When Touratech boss Herbert Schwartz was looking for a fourth rider for his epic off-road trip from Canada to Mexico, his ideal criterion was “a woman who likes to suffer”. As luck would have it, a friend of Herbert’s had recently met Ramona Eichhorn – a former interpreter who had given up her job to travel the world by motorcycle after previously completing only a 65-kilometre journey on two wheels. It took Ramona about four seconds to make her decision.
Ramona continues the story: “When Herbert called to invite me on the trip I loved the idea. My life is an on-going adventure and it sounded like exactly the type of thing I like to do. I was in Vancouver anyway so I said yes straight away!”
Ramona joined Herbert, along with globetrotter Helge Pederson and official BMW photographer Arnold Debus, on the 5,000-km journey of unpaved tracks and roads. The route was designed to test the latest range of accessories designed for BMW motorcycles and also provided a chance for Herbert to gather the visuals needed for the 2007 Touratech catalogue and DVD.
The intrepid group rode two BMW HP2 Enduros and two BMW G 650 Xchallenge motorcycles. The latter is yet to have its public launch; therefore this test was to try the new machine in combination with a comprehensive selection of Touratech accessories. It would also be the first time the new model had been ridden for such a long distance, and Ramona was one of the lucky riders who got to test the bike.
“I have been travelling the globe for six years now and for all that time I have been riding another motorcycle, which I love, but do you know what? I absolutely loved the BMW too!” explains Ramona. “I am so happy that BMW has finally designed a bike like this – I really, really liked it. The BMW is very tall, which was quite challenging, and I spent a lot of time standing up but I certainly enjoyed the ride! I was very surprised by the comfort of the seat, and seeing as my other bike is now an old lady, I am considering trading it in for the G 650 Xchallenge!”
A 5,000-km off-road ride might phase some people, but not Ramona. “The ride wasn’t difficult at all. I have done 150,000km on my travels so by now I have an iron butt! This is what I do every day, it is my normal life and it is great fun. I don’t see riding a motorcycle as a job. It was a completely new thing for me to ride such a light bike with no luggage so I didn’t have to worry about dropping the bike – I could do whatever I liked.”
The group was accompanied by a BMW X5 support vehicle, which carried their supplies and equipment. Most nights, they would camp together under the stars and exchange stories, advice and tips on their respective travels around the world. “Some nights were very cold, but on those occasions we would light a fire and gather around it cooking dinner, swapping tales and singing songs – it was very romantic,” recalls Ramona.
“It was a great experience for me to travel in a group of four, because I am usually on my own or in a team of two. It was inspiring to compare the photos, give each other feedback and encourage each other to ride better the next day. It wasn’t about egos – it was just about teamwork”
As well as providing the opportunity to test the Touratech equipment, the trip was a chance for the riders to experience some of the most beautiful scenery in the world. “We made a point of taking in the spectacular surroundings and not just riding through them without noticing,” says Ramona. ”We had a rough itinerary, but if we wanted to stop in one place a little longer then it did not matter. Something that I have learnt while travelling is that fate will take care of everything.”
Ramona cites the Black Rock Desert, with its stunning landscape of blinding white sandstorms, hot springs and amazing rock formations as her favourite part of the trip. And her least favourite? “Civilisation! I like to get as far away from it as possible – for me the less civilised, the better,” says Ramona.
In the past six years, Ramona has seen plenty of places lacking in civilsation – across 41 countries to be exact. In 2000, she set out on a life-changing trip with then-boyfriend Uwe Krauss and has since seen some of the most remote parts of the world. “If I had to choose a highlight, it would Patagonia,” says Ramona. “There is just something magical about the place – it has wide open spaces, incredible mountain scenery and the most dramatic landscape. In the Los Glaciares national park you are so exposed to the elements. The winds are so fierce that they can blow you right off the road, and the weather changes constantly. It can go from sunshine to snowstorm within two hours.
“Also, the people are so friendly too, although this is something that I have experienced everywhere. People make you feel so welcome, and something amazing is that the poorer they are, the more hospitable they are. In Africa for example, families would give up the beds they slept in and the little food they had to make me feel welcome. They would not take no for an answer and I found this very moving.”
Now back in Germany, Ramona is experiencing something of a culture shock, having never even seen the Euro! She and Uwe are still in touch and they are in the process of writing two books about their travels together. This does not signal the end of her adventures however. This is the woman who says she “would feel like a caged animal” if she was forced to go back to work in an office. For her next project, Ramona will return to Mexico as part of her freelance writing work.
“In the future, I can see myself travelling all over Europe in gypsy-style doing slide shows and inspiring people with my photographs and adventurous stories. My mission is to build a bridge between the first and third world and to be the voice for people who cannot express themselves”.
And with that, Ramona disappears to carry on the planning for her next amazing adventure, which will almost certainly involve a BMW G 650 Xchallenge.
Read more about Ramona Eichhorns tour from Canada to Mexico!
