Alex giving his Presentation

That’s the first day of the Horizons Unlimited inaugural Greece meeting over and a great success it was ! About 70 of the expected 120 have arrived so far. Last night’s talks were fairly well attended and as usual, the presenters did a great job. Top accolade as far as I’m concerned must go to a young German guy Alex,  who having suffered severe depression following the offer of promotion which was tied to moving to America, was inspired by reading Ted Simon’s Jupiter’s Travels to try a different kind of therapy…Adventure Motorcycling, and it worked!

Having successfully completed a relatively short trip of a few months, during which he also met a rather beautiful young Russian backpacker, he returned home, prepped his bike for a much longer trip, quit his job and once again set off to see the world. He makes a little money on which to live by writing articles for a German Agricultural magazine and having once again met up with Mila, they are now travelling together heading east ! 

Mila and Alex

I found his story intensely  moving and inspiring in that something like Adventure Biking could so completely turn his life around in such a positive and joyful way. I wish them both every happiness in their travels and indeed in their lives together.

However, before the presentations started Joel patiently suffered the attentions of Face and Body painting  artist Suzanne. Coming all the way from Australia with her paints, Suzanne not only painted an Horizons teeshirt on his manly torso but then proceeded to bring out Joel’s alter-ego with a superb full head paint job. Sportingly,  Joel then did his presentation still in full makeup!.

My updated presentation seemed to go down quite well. I started off by showing John’s superb 4 minute taster which suffered a little due to lack of volume on the sound system but still seemed to get the audience in the right mood for the rest of the talk and slide show. I gave out quite a few stickers and was also asked for cards by several of those present, who were either interested in joining a trip or felt they could possibly offer assistance of one kind or another.

I must also mention the Pramanta Refuge’s catering which has been fantastic. The buffet they laid on for dinner yesterday was not only plentiful but superb, with this morning’s breakfast following the same pattern and all served by a team of staff who are always helpful courteous and smiling, a model  the Uk’s Ripley meeting could do well to copy! I can’t wait to see what is served to us this evening both for dinner and in the way of presentations.

As for the rest of the day I think a walk is in order to try to clear the Tsiporo from my head and body before it all starts again tonight !!!!