gotta love travel

[monkeyboy]

Just got back from 8 weeks travelling around Europe and freaking loved it. Was wondering where you guys out there like to go when you get a break whether it be local, interstate or overseas. Tell me your secret spots ha ha, need some new ideas for my next adventure:D

[Marticus]

That would depend on what you're looking for -- if you want a laid back hangout kind of place, I suggest Spain. I have a family member who teaches there and it's the most laid back place I've ever been. If you want a little nightlife with a laid back vibe, hit the Caribbean. If you want non-stop nightlife followed by lost days of recovery in the sun, try the Pacific Islands or southern Spain. And if you just want great riding -- well, sh*t, there are too many to list, but I suggest B.C. for a little of everything.

Now, if you really want non-stop adventure with genuine danger associated with it, anywhere remotely connected to the middle east will probably give you more "adventure" than you can handle. And, of course, if your idea of "vacation" is the kind of "change of pace" where you stare in the face of evil, witness unspeakable atrocities performed by heroin-addled pre-pubescent children, lose any remaining faith you have in the basic goodness of mankind and in all likelihood not make it back, then pack your bags for Western Africa or the Congo region.

[nogearshere]

i hear kandahar is the place for those wilde child sorts.

[mimbresman]

Did Scotland. Nice place.

Places where I want to go (to hike or ride my bike of course)...

1. Patagonia region of Argentina and Chile.
2. Atacama region of Chile (I've been there, but not with my bike...and I like deserts)
3. Bolivia
4. Easter Island...
5. Mongolia and the Gobi Desert (Did I say like deserts?).
6. Kamchatka Peninsula
7. Northern Africa
8. Alaska

[rockhound]

i hear kandahar is the place for those wilde child sorts.

Out of my buddy's three tours, he said Kandahar was by far the nicest.

I think a nice and long roadtrip throughout the U.S. west in an old convertible, stopping at every diner and chintzy tourist trap would be fun.

[mimbresman]

Out of my buddy's three tours, he said Kandahar was by far the nicest.

I think a nice and long roadtrip throughout the U.S. west in an old convertible, stopping at every diner and chintzy tourist trap would be fun.

I'd rather do it in a modern Honda S-2000.

Before coming to Venezuela, I lived about 15 miles north of old Rt. 66 in New Mexico. More and more I used it as much of it as possible before being forced to drive on I-40 into Albuquerque. It was nice driving through old ghost towns even though most were less than a mile off the Interstate. Kind of like the movie "Cars". I enjoy the small back roads. The "Blue Highways (http://www.amazon.com/Blue-Highways-Journey-into-America/dp/0316353299)".

Once on my way from NM to Lawrence, KS for a workshop at Haskell Indian College, I tried to follow the Santa Fe trail the best I could using modern roads (since I was driving a Honda Civic). Took an extra day of driving, but it was worth it.

[mootsguy]

Costa Rica is always an excellent choice as is Copper Canyon.

[phlatlander]

I'd like to see Iceland. To compare fissures.

Kayaking Patagonia would also be up there.

Lots of stuff on this continent to keep me busy in the meantime...

[mimbresman]

Costa Rica is always an excellent choice as is Copper Canyon.

Done Copper Canyon twice. First trip was excellent. Just me and my friend/guide. Epic!
Second trip was okay, but too many people on the ride. Didn't get as far into the canyon.

Baja is nice too...if you can avoid the other gringos.

[davkatreb]

you stare in the face of evil, witness unspeakable atrocities performed by heroin-addled pre-pubescent children, lose any remaining faith you have in the basic goodness of mankind and in all likelihood not make it back
Or go to Southeast D.C. and save a buttload of money on air fare.

[mootsguy]

Done Copper Canyon twice. First trip was excellent. Just me and my friend/guide. Epic!
Second trip was okay, but too many people on the ride. Didn't get as far into the canyon.

Baja is nice too...if you can avoid the other gringos.

Barranca del Cobre has indeed gotten fairly crowded these days, but if you can set up a small group with guides it works out pretty well.

I used to do a lot of Baja back when I lived in San Diego and rode a motard. The only bicycling I have done is the Rosarito Beach to Ensenada ride. A pretty damn good time.

[althegud1srtakn]

Or go to Southeast D.C. and save a buttload of money on air fare.

hahaha

not to mention you don't have to worry about the language barrier

[Ripp]

Call me dull, but a couple friends and I spent 11 days in Europe in 2001 (we flew out Oct 4th :eek:) and it's still the best week and half of my life. 1 day Brussels, 3 Paris, 3 Koln (Cologne) Germany, 4 Amsterdam. In Amsterdam we were part of a 15ish person Bachelor party. No the groom to be didn't sample ALL that Amsterdam has on offer, but most of the rest of us did. Still, I'd rate both Paris (my second visit) and Koln as more enjoyable than spending 4 days and nights in the red light district of Amsterdam.

