Help me understand Hubert Kiegel

[KGT1200]

This month's ON devoted a lot of ink to Mr. Hubert Kiegel and his sidecar. This man appears to have gone, or is getting ready to go everywhere but the moon with his rig. Siberia in Winter? I'm really trying to understand his motivation in life, and I just don't get it.

When I see his pictures, and read his exploits, something inside of me says "lonely"! If I was a shrink, which with a BA in the subject, does not qualify this response, but I will give it anyway; Hubert appears to be troubled by something in his life that causes him to run away, exhibited by his nomadic lifestyle in hostile and Frikken COLD areas in the world. He seems to travel to the abhsolute worse areas you possibly could go with gusto, with a martardom of emotion!

When I read his narrative about liking to find areas with no trespassing, behind water towers, hidden away from mankind to spend his nights, and doing it over and over and over I really thought that this man is sad. This man is running away from a demon, from a deep hurt in his life.

You know, I love to ride, and love to travel, but coming home to the family, living with the family is #1 in my books. If God says "Give up home life" or "Give up touring”, I don’t think I would bat an eye. Not just the people, but the concept of home. My mate, my dogs, my collection of African violets, my books, my man cave, and the list goes on and on why I choose home.

Bubba, you met the man. What's your take on this?

[tessler]

Dale, I've met Hubert, too, on several occasions (I took the photo of him, his friend Phillipe (another Manhattan denizen and rig owner) and the little dog in the sidecar, on the last spread of the article, at the Airheads at the Aerodrome Rally in 2008) and I certainly would not describe him as "Lonely".

Far from it. In my understanding, he seems a man who knows what he wants out of life and simply does it. Perhaps at the expense of a family in the way that you or I may describe it, but he gives the impression of a proud and devoted father, meticulous planner and jovial adventurer.

[BubbaZanetti]

I'll say this; his website speaks for itself. Take a long look at it, not only is the photography great but it shows a lot of his family and non-motorcycling life. He seems to easily make friends wherever he goes and does not lack for company. I like to think i'm a "rider" that i REALLY like riding, but I know that in comparison to others like Hubert, I only kinda like riding. I think the pushing of one's self in adventure is just an outlet for energy that could as easily be put towards work or something else. As far as the "covert camping" thing goes, I totally dig it, and did a fair bit of it on my cross country trip a few years back. It's amazing the places you can spend the night without people saying a word to you. It's quirky and fun and I think the whole concept fits Hubert's personality to a tee. For some home is fixed location, comfortable, perdictable, for others home is where they park their bike each night

[108625]

This man is running away from a demon, from a deep hurt in his life.

Does everyone need some deep psychological reason to explain what they do?

Maybe it's just because he wants to.

[Rapid_Roy]

This month's ON devoted a lot of ink to Mr. Hubert Kiegel and his sidecar. This man appears to have gone, or is getting ready to go everywhere but the moon with his rig. Siberia in Winter? I'm really trying to understand his motivation in life, and I just don't get it.

When I see his pictures, and read his exploits, something inside of me says "lonely"! If I was a shrink, which with a BA in the subject, does not qualify this response, but I will give it anyway; Hubert appears to be troubled by something in his life that causes him to run away, exhibited by his nomadic lifestyle in hostile and Frikken COLD areas in the world. He seems to travel to the abhsolute worse areas you possibly could go with gusto, with a martardom of emotion!

When I read his narrative about liking to find areas with no trespassing, behind water towers, hidden away from mankind to spend his nights, and doing it over and over and over I really thought that this man is sad. This man is running away from a demon, from a deep hurt in his life.

You know, I love to ride, and love to travel, but coming home to the family, living with the family is #1 in my books. If God says "Give up home life" or "Give up touring”, I don’t think I would bat an eye. Not just the people, but the concept of home. My mate, my dogs, my collection of African violets, my books, my man cave, and the list goes on and on why I choose home.

Bubba, you met the man. What's your take on this?
Perhaps you are filtering him through your lens Dale, which may not be accurate to assess him, as it was shaped by your experiences and values.
I could be wrong , of course.

[KGT1200]

Perhaps you are filtering him through your lens Dale, which may not be accurate to assess him, as it was shaped by your experiences and values.
I could be wrong , of course.

I know this; it's my limited perception of what I've read thus far. That’s why I ask for opinion. I guess the impetus of this thread transcends just Hubert, and I mean no disrespect to him; I will continue to read up on him. What I really am seeking is answers from a bigger picture. Why? Why do people who do what Hubert does do what they do? Why do some of us live our life differently? Are we all insecure, and Hubert is the only true way to live life?

As far as deep psychological meaning to life, maybe I should have labeled this thread "does everything in life have a deep psychological meaning?”

Freud thought even taking a crap had a deep psychological meaning, and I don’t know too much about that, but I do know that I, personally would not be a happy man without being connected, being grounded for at lease 80% of my life (daily and yearly). I enjoy/I need/ I require home 80% of the time, and enjoy being foot loose and fancy free for about 20%. Does that come from the way I was raised, the need to nest?

Is there a deep psychological meaning behind anyone (look beyond Hubert here) for anyone who is grounded 20% and footloose 80%?

