cycling morocco

[Rafke]

We are experienced cyclers and are going to cycle for six weeks in southern morocco. We wonder if we can manage the route M5 from Sahara Overland by bicycle. We are well equipped.

[Chris Scott]

Well of course it will be quite a slog - 4-5 days I would guess. Depends when you are going - I would leave it till mid winter - the wells are pretty well spaced. The worst of it you can walk and there should be plenty of traffic to help.

Get some good photos for Sahara II.

Chris S

[Rafke]

Thanks Chris. Got some more questions...
1.Yves Larboulette writes in your book that the prevailing wind in the Sahara comes from the northeast. Is it also true for southern morocco?
2. For water supply along the routes (M3, M4, M5, M7) do you think we can drink it without purification/sterilization (as you write in your book)? Or can we find bottled water in the villages and is the traffic generally helpful?

By the way, we leave mid-october, returning at the end of november. And off course we will be glad making nice photos/updates for your excellent guide.

[Chris Scott]

I think in south Maroc, along these routes below the Atlas, wind is not such a constant problem as it is out in the desert like Mori (where Yves was).

2. Water from wells is always fine in N Africa/Sahara (tho I'm sure someone will disagree ;-). Its south Sahara where heat + population = less hygene.
If villages have shops there will be bottled.

Traffic helpful, I guess so. People are friendly in S Maroc.

Might see you out there in an ugly green LR.

Ch

[Ian Bradshaw]

I agree with Chris if you are all healthy adults. I would go further and suggest you don't use purification chemicals as they won't get rid of possibly the most likely thing to upset your stomach - cryptosporidium, which is a protozaic cyst with a complex life-cycle. It is even present in English ground water.

If you've spent time in the 3rd world before you are very likely to have immunity to it already. I'm not saying you will definitely pick it up in Morocco, but if you do & you have no immunity to it, then it should pass in a couple of days - maybe quicker.

IMHO I would suggest that precautions should be taken if there are is anyone with a damaged or under-developed immune system in your group to remove this parasite by filtering or boiling.

[nasz]

Having cycled twice across North West Africa, I can say that you shouldn't have any problems at all. Just make sure you have adequate water supplies - this is the most important thing, then medical supplies (dependant on how remote you will be). bike parts and food, clothing etc.

On both our trips (about six months each) we carried bottles water. Provisioning for about 3-4 litres a day each - including cooking, etc. Yes we did lose weight and yes we didn't wash much. We also made sure we use all our daily supply in the cooking to ensure we kept our water levels up.

When in towns we did drink as freely as needed this topped us up I guess. We also took water purification tablets just incase.

In all we found that water was the most important thing, our food was basic and allowed for around three/four days sustanence. Which meant it was rather boring and repetitive. You can only eat so much laughing cow cheese and sardines with dry bread! Fresh veg for evening stews are also depressingly remembered. Saying that we totally enjoyed the whole experience and will do a vehicle trip later this year.

Have fun!

------------------
<A HREF="http://www.nasz.co.uk
www.africaunleashed.com" TARGET=_blank>www.nasz.co.uk
www.africaunleashed.com</A>

[Rafke]

Thank you all for the info! Leaving aftertomorrow, we just wanted to know one more thing: are there any supllies at the wells in southern morocco? I mean: to get the water out of it?
Cheers!

And Chris, will you be over there these months?

[Chris Scott]

If you mean ropes and buckets, not in my experience - and some are locked too!

I'll all around east and south Mk, and maybe even north Mori if Smara works out.

Ch