[monkeyboy]

Hmmmmm, nice work guys. Lots of new ideas. So many cool places to go. I'm not really an adventure tourist. The thought of getting shot, stabbed, tortured, kidnapped, blown up or worse doesn't really appeal to me. Stuff can happen anywhere but I like to at least try to keep the odds in my favour. The most dodgy place I've been would have to be Brazil, Rio in particular, though I had a fantastic time there. I met so many people that got robbed that it made me feel good that I didn't. Though it helps plenty if you don't have tourist tattooed on ya forehead like a few of the victims I met. Love samba over there, walked round a corner one day in Copacabana and stumbled on a band of around 100-150 percussionists, the noise makes the hair on the back of ya neck stand up big time.
I would definitely reccommend Prague in the Czech Republic for dirt cheap beautiful pilsner, and great scenery (of all kinds) and history. Italy is great for all sorts of reasons and the women are amazing. Austria was pretty cool especially the mountains there and in Switzerland. Wish I had my bike with me.
My hit list in the near future is:
more Nth America and Canada
more eastern Europe
French Alps
more central and south America,especially Patagonia,Bolivia and Peru.
Spain. Everyone raves about it!
and thousands of other places. There is still a lot of Australia I haven't seen.
Geez, if I only had all the time and money in the world....
Though can't complain, still on holiday and might shoot over to Thailand in the next couple of weeks for some diving.

[monkeyboy]

Call me dull, but a couple friends and I spent 11 days in Europe in 2001 (we flew out Oct 4th :eek:) and it's still the best week and half of my life. 1 day Brussels, 3 Paris, 3 Koln (Cologne) Germany, 4 Amsterdam. In Amsterdam we were part of a 15ish person Bachelor party. No the groom to be didn't sample ALL that Amsterdam has on offer, but most of the rest of us did. Still, I'd rate both Paris (my second visit) and Koln as more enjoyable than spending 4 days and nights in the red light district of Amsterdam.

getting on a flight oct 4 2001 would have been tense!

[mimbresman]

Barranca del Cobre has indeed gotten fairly crowded these days, but if you can set up a small group with guides it works out pretty well.

I used to do a lot of Baja back when I lived in San Diego and rode a motard. The only bicycling I have done is the Rosarito Beach to Ensenada ride. A pretty damn good time.

My Baja trip was a west coast bike industry group ride. All Ibis employees + me. Kind of an odd mix. Our host drove us in a van from San Diego to Mulage. A two day drive. We started riding in Mulage and ended up in Loreto. We zig-zagged on dirt tracks, back roads, some single track. Great trip! Lots of fun. Great fish tacos and Pacifico!

[monkeyboy]

My Baja trip was a west coast bike industry group ride. All Ibis employees + me. Kind of an odd mix. Our host drove us in a van from San Diego to Mulage. A two day drive. We started riding in Mulage and ended up in Loreto. We zig-zagged on dirt tracks, back roads, some single track. Great trip! Lots of fun. Great fish tacos and Pacifico!

Sounds good mims. I like to get a gauge on how expensive things are by finding out how much for a beer. Around how much US$ for a corona or the like in Baja? I like cheap beer:D

[davkatreb]

hahaha

not to mention you don't have to worry about the language barrier
Maybe YOU don't. I'm from Western Maryland.

[mimbresman]

Sounds good mims. I like to get a gauge on how expensive things are by finding out how much for a beer. Around how much US$ for a corona or the like in Baja? I like cheap beer:D

Not sure anymore, but beer is cheap in Latin America. A beer in Venezuela cost about $0.35 USD for a 250 or 300 ml bottle. On that Baja trip we had a couple of cases of "ballenas" (whales). Ballenas are quart bottle of Cervesa Pacifico...far superior to Corona.

[OTBSkinloss]

I love the 7 inches of travel on my AS-X. :D

[davkatreb]

I love the 7 inches of travel on my AS-X. :D
That's what she said.

[mimbresman]

Just looking at Pitcairn Island on Google Earth. No roads, just hiking trails. I wonder if they're ridable? :confused:

[monkeyboy]

Sounds good mims. I like to get a gauge on how expensive things are by finding out how much for a beer. Around how much US$ for a corona or the like in Baja? I like cheap beer:D

I like the sound of that. What's the best time of year to hit it weather and crowds wise?

[mimbresman]

I like the sound of that. What's the best time of year to hit it weather and crowds wise?

I've been in Venezuela for a while. Not sure how the rest of Latin America operates, but holidays are good and bad. Good because there is a lot of excitement, party atmosphere, etc., etc., the bad is too many people, hotel rooms become scarce, etc.
In the tropics, the temp is pretty much the same year round. Any time is fine.
Mexico, temps vary in the north. It can get chilly cold in December, and January. Of course the southern tip of South America is pretty darn close to Antartica so its cold and windy down there.