This subject interests me, and knowing the wealth of knowledge here, I am sure there are some great opinions out here.

Thanks for your input.

[rinty]

This guy may be a bit like the high altitude mountain climbers; guys like Messner, Kukuczka, Boukreev, and the like. I think they're the greatest athletes in the world, and it fascinates me, as to what drives them to do what they do.

Mallory made the famous observation that they climb mountains "because [they're] there", but it's much more complicated than that. :)

[stkmkt1]

i think you have it exactly backwards. Hubert is not running from anything. He is doing exactly what he wants to do with little regard as to what others do or think. He is quite content with his life and is enjoying the adventure. We all should be so lucky.

If you think about it, most of what you do is because of your family or your perception of what others may or do think of you. This is certainly true for most younger people. You can call it peer pressure or whatever you want to. But in the end, many of your decisions in life are the result of your concern regarding what others may think.

But what if your the type of person who no longer or maybe never did care what others think? Or you wake up one morning and realize your not getting any younger? Or, what if you find that your time left on this earth is going to come to a premature close? Would you consider an adventure now?

In Hubert's case, he is older, and no longer cares what anyone thinks. He only is concerned with living life his way. Maybe I'm wrong. But I know in my case, as I grow older, I no longer care what others think about me or the life that I lead. And I wonder if this is the case with him also. I am currently feeling the pull to take ever-longer adventures and will within the next couple of years, begin a few 30-day trips on my bikes. I've already had some people ask me how it is that I can abandon my family for such long times. My answer is that if they choose to join me, they are welcome. Either way, I'm going.

Regardless of whether we might choose to actually experience similar adventures first-hand , we all enjoy reading and experiencing the adventures people like Hubert enjoy. Even if we experience them through the lens of the camera.

I say go Hubert! Keep up the adventure as long as you can.

[kantuckid]

Interesting guy , Hubert! What I wouldn't give to meet him over a cold one!Having some potential for the analysis you avoid , I'll also reserve comment as to what makes Hubert tick,but I sure would like to get around to some of his previous spots! BTW,I hope nobody ever gets around to analyzing my life's behaviors!
Being as we are armpit deeeeep in garden and freezing & canning,logs, BB games,chasing: crows,squirrels,groundhogs,chipmunks,snakes,raccoo ns !AND! football season draws close, I'll stay closer to home than the Arctic circle for now. Yes, riding is a great release but a distant ways down the list for me too. For the sake of sanity, I keep a bike trip on the burner (1-USA & 1-much farther) and load my bike , plan & ride the route "when I lay me down to sleep". Primary objective being to get in(read as slip in) as many trips as possible from my bucket list-while having many other things that remain even more important on my agenda. Perhaps Hubert can attest to my approach resulting in my one Wife rather than his multiples?
Any of you "Hubert wannabe's" up for a trip along gulf coast of Mexico and on to Belize this winter?

[Rapid_Roy]

i think you have it exactly backwards. Hubert is not running from anything. He is doing exactly what he wants to do with little regard as to what others do or think. He is quite content with his life and is enjoying the adventure. We all should be so lucky.

If you think about it, most of what you do is because of your family or your perception of what others may or do think of you. This is certainly true for most younger people. You can call it peer pressure or whatever you want to. But in the end, many of your decisions in life are the result of your concern regarding what others may think.
Applied to Dale, this is a false assumption. I have met Dale, and I can safely say he does care about his family, and he doesn't always care what others think.
Also, caring what others think isn't always a bad thing. This very forum is regulated, based on what others think.
It helps people get along, as sometimes they need help. :ha

If you don't give a family your full attention, how badly did you want one in the first place? I think it is neat of Hubert to do what he wants, but I would never assume somebody that stays with their family is doing so because of someone elses perception.
Everybody's life is an adventure at one time or another.
It is merely a different adventure, IMO.:brow

[criminaldesign]

i think his story is great. he makes opportunities for himself instead of waiting for them to find him. It's no different when you take a weekend, week, month or longer trips. Why not? It's not like we need motorcycles. All of us are tooling around on the bikes because we like them, not because we need them. Plus it's a fun and different way to travel. As me and my brother say about biking, alot of tom f**ckery going on. Anyone could take off and ride the world. Just have to make yourself do it. And it makes people question your life and ones goofy decisions which is always fun. Home is where you go back to and you carry it with you.

[Bob_M]

John Krakauer wrote a book called “Into the Wild” which explored the ill fated adventure of a free spirited young man. In that book there was a chapter exploring the characters of other solitary adventurers, including Krakauer himself who performed a death defying solo climb up a rock pinnacle in British Columbia.

Krakauer did explore the psychology of this type of personality and evaluated his own family life and the family life of the young man on which “Into the Wild” was based. The summary was that these persons who generally posses an artistic, happy spirit, eschew the trappings of wealth and materialism and follow what is essentially a spiritual quest for the greater beauty and greater truth found in nature.

Perhaps Kiegel is on a similar quest

[njnomad]

It is what it is. :jose

[Weasel]

some folks ride for pleasure. Some folks ride for adventure. Some folks use the bike for daily transportation, and not much else (me).

[SIBUD]

Interesting thread. When I was younger, I thought it would be fun to get a boat and sail around the world. Then I found out how much work was involved. Yes, I'm too lazy to have that kind of adventure.

