Christmas in Morocco

[aurel]

Hello adventurers,

My girl friend and I will be in Morocco (south) for Christmas, riding two up on a KTM 990 Adventure.

If anybody want to share a just shoot

roxy & aurel

[Birdy]

I'm passing so close to you, tis a pity I'm just behind.

I expect to be somewhere around As Saiura (Essoira in French?) about the 8th of Jan, I'll be following the road down past Ouzazarte to Western Sahara then.

Where are you going? Our roads might cross slightly later?

Joel

[backofbeyond]

I'm leaving the UK on Dec 17th so should be around Tan Tan / Laaoune at Xmas. I'm on a yellow CCM so should be easy to spot.

[wishfull traveller]

Nice looking bike, those sprockets look a little to easy to bilfer to me ?. I would weld a bolt to the frame and stick a lock nut on, at least then thewill need to have a spanner with them, they all carry knifes so cutting the zip ties would take no time at all.

When I was in Morroco a few years back anything that was not bolted down was wipped off the bikes as we passed through.

But anway have a great trip.

Colin.

[ONyerBIKE]

Wish that I could hook up for a few s in Maroc, not possible at the moment, maybe be able to meet in the future if you are still doing monthly rides in the Pyrenees.
Have a great trip!

[backofbeyond]

Originally Posted by wishfull traveller

Nice looking bike, those sprockets look a little to easy to bilfer to me ?. I would weld a bolt to the frame and stick a lock nut on, at least then thewill need to have a spanner with them, they all carry knifes so cutting the zip ties would take no time at all.

When I was in Morroco a few years back anything that was not bolted down was wipped off the bikes as we passed through.

That pic was taken last year and the sprockets were zip tied there just to make sure I didn't forget them although I've used a similar system for many trips though and never had a problem. Other stuff's been nicked but not the sprockets. The panniers are quickly detachable (as are the sat navs etc) and come into hotel rooms with me.

[aurel]

Originally Posted by Birdy

I'm passing so close to you, tis a pity I'm just behind.

I expect to be somewhere around As Saiura (Essoira in French?) about the 8th of Jan, I'll be following the road down past Ouzazarte to Western Sahara then.

Where are you going? Our roads might cross slightly later?

Joel

On the 8th of Jan I'll be in my office, back at work in France

We're leaving on the 20th of December and back at home on the 4th of January. There are 1500km from our house to Tanger so we should be in Morocco between the 23th of December and the 2th of January.

We'll ride from Ceuta (almost Tanger) to Fes, Merzouga, Zagora, Gorges du Todra/Dades, Vallée du Draa, Ouarzazate, Marrakech, Meknes, Ceuta.

Nothing sure yet about the road, we just started to plan it

[aurel]

Originally Posted by backofbeyond

I'm leaving the UK on Dec 17th so should be around Tan Tan / Laaoune at Xmas. I'm on a yellow CCM so should be easy to spot.

That's a nice looking bike! I would be happy to meet you just to take a look at your bike

Here is mine (with me btw) this summer in Egypt :

[ukiceman]

Hopefully I’ll catch up with a couple of you then. I should be in Tan-Tan round about same time as you, maybe grab a Christmas lunch of some-kind then, hit the dunes.

Rider AND luggage 102kg – not sure if that’s good or not

I leave Wednesday but I’ll be in Europe until last week in November, not sure what day I’ll cross over but I’ll keep an eye on this thread. I’ll see if my time matches anybody else’s, maybe tag along ?

shaun

[backofbeyond]

UKiceman - looks like our paths are somewhat parallel! You're based in the Isle of Wight and I'm very often in Milford on Sea (Wife's parents are based there) I was down there running in the Milford 5 miles a couple of weeks ago.

You're off on Wednesday and I'm heading for the Alps on the CCM next Saturday as a shakedown run / business trip.

I'm scheduled to leave for Morocco on Dec 17th so should be in Tan Tan for the 24th / 25th.

Where are you heading for after that?

[ukiceman]

Originally Posted by backofbeyond

UKiceman - looks like our paths are somewhat parallel! You're based in the Isle of Wight and I'm very often in Milford on Sea (Wife's parents are based there) I was down there running in the Milford 5 miles a couple of weeks ago.

You're off on Wednesday and I'm heading for the Alps on the CCM next Saturday as a shakedown run / business trip.

I'm scheduled to leave for Morocco on Dec 17th so should be in Tan Tan for the 24th / 25th.

Where are you heading for after that?

I'll make sure i'm in Tan Tan for the 24th/25th then.. after that, not sure. we could figure something out i guess. do you have a plan ?

shaun

[backofbeyond]

Originally Posted by ukiceman

I'll make sure i'm in Tan Tan for the 24th/25th then.. after that, not sure. we could figure something out i guess. do you have a plan ?

shaun

I'm heading south! Rough plan is Mauri / Mali (maybe Tombuktu / Festival au Desert)/ Burkino Faso / Ghana. My last two trips to the area haven't quite gone according to plan so I'm not setting anything in stone

[ukiceman]

Originally Posted by backofbeyond

I'm heading south! Rough plan is Mauri / Mali (maybe Tombuktu / Festival au Desert)/ Burkino Faso / Ghana. My last two trips to the area haven't quite gone according to plan so I'm not setting anything in stone

That sounds like a good plan! I’ll be a bit in front of you if I go in early (i might stay an extra week in Portugal, free bed and board) I guess I could pick-up a visa in Rabat for Mauri, it's something I’ve been thinking about, to be honest I’ve not got anything planed past xmas day.

Not sure if I can do Mali on the road? Just out of interest, what’s your exit route and return home date? At the moment I’m February 5th from Spain back to Portsmouth. i've got 1k in euro and 1k in $, when it's gone i'd better be Spain So, the longer i stay in Portugal the better the trip in Africa.


Shaun

[backofbeyond]

My exit strategy is to find a shipper in Ghana to send the bike back and then head for the airport. It worked pretty well last time (Jan 04) in Banjul even if the bike did take 3 months to arrive.
I started off last time with roughly your budget and still had a fair bit left when I got to The Gambia but that's because cash had to be surgically extracted from me for just about anything including fuel. Many years ago I was stuck in Greece when a bag containing all our cash was lost. It caused all sorts of problems (pre credit card days) and ever since I've always been very careful not to repeat it.

Within reason I'm back when I'm back. I'm self employed and Jan is fairly quiet so I can decide how big a hit to take. My wife just checks my life insurance details!

[ukiceman]

I’d definitely like to do Mauri with you, as for Mali not sure. I guess I could, then double back and start the coastal run back to Spain, leaving you to continue with a more interesting route south. I’ve got on-site net access when I get to Portugal so I’ll stay in touch. I’ve also got chocolate for Xmas if it doesn’t melt J

Shaun