Adventure in Paradise

It was a melting pot of splendor, inspiration and excitement as presenters and participants gathered in one of the most beautiful tropical venues Horizons Unlimited (HU) has ever presented.

With event organizer Jeffrey Polnaja orchestrating, it was an HU like no other. Held at the surfing and diving paradise of Sumbawa Island, just east of Bali in Indonesia, it was a powerful celebration of diverse cultures, motorcycle travel, and the vision of world peace, demonstrating the role many overlanders can and do play in promoting global harmony.



The intimacy of bare feet on warm sand, set against the backdrop of a tropical fantasy, brought the attendees together in a delicious sun-drenched atmosphere of brother- and sisterhood. The event rallied a huge number of volunteers who proudly helped with the infrastructure, while local riders from Sumbawa and neighboring islands came in support, as did lucky overlanders whose timing for crossing Indonesia on their world tours couldn’t have been more perfect.

Speakers from far and wide filled out a stellar line-up, giving support to Jeffrey and founders of Horizons Unlimited, Grant and Susan Johnson. Jeffrey had just completed his nine-year ride around the planet, calling it the Ride for Peace. He teamed up with Eiger (an Indonesian adventure equipment manufacturer), who shared in the local fervor over Jeffrey being the first Indonesian to circumnavigate the planet via motorcycle. In celebration, Eiger presented a new adventure motorcycling suit line named after their world peace spokesperson.



Multiple flags were unfurled, and inspirational quotes by legends such as Ted Simon dotted the event landscape amidst the calming palms and deep red hibiscus. Meanwhile, the entertaining glue that bound the gathering was the MC team of Eddy Brokoli and Mia Alexia, a dynamic celebrity duo who kept the event flowing seamlessly with their fun banter and quick wit.

Under the big top, views of the calm, lapping shores of the Kancana Beach lent the perfect backdrop for well-traveled speakers to paint stories of their overlanding masterpieces. The event line-up included: Ted Simon with insights of his Jupiter’s Travels, Anita Yousef and her harrowing RTW solo, Steve Campbell and his Singapore-to-London adventure in ’73, Mike and Shannon Mills in their very entertaining journey through Latin America, Norman and Maggie Magowan and their eye-popping U.K.-to-Indonesia tour, Jeffrey Polnaja’s mesmerizing RTW Ride for Peace, and my own Africa and Egypt adventure in which I helped Lorraine Chittock film Rallying for a Wild Life, which followed three unsupported gals on bikes, including Tiffany Coates, through Eastern Africa in support of local wildlife, culture, and landscape.

The jubilation of global riders coming together in this beautiful location culminated in a great beach BBQ that boasted local seafood and cultural dishes to delight the senses. The warm buzz of conversations floated through the ocean air, punctuating the final evening with the feeling of a tight family. The following morning we departed unified and uplifted—a welcome reminder that there is beauty to be had in all corners of the world.

Nothing is Impossible:

In the opening ceremonies of HUIndonesia’s launch, it was important for Jeffrey to infuse Indonesia’s culture into the rich experience. Enter H. Mahmud Abdullah, the Regent Deputy of Sumbawa, who called a group of recipients forward to accept the gift of the Sapu Alang, a traditional hat that he tied on each head personally. It was a gesture of the heart that was a symbol to greet recipients with open arms if and when they returned to this beautiful part of the world.

All felt the inclusion of this country, and the big success of this event, by the end of the third night. Everyone could feel the momentum rolling forward in a way that would become an inspirational template for other HU meetings around the world. Even founder Grant Johnson chimed in with huge support, “Jeffrey, you’ve done an amazing job. We’re super pleased. I look forward to the Indonesia event becoming a model for others. We really want to be there next year.”

And with that, we walk away with one of the most important pieces of wisdom derived from nine years of road travel around the world from a person whose journey quest is to help humanity, that attitude and mindset can overcome all odds. When in foreign countries that take us out of comfort zones and challenge us with unrecognizable languages, difficult terrain and weather, and breakdowns, what is the go-to wisdom in Jeffrey’s kit that gets him through it all? That with positive thinking, gratitude, patience, and enthusiasm for life, nothing is impossible.

HorizonsUnlimited.com | EigerShop.com

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Living on the road on her DRZ has launched Nicole into projects of global travel, from raising awareness for animals in Eastern Africa in the film Rallying for a Wild Life, helping the Good Care Orphanage build a school for further education in Uganda, to spreading focus on peace in areas like Egypt and Indonesia. Traveling solo affords her the time and energy to document her road life journey for her YouTube channel (search for Nicole Espinosa).

A bright sun peeked out from behind retreating rain clouds, ready to dry the clay, rocks and the thoroughly soaked riders. Doing their best through heavily fogged goggles, team One More Time scooted along the soaked forest roads, racing the clock to avoid any overtime penalties.