One of the more interesting thing about riders is the vast differences. Just when you think you have a Beemer rider pegged because of the bike he/she rides, you get an awaking.

I can think of hundreds on this forum, all unique and all folks that I would be happy to have a chance to talk with, one on one.

Ride Well

[41077]

Wait, you have African Violets in your man cave. Maybe we should discuss that. :-)

[AKBeemer]

Dale's commitment to his family is what one would hope all men and women would exhibit. But there comes a time when the family evolves to the point where you start looking at your options. Our daughter is grown, educated, employed and engaged. So Annie and I are in a position where we can continue to work so we can have lots of nice stuff that we store in a nice place, or we can pull the plug on life as we've known it and follow our own version of the Kiegel life. It's a big decision to down size, to cast off all the trappings of a successful life style and follow the path less trodden. Notably to us all are Paul and Voni who made their own special version of this change in focus. Family will always be first and foremost, but at some point it requires less from you and that makes for opportunities. But it does take some courage to take the leap. Annie and I are standing on the ledge and mustering the courage to take the leap and become (as a poster Annie has says) "Biker Scum, road trash just look'n for kicks".

[rinty]

Alison Hargreaves' death in 1995 on K2, one of the most difficult climbs in the world, sparked a lot of discussion, because her two young children lost their mother.

By 2006, her son, then a teen-ager, was already becoming a proficient climber in his own right.

...sail around the world...SIBud

This was a dream of mine as well, for a few years. Then my wife and I did some chartering, and I got it out of my system.:laugh

[KGT1200]

John Krakauer wrote a book called “Into the Wild” which explored the ill fated adventure of a free spirited young man. In that book there was a chapter exploring the characters of other solitary adventurers, including Krakauer himself who performed a death defying solo climb up a rock pinnacle in British Columbia.

Krakauer did explore the psychology of this type of personality and evaluated his own family life and the family life of the young man on which “Into the Wild” was based. The summary was that these persons who generally posses an artistic, happy spirit, eschew the trappings of wealth and materialism and follow what is essentially a spiritual quest for the greater beauty and greater truth found in nature.

Perhaps Kiegel is on a similar quest

I read Krakauers book with interest, and wonder if the adventurer had been realistic in terms of his skill and experience, would he have survived?

I don't remember the name of the self proclaimed documentary film maker who shot films of himself over a period of summers frolicking with the grizzly’s in Alaska, and 'interacting "with them until one year, he got unlucky, and the grizzly’s ate him AND his girlfriend. All they found was the bones with the gristle knawed off by the big bears...

Both Kralauers subject and this documentary guy went into isolated areas using false assumption and mistaken beliefs of survival techniques or in the latter, cosmic relationship with the bears, and both ended their life in a tragic way. While I hear of adventurers going into land of wilderness full of dangers and possibly unprepared and unaware of serious concerns in terms of survival, I am intrigued, to say the least in terms of their motivation.

When I hear of someone heading to the arctic cold with winter approaching on a motorcycle, and unlike Jessie James sans a camera crew, I have to wonder # 1 what IS the motivation to leave family and life, #2 what takes someone to such extremes in terms of risk of their own personal safety.

People who fly in the face of danger and death via risky motorcycles, or jaunts into the deep wilderness of Alaska ill equipped to handle the elements all have something uniquely in common with the mountaineer who climbs K-2, or the tight rope walker who walks from one twin tower to the other.

Some of us stay home and love Ma Ma. Others go out and shove their fist up deaths door. Do HD riders who ride without ATGATT do any different? And for those of us who cover our bodies with layers of cordura and slide impact pads

Who are we? Or are we a cross over?

We love death wish situations by virtue of our love affair with riding bikes, but we do it in a safe manner;

The rub is no matter how much ATGATT we strap to our bodies,

We risk our life...

And personally I love it! 20% of the time.

[moondog]

I met Hubert (pronounced "u-bear") trying to get to the Antique Airhead show in NY near Rhinebeck. I was lost and he was trying to tighten up his rig. He and his side kick with a bum leg (don't remember his name) explained the directions. And off I road.

Later on when I found out who he was and what he was doing I was impressed. To take the challenge of taking 10 years off from work and family to ride around the world! My god I was green with envy! I didn't talk with him long enough to get a grip on what and why he was taking this journey but it didn't matter.

He was doing what he wanted to do because he knew what he wanted to do. And he is doing it because others on this thread have said the same "because it is there". Me? I have a hard time deciding if I want to get out of bed today or not. I am sure there are times on his journey he wonders about his decision or does get lonely but some how he has figured out how to transcend these moments and move on.

May the Force be with Hubert and may his journey be filled with joy and peace.

Sometimes we think too much. Just do it!

[Bob_M]

Wait, you have African Violets in your man cave. Maybe we should discuss that. :-)

Careful when you disparage the plantsman. David Douglas for whom the Douglas Fir was named was a plantsman and just the type of adventurer which this thread discusses. One can only imagine a solitary Englishman in the early 1800s exploring the ancient cathedral forests of the pacific northwest. The native Americans called him the Crazy Grass Man, and left him alone. On one trip he was noted to have emerged from the forest with two eagle hatchlings and a broken arm. He died in a bull ring in Hawaii at the age of 33.

