Helge Pedersen and GlobeRiders Adventure Touring Company

When was the last time you met a real life adventurer? No, not your crazy Uncle Bill, who smashes beer cans against his forehead for fun. I mean someone who throws caution to the wind and embarks on a journey because the desire and the idea created the opportunity. The adventurer doesn't care about fame. He's motivated by challenge. The adventurer isn't worried what other people think. He has his hands full with what he thinks. I recently met an individual, who fits all of the above, at the BMW/Ducati/Vespa dealership in Oklahoma City. Let me clarify one thing. Helge Pedersen does not smash beer cans against his forehead.

He does, however, tape cameras to his photographer's motorcycle helmet if it's needed for a good picture. He also wrote a coffee table book titled, "10 Years on 2 Wheels" after he traveled more than 250,000 miles to 77 countries. His book is currently out of print, but Helge promises a re-print of the 208-page journal of his travels complete with over 200 photographs. His motorcycle of choice? A BMW R80 G/S, which currently resides in the BMW Museum in Munich, Germany.

Helge's passion for travel ignited in 1973. He left his home and family in Norway to study as a foreign exchange student in Los Angeles, California. When he returned home he studied technical photography. In 1981, he sold everything he owned, altered the BMW for long distance travel and went to Africa. Helge lived in a small tent, cooked on a gas stove and had 2 meals. Rice with sardines and sardines with rice. He said that traveling alone allowed him a tremendous freedom.

He did not want to be a normal 9 to 5 guy. For one thing, he didn't know what he wanted to do yet. He was young. Life was open for options. He was game for any challenge. He realized he could sell photography and write article to help pay expenses. Helge's work in the 80's may have started in outdoor magazines, but today it can be found in National Geographic, Time magazine, and The New York Times. He tells stories about people and places through the eyes of a gentle philosopher. But with an authority that comes from decades of experience coupled with a joy in doing what he loves.

In 1998 Helge founded GlobeRiders and began offering his unique traveling style to the public. GlobeRiders specialize in "long-duration, adventure motorcycle travel throughout parts of the world neither easily accessible nor commonly visited" according to his website. It is the perfect place to start planning. The site provides itineraries, FAQ's, photos, videos, live journals and criteria for joining a tour. I found several very good videos on YouTube from past rides. My favorite is titled, "Closer To The World," by Sterling Noren because Helge not only contributed the photography, but also told his story in his words.

But to get the best feel for Helge, the modern adventurer, I would recommend catching one of his seminars. The photography and video presentation made me nostalgic for my own traveling roots. There is something very liberating about meeting different people in their own back yards. And Helge has a knack for presenting them as they are. During his lecture he also includes safety tips and maintenance tricks. Like duct tape can be used to tape not only one but two digital cameras to anyone's helmet.

The worst thing he did for me, however, was to show me how to find new roads using Google Earth. I can't get the idea out of my head. I keep thinking of all the places I want to see. Like Norway, Scotland, Finland, Iceland, Canada, Alaska would be nice, The Black Hills and Europe. And RD did just finish an off road training. Of course, I'd have to step up my wildlife surveillance. But I may have solved the "too freaked out to get the shot" problem I'm having. I'll just duct tape my camera to my hand.

See photos of seminar here.

Resources:

Noren, Sterling, "Closer To The World", video

Pedersen, Helge, www.globeriders.com

Pedersen, Helge, seminar, May 2, 2009, OSU Portland Campus, Oklahoma City, Ok