ADVMoto’s Lukas Eddy tagged along to see what tales of conquest and glory would materialize during the event. They were coming off a trail, having just bump-started Lukas’s DRZ, and were aiming to make good time, but for some reason Ken Anderson, Chris Bean and Dave Fleck were pulling over. Staying true to their team name, they wanted to find “just one more” tag on the way back to base. This was about the time when Chris’s KTM could start leaking gas again… and the DRZ wouldn’t start again… and someone would get a flat tire right before the time limit….



Horizons Unlimited founders Grant and Susan Johnson host the HUMM events, which are a global series of navigation challenges held in Europe and Africa since 2007, and more recently in British Columbia. Having finally made it to the United States for the first time, the 2017 HUMM Appalachians was sanctioned by both the Federation Internationale de MOTOCYCLISME (FIM) and the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA). FIM Touring and Leisure Commission Director Damiano Zamana monitored the event for the international organization.

At HUMM events, riders receive topographic maps at the start of the event with each tag location marked, an opportunity for developing route strategy. Teams are awarded points based upon tags found and recorded, with each tag is assigned a difficulty value. For example, a tag involving a gnarly water crossing has higher scoring value than one along a roadway. And, strictly enforced time limits assure a level playing field for all participants.



With 80 tags to find, there were more than two days’ worth of mid-August scenery and roads to explore around Green Ridge State Forest in Maryland, and in Pennsylvania’s Buchanan State Forest. It’s an interesting take on the usual adventure rally, because all riders have not only a common goal and shared challenges, but also a dose of good old-fashioned competition. The diversity of bikes was also refreshing, from two-up riders on a big KTM, to a barely legal two-stroke and everything in between—riders of all kinds showed up for the fun. There’s actually no “best” bike for this event, because the varied terrain lets riders experience the merits and drawbacks of whatever equipment they have.

The question is, how can hundreds of miles of dirt roads and 80 tags get dispersed across Maryland and Pennsylvania? One would expect at least a small team of riders to have scouted, photographed and mapped all 80 tags. In reality, it was up to Nick Zacker of Zacker Adventures, who spent two weeks solo riding and camping on an R1200GS to set up every single tag. He rode it all on the GS to ensure a skilled big-bike rider could make it through.

For the event, each team received a SPOT satellite tracker providing location and situational information for any riders in distress. On the morning of Day One, Jim Cowgill and Carl Parker of team ADVMoto Maniacs zip-tied theirs to a backpack and, like many others, didn’t give the tracker a second thought. Event coordinators could monitor team locations from behind the scenes, but no one hoped the real utility of a SPOT tracker would come into play.



After a successful first morning, ADVMoto Maniacs made plans for lunch. Springing to his parked KTM 690, Jim Cowgill raised his right leg over the saddle, but fell as he slipped on the loose gravel surface. His elbow connected squarely with the ground and he cried out to the team leader, “I think I broke something, Carl!” Later X-rays would confirm he grenaded his shoulder and parts of his upper arm. He was NOT riding out of the woods. Carl and passing riders made him as comfortable as possible, moving him beneath a signboard shelter and shielding him from summer rain. Carl pressed the “Medical Assistance/Non-Life-Threatening” button on the SPOT; while Jim wondered if and when help might arrive.

Within half an hour, the Zacker Adventures rescue team of Nick and Todd Zacker, with Mark Carrera, arrived with a pickup truck and trailer. Nick waited with Jim at the emergency room for his examination, X-rays, diagnosis and pain medication. Then Jim was released to visit his orthopedic surgeon, where he received partial shoulder replacement surgery.

Fast and effective, the SPOT satellite tracker vectored rescuers to the exact accident location in the midst of a vast woodland. The conscientious efforts of staff/riders/medical personnel, along with HUMM’s foresight in issuing each team a SPOT tracker, made the best of an unfortunate situation.



Battling the odds of irony and Murphy’s Law, One More Time would make it back on time that first day without issue, as they would on the second day. Competing in the GPS Singles class, they pulled home a class victory despite this being their first HUMM event. However, the overall winners were a pair of Map Singles riders who had competed in the HUMM Monashees (British Columbia) earlier in the year, enjoying it so much they drove halfway across the continent for this event.

Gather your friends and join us for next year’s HUMM Appalachians, Sept 14-16, 2018!

Basic Overview of HUMM Rules:

• Contestants come as teams or are teamed up as they arrive.
• The four classes are: GPS Single-Cylinder, GPS Multi-cylinder, Map Singles and Map Multis.
• Teams must use their chosen navigation method exclusively, but all teams get the same topographic map and booklet.
• Booklets are provided with pictures of each tag area, GPS coordinates, trail difficulty level, compass heading of the picture, Google Earth view, tagpoint number (to match with tag ID number), point value (based on distance and trail difficulty), and the tag name.
• Competitors face point penalties for not returning to base by the time limit.
• Bikes need USFS approved spark arrestors.
• Small, orange tags are hidden out of sight from the roads to keep passers-by from removing them.

HorizonsUnlimited.com | ZackerAdventures.com | FIM-LIVE.com | AmericanMotorcyclist.com

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What's a HUMM?