The world of plants is the yardstick that this person measured himself against. Anyone who has the patience and the combination of attentiveness and benign neglect necessary to succeed getting African Violets to bloom is measuring himself against a finely calibrated yardstick.

But perhaps moondog is right, maybe we do think too much ...... Just do it.

[rinty]

I think Christopher McCandless, the subject of Krakauer's "Into the Wild", was a different type of dude than the type of adventurer we're talking about here.

He struck me as having been, basically, a dreamer, who went off into the Alaskan wilderness with a bag of rice, a .22, and a few other essentials.

Unlike the sharply focused types such as Hubert.

[moshaffer]

I can't imagine having the finances to travel like Hubert does and not doing it. The last thing I want to do is be on my death bed saying, "I wish I would have done this or that", and never having done it. You're only lonely if you can't stand your own company.
YOU GO HUBERT!!

[tessler]

I read Krakauers book with interest, and wonder if the adventurer had been realistic in terms of his skill and experience, would he have survived?

I don't remember the name of the self proclaimed documentary film maker who shot films of himself over a period of summers frolicking with the grizzly’s in Alaska, and 'interacting "with them until one year, he got unlucky, and the grizzly’s ate him AND his girlfriend. All they found was the bones with the gristle knawed off by the big bears...

Both Kralauers subject and this documentary guy went into isolated areas using false assumption and mistaken beliefs of survival techniques or in the latter, cosmic relationship with the bears, and both ended their life in a tragic way. While I hear of adventurers going into land of wilderness full of dangers and possibly unprepared and unaware of serious concerns in terms of survival, I am intrigued, to say the least in terms of their motivation.

The "documentary guy" was Timothy Treadwell, who's personal "study" of Grizzly Bears and life was depicted in the film "Grizzly Man", directed by Werner Herzog.

I disagree with your assertion that Treadwell (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timothy_Treadwell) had gone into the bear inhabited areas of Alaska using a false assumption and mistaken beliefs in survival techniques.

A veteran of multiple seasons living, for months on end, in near inaccessible, bear-infested areas, he seemed to be very equipped and adept at extended remote camping. What he was not adept at was survival under the delusion that he could communicate and find emotional empathy with a 700 pound wild animal.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Grizzly_man_ver2.jpg

[KGT1200]

The "documentary guy" was Timothy Treadwell, who's personal "study" of Grizzly Bears and life was depicted in the film "Grizzly Man", directed by Werner Herzog.

I disagree with your assertion that Treadwell (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timothy_Treadwell) had gone into the bear inhabited areas of Alaska using a false assumption and mistaken beliefs in survival techniques.

A veteran of multiple seasons living, for months on end, in near inaccessible, bear-infested areas, he seemed to be very equipped and adept at extended remote camping. What he was not adept at was survival under the delusion that he could communicate and find emotional empathy with a 700 pound wild animal.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Grizzly_man_ver2.jpg

Yep, his repeat visits to these locations were evidence of his ability to adapt to the environment. my words mislead what I was trying to communicate!

As a lifetime veteran of camping for extended periods in remote areas, I agree in this respect, he was not ill equipped, in fact based on his "documentaries", he was equipped with the best of equipment money could buy. However, in regards to his delusional belief of his relationship with the Grizzly bear, many of his family along with many who followed his yearly romps in the backcountry all felt that he was flirting with something much more powerful than he, he was courting death each time he drove a tent stake in the ground in the 49th State; in my uninformed opinion as well as theirs, Timothy exhibited more and more symptoms each year as what could be best described as mental instability.

This is my point; those that chose to walk into the wilderness with nary a .22 rifle and a bag of rice, or those who try to play patty winks with 1800 lbs of carnivore, or those who ride a two wheeled airhead into the vice like cold of Siberia during the winter all may have something going down there...and that's my whole criteria of this post.

By figuring out them, maybe I get a little insight about me and my desire to race a fast motorcycle down a dark road 1000 + miles on the lonely!

Or maybe we better understand and empathize our HD fringe a flailin brothers riding their soft tails to hell down the road with nothing on besides their leather chaps and jeans!

[SIBUD]

By figuring out them, maybe I get a little insight about me and my desire to race a fast motorcycle down a dark road 1000 + miles on the lonely!



It is all perspective, isn't it? Some would say you have a death wish to do the above. Some would say you have some type of mental problem that needs to be diagnosed and cured.

I say "It's your life." And the same for the subject of this post.

Most of the time, most of us have a full time job taking care of ourselves.

Ride Well

[AKBeemer]

I suspect that many if not most of us have had personal knowledge about something that was covered in a TV news story, a movie, a book or any other form of media. Do you think they got the story right? Keep your answer in mind when you consider the person Treadwell as presented in the documentary. There are other views of the man up here. Same goes for Sean Penn's horrible depiction of the poor soul who died trying to live in a school bus with no food during an Alaska winter.

[R80RTJohnny]

It's his journey in life. His call to make. Some people ride to work, others for holidays some go to rallies and others race. Some use a motorcycle to travel the world so that it can become a smaller place.

