Morocco: Sand and Locusts storms?

[LongTreks]

I too am heading to Morocco. I leave imminently for a trip through out morocco for the next two and a half months. Although my method of travel is a little unorthodox. I travel via Skateboard with a back pack and two friends. (we have a video of a similar trip we did through South america at Long Treks On Skate Decks ]
Anyways I was on here a month ago and I saw someone posted something about sand storms and Locust storms. I was wondering what areas and what times of the year these weather phenomena can occur? Also if there is anything you people think I should know about my circle route I am taking around morocco over the next two months.
We intend on living as cheap as possible, and sleeping inbetween towns in many situations.

I'm sorry I'm not a motorcyclist but in South America I had some great talks with Moto tourists. We seemed to all share some type of kinship with each other. And they all recommended this site for info. What we do is rather similar. Thanks so much for all your help!

[Mr. Ron]

Hey, i met one of you guy's in a hostal in Lima after you finished your trip. I was the guy on the BMW motorcycle from Vancouver, remember?
Welcome to the HUBB I look forward to reading about your adventures in the future. Sorry, never been to Morrocco so i can't help you there, but to those who can, these guy's set the bar when it comes to adventure travel, check out their web site, the pics are awesome!
...okay, i figured it out. It was Paul that i met in Lima. Funny thing, i was wondering about you just the other day! Awesome! Take care and please keep us informed here on the HUBB.

[LongTreks]

Hey! I'm that guy!
Thats so funny. Its crazy that you were going through the north africa thread too. Small world! How have you been? Is the bike up to tip top shape again?
You gave the the most in depth description of this place. I wrote it down and looked at the site last year, but I lost the url and only just found it again about a month ago while trying to search for it. You're definitely correct about this site. It seems to have a plethora of great info!

[LongTreks]

Seen hundreds of motor bike tourists, its rad! I've never seen so many people touring a country by motorcycle!
Roads are rough for skateboarding, mostly chipseal. we have skated from casablanca, down to safi, then marrakeschs tizi n' tischka, ouarazazate, and now we are in zagoura in the valley de draa. slow moving, but we have two more months. check out our videos on our site, Long Treks On Skate Decks
we have vids of our trip through peru and bolivia coming every other week, and morocco shorts.

if anyone has an answer to my original post let me know.

thanks!

[Chris Scott]

if anyone has an answer to my original post let me know.

If you mean sandstorms and locusts it's difficult to be specific but stay there long enough and you'll see them.

True sandstorms (not just sand winds which happen anytime) occur in the hotter months and often, in my experience (as I'm rarely there in mid summer) in the transitional seasons.

When I was in Mk exactly 2 years ago we hit a sandstorm coming in to Merzouga off MS6 - a huge tsunami of sand half a km from the NW and zero viz for a few minutes as we drove through it. In the middle of it a brief shower of rain is also common. It blew for a few hours. Never seen one like that before.

Had similar in Sept in Algeria (much hotter), tho it may have been a giant dust devil a hundred metres diametre. Nearly knocked me off my bike first one way as I rode in and then the other as I ride out. Also a short rain shower.

As for locusts, I imagine they are not from Mk and swarm up from the Sahel when the conditions are right (after rain?). In Mk several years ago in Feb we ran into a hoard. A lot of locust eradication goes on in the Sahel which I think was hit badly 3 years back.
http://www.morocco-overland.com/merc/m-images/16.jpg

Ch

[goodwoodweirdo]

Welcome to the HUBB its great to see a new form of transport....

Be safe and enjoy ....

Cheers
Matt

[Kipp]

Awesome looking trip! Looks like you're headed for Zagora according to your gps location thingy, not sure whether the road out of there toward Foum Zguid is finished yet?
Either way, nice place to stop and rest your pushing leg for a day or two!!
I used to work for Lush Longboards in the UK, and never looked further than just carving down the derbyshire roads on my drop through deck - your trip takes it to a whole new level!

Your site is in my bookmarks...

Good luck!