Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB - Morocco Jan/Feb 23

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I've actually hooked up with a guy on another Himalayan. He's not ridden a bike for 20 years and has never ridden off road. However, he camps in the winter here in the UK too, and has extensive offroad mountain biking experience, so I'm pretty confident he's up to it. I hadn't ridden offroad for 30 years before my solo South American trip. We'll start on a few easier dirt roads before venturing into the desert proper. A week to go and we'll be on the ferry to Spain. Can't wait, and thanks to those of you that replied. If anyone is interested in following the trip, check out Jetlag Jon on Facebook. I'll try and post updates here too, though I doubt there'll be much cell coverage on much of the trip.

If he has extensive offroad mountain biking he will be fine. This was my son-in-law who has extensive mountain biking but only two weeks motorbiking experience since passing his CBT.

I walked the route first to check for rocks and impressed on him to focus on the far bank, not the water!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim Cullis (Post 633538)

Biggest downside is boredom, so wait to find a campsite until after the sun goes down (18:50) but then erect the tent before it's fully dark at 19:15 (timings are for Merzouga time zone for end Jan). Any earlier and you will be found by the local kids—even in the middle of the desert there are local kids—and you will be their 'Berber TV' for the evening.

If you have space, take a fleece lined hot water bottle. An iPod would come in handy as well, I have a music playlist of 'Dreamtime' that helps me fall asleep. In 50 years of travel in Morocco I've never encountered a snake or scorpion, if that's any comfort. First light is at 07:45, dawn at 08:10.

I carry a Jetboil stove and packets of Batchelor's dehydrated Cup-a-soup, my current favourite flavour is Thai chicken. Good for lunch and also as a quick starter in the evening. To save space I repack the sachets to get six rather than four in each packet (I'm an anal packer).

If you are heading south towards Mauritania, try finding the Cascades of Oued Khawi Nam, these are on the imaginary border line of Morocco and Western Sahara at N27° 40.950' W12° 13.180' I didn't have a tracklog to follow but I approached from a track that left the coast road just to the west of Akhfenir at N28° 04.300' W12° 07.903'

The Cascades

The approach

Thanks for the info and the videos! We'll see if we can find the cascades. I've got Chris Scott's Morocco Overland, most of the tracks we'll be following will come from that. Hot water bottle is already packed!

I can't stand dehydrated meals so will buy rice and pasta there and fresh supplies when available, though I will have a couple of dehydrated meals for emergencies. Though maybe I'll pack a couple of soup sachets too....

If you decide to go back to morocco later in the year or this time next year let me know. I've been planning a similar trip for some time.