Does his happiness bother us to such an extent that we must judge and question the motives behind his experience.

Ride free...

[Rapid_Roy]

It's his journey in life. His call to make. Some people ride to work, others for holidays some go to rallies and others race. Some use a motorcycle to travel the world so that it can become a smaller place.

Does his happiness bother us to such an extent that we must judge and question the motives behind his experience.

Ride free...
I think Dale was questioning, not so much judging, IMO.

[Holly]

I met Hubert at the Airheads rally, and he didn't exhibit any of the symptoms of a lonely person. He had a wide range of friends there and quickly made friends of everyone else. On his website, he features family, and many close friends.

I too have reached the stage in my life where my kids are grown and on their own. They are used to me travelling and we all keep in touch regularly. If my family needs me, I am there. Otherwise, it is time they followed their own dreams, while I follow mine.

To each his own.

Holly

[KGT1200]

Everyone has brought up insight to my thread that has provided me a much richer picture of Hubert Kiegel. Some have brought up specific first hand knowledge of the man, while others have suggested that maybe my questioning his travels was based in criticism or words that insinuate I'm out of bounds just questioning this traveler; but all in all, I got what I ask for. For anybody I might of upset? I apologise to you.

My only goal was to try to lean what makes someone like Hubert Kiegel tick, what sent him down that road, and what sent others down other roads like him. I am different than him, and I think everyone who hails to riding BMW's and belongs to BMWMOA vary in personalities and goals and I think that's what makes us unique. By understanding him, I hope to better understand me, and understand us as members of the BMWMOA in all our richness and variety.

I am told by a few in the circle I live that I am a risk taker, and many (like dear Ann, my Mother in law) think I'm bonkers for all the miles I log each summer. She does not understand it, and never will. Her loss. She loathes the fact that my son, my nephew have also been infected with the motorcycle travel bug. All the discussion in the world will never change her opinion of me or them.

I can't say I would want to trade places with Hubert Kiegel even after my kids are gone, I have other goals and aspirations for my remaining years on this planet; some involve riding, and others involve ideas and places and projects that are better suited for a life more grounded. But that's just me. I traveled extensively when I was younger “pre-kids and family”, so maybe I got some of that travel bug out of me 30 years ago.

But for Hubert Kiegel? I wish him great days and safe journey. As with all of you.

Red

[The_Veg]

I can think of hundreds on this forum, all unique and all folks that I would be happy to have a chance to talk with, one on one.

Yes!

Socially speaking, I was a bit of a late-bloomer. As a result, while I like my solitary time, I also really love people, and that's one reason why this club has meant so much to me. To have an extended family of thousands of fellow enthusiasts around the world, all waiting to be met and engaged in conversation, is truly the good stuff.

Rallies are extra-fun in this regard, because I can meet so many in the course of a weekend! :D

But I also enjoy meeting the 'regular' people I encounter in my travels. The conversations with inhabitants of places that aren't like home are precious. I can remember on the way to Lima I stopped along the Ohio River for a bit to eat and how much pleasure the woman working the counter took in explaining the chili-and-spaghetti thing. Or the retired professor I met in Japan, who spoke barely any English and yet there was some sort of a glimmer of understanding between us. Or the chubby little Santa-Clause-looking German guy I met on the Zugspitze who so patiently talked me through a (finally) successful attempt at negotiating the T-bar lift back up the mountain, after a previous unsuccessful attempt got me cursed-at by a hot-rod Italian guy. Oh, my friends, if you have never been angrily cursed-at in Italian, you have not yet lived! And of course let's not forget the middle-class American family at a gas station, wide-eyed as they ask, "you rode from WHERE?"

[Statdawg]

Disclaimer: I know Hubert, and I am in contact with him as needed, selfishly mainly to link him with other riders if possible or to tip him off of those ahead of him that had issues, and in some cases put him in contact with locals in case he decides to use them as a safe house. Currently he is in the Stans which I am no expert but I did work in Pakistan during another life and I have friends in India (http://www.freebirds.co.in/). My friend Miquel from Madrid (http://www.miquelsilvestre.com/blog.html) just left the Stans on his GS. Then there is Alain (http://www.motards-nomades.com/) & Chris that are coming up through the high mountain passes of India that could meet him, those two are from Sisteron, France and were embraced by MOAers when they started their North American leg of their RTW tour. Then MOAer's Lisa and Simon Thomas( www.2ridetheworld.com ) are headed east from Vlad into Mongolia which is a Hubert destination. In all they are scouts for each other in a remote part of the world but still have modern conveyances. Tom (http://www.transglobemoto.com/Latest%20News.html) a GSer from Scotland notified me of a possible bandit operation near Catri, Russia where a fake car breakdown is set up and youth wait in the forest to rob tourist that comes to someone's aid is just an example how the adventure life is communicated through a community. This helps with border crossings to things that don't end up on CNN.

But lets talk about Hubert because he is far from anyone that he has been compared to, he is different from Robin Graham, Zac Sunderland, and the many of the riders we look up to because they sold everything to travel for 3 months to 10 years. Hubert like most of us is a Babyboomer but in his case he grew up in post war France in an environment filled with decorated resistant fighters and victims that would be foreign to us. France was in a sad shape till the industry churned and agriculture was restored in a time where only family and community was important for Hubert. Today he often interrupts his travels to return home for the things everyone does in their life and for celebration being the devout family man that he is. Recently he stored his Hack at the Russian factory and went to France for his daughters wedding, another time the returned to New York for Christmas and he took the time to join us at the GIG. A loner and sad person ? Hardly.

