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Gara Medouar trail condition Gara Medouar trail condition
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Photo by Giovanni Lamonica, Aralsk, Kazakhstan.

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Giovanni Lamonica,
Aralsk, Kazakhstan.



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  #1  
Old 13 Sep 2021
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Gara Medouar trail condition
Hello folks. I'll be getting the ferry from Spain to Morocco on Friday. Does anyone know what the condition of the trail from the N12 to Gara Medouar is like at the moment.

I'm travelling solo and will be fully loaded. On an r1150gsa with Anakee adventure tyres.

I came across an old blog with the guy saying he lost the front multiple time in deep sand and it has me a bit concerned.

I've experience in rocks and gravel but sand is new to me.

Just looking for your 2 cents if you've been there, but all responses appreciated.



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Old 13 Sep 2021
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The terrain is fairly flat so it's easy to avoid any patches of soft sand.
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Old 13 Sep 2021
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Quote:
I'll be getting the ferry from Spain to Morocco on Friday...
Are you sure there's a ferry from Spain, Alwyn?

Nice view from the rim of Gara, (though may be a reach on a GS ;-)
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Gara Medouar trail condition-neil-burns-gara.jpg  

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Old 13 Sep 2021
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Gara Medouar trail condition-dscn2570.jpg

Gara Medouar trail condition-dscn2565.jpg

Gara Medouar trail condition-dscn2559.jpg

It is not really a problem even with heavy bikes. Mostly gravel, a little little bit of not really deep sand. Been there several times, I ride a 1200 GSA, buddies had 1150 RT, 1200 Multistrada and a Versys, all with street tyres.

Regards, Reinhard
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Old 13 Sep 2021
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Originally Posted by Chris Scott View Post
Are you sure there's a ferry from Spain, Alwyn?
Oh man, I was so focused on getting everything arranged for the Ireland-Bilbao leg I neglected the Morocco side. A quick read of the Morocco tourism board indicated that I'd be okay with a covid Cert and didn't see anything about Ferries canceled.
Off to double check that now.

Photos look incredible guys!!

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Old 13 Sep 2021
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Originally Posted by rebu999 View Post
Attachment 25422



Attachment 25424



Attachment 25425



It is not really a problem even with heavy bikes. Mostly gravel, a little little bit of not really deep sand. Been there several times, I ride a 1200 GSA, buddies had 1150 RT, 1200 Multistrada and a Versys, all with street tyres.



Regards, Reinhard
Thanks Reinhard.
Looks great, can't wait.

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Old 13 Sep 2021
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No Spain-Mk ferries since Covid broke.
It's all on this sticky thread (last page).
https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hu...rries-33321-13

Only ferry right now is from Sete, 400 miles east of Bilbao. Or Genoa.
I'm sure there'll be room for a bike.
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Old 13 Sep 2021
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Originally Posted by Chris Scott View Post
No Spain-Mk ferries since Covid broke.

It's all on this sticky thread (last page).

https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hu...rries-33321-13



Only ferry right now is from Sete, 400 miles east of Bilbao. Or Genoa.

I'm sure there'll be room for a bike.
For God sake. Seems like a massive detail to have overlooked.

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Old 13 Sep 2021
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There but for the Last-Minute-Cock-Up (LMCU) go we all.
Just need to revise the plan. Irl-Bilbao is still a good start.

On my first Med crossing, I seriously thought I could 'work my passage' Marseille to Algiers, ie: scrub the decks or shovel coal for a free crossing.
And this was 1981!
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Old 13 Sep 2021
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Little bit disappointed. Booked this a year ago.
Fate has a way of working things out though. I'll find a fun route in Pyrenees or down the coast of Portugal.

Thanks Guys.
Al


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scrub the decks or shovel coal for a free crossing.

And this was 1981!
Sounds like a fair trade.
Thanks for the heads up.


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Old 13 Sep 2021
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Fyi, I guessed correctly that that 'Motorcyclist' excerpt was one of the many exaggerations, errors and outright falsehoods that particular 'journalist' wrote of.
Perhaps that was why he managed to syndicate (or freely supply?) his articles to so many gullible moto publications...
Gara (also on the cover of the Morocco book) is of course, not a volcano, but still well worth a look.
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A journalist exaggerating, there's a well known Land rover one prone to making stuff up to sell a story.

From the N12 you can see Gara Medour, no sand at all on the many times I've been or any on other more creative routes to get there. I suppose it depends on where you start, if you start on the back side of Erg Chebbi and go straight through the Erg then yes.

Yeah ferries are a disaster but these are atange times

BTW many folk think Gara Medour was, for a time, a prison run by the Portuguese. It wasn't, it was where Portuguese slaves were kept on the route south to Mali and beyond.
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I drove it in a hire car......it seemed pretty solid underneath to be Frank. View from the top is well worth the effort .
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Old 16 Sep 2021
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Originally Posted by Chris Scott View Post
Fyi, I guessed correctly that that 'Motorcyclist' excerpt was one of the many exaggerations, errors and outright falsehoods that particular 'journalist' wrote of.
Perhaps that was why he managed to syndicate (or freely supply?) his articles to so many gullible moto publications...
Gara (also on the cover of the Morocco book) is of course, not a volcano, but still well worth a look.
Stall the ball. Are you this Chris Scott??

If so, I bought your book months ago for the trip. Its fantastic.

Thanks for the effort you put into the travel. Hopefully I'll get to use it next year.

Cheers
Alwyn.

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