Are you ready for a completely different type of adventure rally? Horizons Unlimited brings Mountain Madness to the Appalachian Mountains of Maryland. The inaugural event is unique for the east coast. Unlike other HU meetings, Mountain Madness is a navigation challenge that focuses on collecting points and exploring new areas and ADVMoto is happy to be the official media partner for the event. But don't expect us to let you have all the fun; we'll will have a small team competing as well!

"The most fun you can have on two wheels!"
"The best day's riding ever!"
"A brilliant and unique event... amongst the top ten 'best fun' biking experiences."

The HUMM is a unique 2-day, off-road motorcycle orienteering/geo-caching event for teams of 2-4 bikes. One of 3 to be held this year in Spain, Canada and the USA, HUMM Appalachians will be held from Aug 11-13 in and around Green Ridge State Forest in the Appalachian Mountains of Maryland. Test your map reading and navigation skills, find hidden secrets and enjoy the fabulous riding.

Horizons Unlimited has been organizing the HUMM since 2007 in a number of countries, and are now bringing the first USA HUMM to the Appalachians in Maryland. In 2018 there will also be a HUMM in Arizona!

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Why a HUMM?

No set course!

Unlike most dual sport rallies/rides, the HUMM has no set course! It's kinda like a scavenger hunt for bikes with off-road capabilities. Each team gets a map and a HUMM Points Book on Day 1. Each checkpoint gets its own page with key info about its location and a score based on distance, degree of difficulty and scenic value - your team figures out how to get there. Since there are more checkpoints than any team can get to in the 2 days of the event, each team must devise its own strategy, so there is no set course. You're never following a string of riders down the same dusty road!

Choose your own adventure!

Whether you're new to off-road riding or a trail ninja, the HUMM lets you and your team choose your adventure. The emphasis is on strategy, teamwork, riding and navigation skills and pure fun! Many teams choose their route based on scenic value!

Official support!

We are fully official with all local and state authorities including park officials, so no aggravation for riders on the trails or the roads. :) This event is AMA and FIM sanctioned. We're serious about what we do to provide the best experience for the participants. The HUMM is the first adventure riding event to be sanctioned by the FIM under its Touring and Leisure Commission.

We'll be there if you need us!

Each team will have a Spot satellite tracker supplied for the event. If you need help, we'll come and get you. Our locally based support and recovery service can provide first aid and transport to the nearest suitable facility as well as basic field repairs and motorcycle recovery, on a 'best efforts' basis.

What's included?

• 1st, 2nd and 3rd place teams in each class get a keeper trophy for each Team Member! How cool is that!
• Support services - If you need help, we'll come and get you.
• Awards Dinner on the final evening is included in your registration fee.
• An exclusive, sweat-wicking HUMM technical t-shirt.
• Each team gets a custom map and points book to keep, afterwards you can use it to find more points at your leisure!
• Mucho bragging rights!



Frequently Asked Questions

1. Do I need an off-road bike to participate in this event?

Bikes need not be dedicated off-road specials but need to have a vague predilection for the dirt. So GS Adventure yes, Electric Glide in Blue, no. Any Adventure or Dual Sport bike is perfect - must be street legal. Knobby tires are a plus but by no means essential.

2. I'm not an expert rider and I'm nervous about the difficulty of the trails. Will there be trails I can ride?

Trail difficulty depends a lot on motorcycle model/type and experience - plus personal preferences. For the HUMM, we try to make an event that is fun and yet challenging for all levels of rider. It takes place primarily on unpaved roads and trails. We've used a 0-5 scale, in which 5 is the most challenging. There are plenty of Level 1, 2 and 3 trails available, so don't feel you need to push beyond your ability. You can even win without riding Level 4 or 5! You should always make your own best judgement as to your skill level and the difficulty of the routes you choose to ride. Click here for more details on Trail Difficulty.

3. My off-road skills are a little rusty - can you help?

Absolutely! We're offering 1 or 2 days of pre-HUMM off-road skills training with Zacker Adventures. This will be a great confidence boost and you can put your freshly honed skills into immediate practice! Click here for more details on Rider Training.

4. I would love to come but my spouse doesn't ride. What is there for them to do?

For those of you who would like to bring along your non-riding spouse / significant other, Rocky Gap Casino Resort offers a casino, evening entertainment, spa, multiple restaurants, golf and much more! The surrounding area boasts numerous activities including hiking, white water rafting, UTV trips and more!



About Horizons Unlimited:

Horizons Unlimited (HU) has been inspiring, informing, and connecting a global community of overland adventure motorcycle travellers since 1997. Horizons Unlimited and its HU Bulletin Board forum (HUBB) are the world’s premier online resources for reliable information about every aspect of overland motorcycle travel. They have organized worldwide motorcycle adventure traveller events since 2001 and HUMMs since 2007. HU is based in British Columbia, Canada.

Discover more about Horizons Unlimited at: www.horizonsunlimited.com

For more information and registration, click here!

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