In France there is style what I call the table culture where one would setup a table anywhere to provide a meal for friends, family, and neighbors and finish the day with a dessert watching a setting sun. This culture is a community mentality that is prevalent in villages even the villages with in large cities. This mindset and zest for life is transferred into the sidecar lifestyle. In a place Hubert embraced making him a commuter, an on and off road racer and at a young age he journeyed with his brother around the Middle East that would rival Lawrence of Arabia in good will, his incredible journey provided an audience with a king and provided an opportunity for us to meet in Aswan where I was with my Uncle in 1971. This was during a time where many a motorcyclist would take a North African jaunt from the EU as MOAer's jaunt today to Alaska. Then came the Paris - Dakar race originated in 1978, a year after racer and fellow countryman Thierry Sabine got lost in the desert and decided that it would be a good location for a regular rally. However, due to politics and other factors, the course, including origin and destination has varied over the years all at the discretion of those in Paris. Hubert knows this bike culture and the one that he meets along the way.

Hurbert as anyone is influenced by the subculture we embrace. The sidecar lifestyle in Europe fosters adventure and riding in extreme conditions. Please check out the Elefant rally or the mid-winter Norwegian Sidecar rally far from any MOA regional events. There are even vendors that will provide a tablier, or a oil based air filter and mechanism for the motorcycle and rider to breath in extreme cold or even warmth. There is someone within this culture that can help you be you not just in your town but far away places where you stray.

Hubert is blessed, his travel reference is a lonely planet guide and a map to find the least traveled road that takes one to the real culture and its citizens. Be it a lone road that leads to a military checkpoint manned by teens in Chile, a feast with local fisherman or a back street that provides a needed repair, his gift is the ability to instill in people to question where did you come from. And is it the bike or the glasses that broke the barrier of communication ? No it was a guy that took a lonely planet and united the world in which we live. Image motorcyclist do this everyday because we are all world citizens beyond the horizon.

The burr under my saddle is that many a soul feel that adventurers are loners, they are rich with unlimited funds and prestigious sponsorship and continued support. No in most cases they are the ordinary who earn a living and one day took the risk to sell everything and journey beyond their horizons. They take calculated risks but we all do riding a motorcycle. Lets look at his daily note and ponder a few things. My observations will be in red.

8-20-09
I went to the container-road-restaurant of the 2 woman to give them their printed photograph. I slept on the bench and went to the border of Kyrgyzstan no problem there, very nice people. I went directly to Bishkek the capital of Kyrgyzstan that was very close. ( Hubert rode into a town that had a road side restaurant run by two women, he took their picture and made it a point that they would get a copy of the photo before he went onward. He was tired and was allowed to rest there. Great the border was no problem I can tell another traveler ).
I get cash from an ATM and bought the details map at the Geo store. I am in a hostel with a safe parking for the sidecar. There are 2 German guy with electronic problem on the BMW waiting for parts and a guy from UK on a Honda 105cc. ( ATMs ! Not too remote, and he was concerned about finding a safe place. I am glad he is not on a BMW he changed to a Ural for parts availability so he would not be like the Germans. Wow a lad on a moped it must be this rider (www.thepostman.org.uk) on Adv Rider, I wonder if he saw Alain et Chris on the way northward ) ?

My $10 hostel has a very speedy internet. ( The bastards they need Cap & Trade ).

End of entry.

What I like about Hubert is the attention he receives is the attention others provide, he never markets himself, is not an attention whore on a forum nor wishes to grace a ride report. He earned everything he has and sold everything to do this challenge or as he says Take A Risk Today. He looks to do the most with what he has and thinks like most Euro bikers of nothing to camp along side a road, in a field, or a powerline far from the hands of would be takers. But also dont forget to take a risk today.

In closing it gets lonely on the road so feel free to send a note out there somewhere so they know someone is thinking about them and in this case reading about them.

[BubbaZanetti]

nice perspective chris, i still think it's so cool you met him nearly 40 years ago.

[Statdawg]

nice perspective chris, i still think it's so cool you met him nearly 40 years ago. I think its cool that I have a picture of a trio of my favorite riders. One is Iron Butt rider David Derrick, Hubert and a young rider that took an old airhead across the United States, you Bubba and all together you are representative of what the MOA is all about. I suppose we can question the uses of a tarp, Hubert lies on one to sleep and you put one between two bikes to make a tent but thats another thread. :ha

[tessler]

I think its cool that I have a picture of a trio of my favorite riders. One is Iron Butt rider David Derrick, Hubert and a young rider that took an old airhead across the United States, you Bubba and all together you are representative of what the MOA is all about. I suppose we can question the uses of a tarp, Hubert lies on one to sleep and you put one between two bikes to make a tent but thats another thread. :haThat's my left hand in the lower right corner of this picture. :) (West 33rd Street @10th Ave. Big Gig 2, 2007).

Great writeup, Chris.

[snoone]

That's my left hand in the lower right corner of this picture. :) (West 33rd Street @10th Ave. Big Gig 2, 2007).

Great writeup, Chris.

Oh yeah, there's my office!

[Visian]

We all chase shadows beyond the horizon.

great post, chris.

ian

[TexanRT]

The burr under my saddle is that many a soul feel that adventurers are loners, they are rich with unlimited funds and prestigious sponsorship and continued support. No in most cases they are the ordinary who earn a living and one day took the risk to sell everything and journey beyond their horizons. They take calculated risks but we all do riding a motorcycle.

Thank you for this post. The world's a more balanced place when the explorers take the calculated risk while others remain behind to set the table for their return. It's easier to reach beyond the horizon when you've got a reserve of friendships to carry you through. I think most of the world lives beyond the security of a 401K -- I think this post and the subject of the article give us a positive glimpse into another way of thinking.

[Mika]

How do we experience motorcycling?

The act of riding a motorcycle is an intensely solitary experience. Based on my past experience even if you ride two-up, you and your rider will have a very different motorcycle experience in any ride.

Conversely, I find motorcycle touring an incredibly social event even though I tour alone. In 40+ years of riding I have been to two motorcycle rallies. I have had the good fortune of being able to take many solo trips that were measured in weeks and even months. I am in the process of moving and came across my box of maps and trip notebooks from these trips. When I looked at the maps people I met on those trips kept popping up not which motorcycle I rode, the countryside or sites seen. These were people I met on the trip in some way because of the motorcycle. I shared brief moments with some others invited me into their homes. On one trip I worked for a week on a ranch after meeting a rancher under a bridge during a storm.

When we write or talk about the hows of touring we focus on the bike, advice on finding safe camping spots and more. The social side of these trips often receives short shrift.

My family has shared in all of these trips. Not directly but though various forms over the years from collect calls home on my first trip west, cards, letters, e-mails and more. You don't have to give up family to tour like this. You experience family in a different way.

[jamesdunn]

Hubert's adventure is his vision.Why does he engage in it as he does? Because, I assume it's his "take" on a motorcycle adventure. I do not question the psychology behind his trip, rather, I celebrate and enjoy it, much as I would a good movie or book telling an adventurous tale.

[KGT1200]

yes I got it. Nobody here except me wants to know why, and are satisfied with "is".

"Why" is the poetry life, and "is" is just is

Whatever...

[jamesdunn]

yes I got it. Nobody here except me wants to know why, and are satisfied with "is".

"Why" is the poetry life, and "is" is just is

Whatever...
Red, I am happy you posted , posing the question regarding the psychology behind the man (Hubert). Though my previous post was short, the question itself made me think about this thread much more than my short comment would indicate. Why are some of us driven to endure hardship? Risk life and limb? Or, for that matter adventure in the particulair way Hubert has? Why do others sit home and watch the tube? A lot of questions here, some pertaining to Hubert, but the larger adventuring community as well. Great post!

So, I guess my previous post was a little glib. I did think about the "Why". But did not begin to consider Hubert very much on a individual level, as I do not know him and have little background in psychology to infer meaning from reading about him.

[KGT1200]

Red, I am happy you posted , posing the question regarding the psychology behind the man (Hubert). Though my previous post was short, the question itself made me think about this thread much more than my short comment would indicate. Why are some of us driven to endure hardship? Risk life and limb? Or, for that matter adventure in the particulair way Hubert has? Why do others sit home and watch the tube? A lot of questions here, some pertaining to Hubert, but the larger adventuring community as well. Great post!

So, I guess my previous post was a little glib. I did think about the "Why". But did not begin to consider Hubert very much on a individual level, as I do not know him and have little background in psychology to infer meaning from reading about him.


:thumb

[cathdeac]

He seems to like those round BCG's... that's something everyone can't pull off.

Glad to hear he is livin' his dream.. good for him!:drink

[Statdawg]

yes I got it. Nobody here except me wants to know why, and are satisfied with "is".

"Why" is the poetry life, and "is" is just is

Whatever...

Yes I got it too, and I can't help you so send Hubert an email and ask him, the contact information is on his site.

[Polarbear]

Such deep concerns! Why's and Is? And me with my "Well". I sure enjoyed the ONmag article about the Man with travel in his blood. He sure is having a hoot of a lifetime out there, it seems to me and I wish I could join him. Maybe someday, when I'm willing to part with some of my other stuff I've accumulated in 57 years. Nobody has to know really why anybody has dreams of whatever, its just some act them out and the rest of us read about them with awe and questions of WHY? What a rat race. Some escape it indeed and ol Herbert seems to know the remedy for his life. I sure respect the guy for doing something thats built up in him for a long time and now, he's out there, doing what most only can dream of. A good read and too short for my liking. The story could have filled the magazine, imo...Randy

[BubbaZanetti]

The story could have filled the magazine, imo...Randy

i had ANOTHER 10 questions ready to go, just in case Hubert didn't give me enough words on the first ten. :laugh

[xp8103]

Someone said earlier - "It is what it is." Why does it have to be any more? Maybe it is. Maybe it isn't.

I know a fellow of similar circumstance. Each year we drive 1000 miles to camp on the outer banks in NC. An island specifically, accessible only by boat or ferry (barge). One of the few places on the east coast where camping is still allowed on the beach. I've been there 6 summers in a row now. He's been there much longer. The friends I camp with have been going much longer than I and have known him since. He's a retired teacher. He goes on the beach early in the season and stays in his truck camper al season. He rides the beach, finds a spot, puts out a rod, sets up a chair and table with a glass of single malt and a book. He chats with visitors and offers up stories of the island. He is warm and friendly and down right fun. We shared bottles of spirits and our dinner table with him many times. He goes off the beach now and then to shop or TCB. His wife of decades doesn't like the beach. She likes the mountains. Her summers are spent at their cabin.

Having experienced, albeit for a short period of time each year, what he does every day, both the good and the bad, to my knowledge none of us has EVER questioned WHY he does what he does. We only envy it.

[snoone]

It is amazing how much content I have missed.... Out of sight, out of mind I guess!.... The last time I was following Hubert was sometime in Sept... I just went to his site and looked at his pictures, read his blog and became very envious of his adventure once again... It is an amazing journey to say the least...

Given the opportunity and the time I'm pretty sure I would not be up to the challenge he is experiencing...

[jamesdunn]

Uh oh. The Hubert thread is back! It generated some controversy...but Hubert's adventure is a real treat to follow.

[Rob Nye]

This month's ON devoted a lot of ink to Mr. Hubert Kiegel and his sidecar. This man appears to have gone, or is getting ready to go everywhere but the moon with his rig. Siberia in Winter? I'm really trying to understand his motivation in life, and I just don't get it.

When I see his pictures, and read his exploits, something inside of me says "lonely"! If I was a shrink, which with a BA in the subject, does not qualify this response, but I will give it anyway; Hubert appears to be troubled by something in his life that causes him to run away, exhibited by his nomadic lifestyle in hostile and Frikken COLD areas in the world. He seems to travel to the abhsolute worse areas you possibly could go with gusto, with a martardom of emotion!

When I read his narrative about liking to find areas with no trespassing, behind water towers, hidden away from mankind to spend his nights, and doing it over and over and over I really thought that this man is sad. This man is running away from a demon, from a deep hurt in his life.

You know, I love to ride, and love to travel, but coming home to the family, living with the family is #1 in my books. If God says "Give up home life" or "Give up touring”, I don’t think I would bat an eye. Not just the people, but the concept of home. My mate, my dogs, my collection of African violets, my books, my man cave, and the list goes on and on why I choose home.

Bubba, you met the man. What's your take on this?

Is he the guy that came up with the exercises? I'm a big fan. :clap

[hlothery]

Is he the guy that came up with the exercises? I'm a big fan. :clap

That was Kegel........and way TMI!!!!!

[Statdawg]

To all my friends... here is an update...


1 - My 2WD sidecar had its full maintenance program last week at the Ural factory of Irbit, Russia in Siberia.

2 - Ulaan Bataar - capitol of Mongolia - is only 2500 miles away

3 - The temperature just dropped below 30ºF

4 - Snow is expected this coming week

5 - I found a couple of fleece layers to protect my face with my "Joe Bar" helmet

6 - I have new tires mounted on the bike

7 - I filled up the gas tank

All the favorable conditions required to go to Mongolia are there. There is not better place for me to celebrate my 6th year on the road this winter...

I AM GOING TO MONGOLIA !!!


Don't forget to take a risk today!

Humbertof AKA Hubert (say U-bear)

www.thetimelessride.com


PS: If you missed Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan in Central Asia click here:

http://www.thetimelessride.com/US/Eurasia/Central-Asia.html

[KGT1200]

:thumb

Thanks Chris!

[Statdawg]

Hubert is on the Trans-Siberian Highway headed east then into Mongolia.

[Statdawg]

Hubert will be taking a Winter break and visiting his family during the holidays. He is using some of his time to share his life with motorcyclists on Jan 2nd 3 PM A & S Powersports in Sacramento, Cali. Directions here. (http://bmw-motorcycles.ascycles.com/map.htm) His GSPD with sidecar will be there along with his daughter.

Currently he is riding Mongolia in the snow.

[BubbaZanetti]

Currently he is riding Mongolia in the snow.

i'm glad to see he's doing it in the snow, something new and interesting.

crossing russia has become the new going to alaska, i appreciate a different perspective!

[Rob Nye]

The exercises work well for men too. :dance

This guy rocks.

[jdmetzger]

The exercises work well for men too. :dance

This guy rocks.

Hey Rob, I think you're skipping (http://www.bmwmoa.org/forum/showpost.php?p=508294&postcount=52)...

[Rob Nye]

Hey Rob, I think you're skipping (http://www.bmwmoa.org/forum/showpost.php?p=508294&postcount=52)...

Not at all. When folks think of "those exerciese" they're thinking the're only good for the gals. After reading up on the topic and adding this into my workout routine I can say that's just not true. ;)

[hlothery]

Not at all. When folks think of "those exerciese" they're thinking the're only good for the gals. After reading up on the topic and adding this into my workout routine I can say that's just not true. ;)

I'm wild with anticipation of the rest of the story........:whistle



Or not........:laugh