Go Back   Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB > Planning, Trip > Travellers Seeking Travellers
Morocco, solo biker, Aug/Sept 2016 Morocco, solo biker, Aug/Sept 2016
Register FAQ Calendar Today's Posts
Travellers Seeking Travellers Meet up with other travellers on the road, or find someone to travel with to the ends of the earth!
Photo by George Guille, It's going to be a long 300km... Bolivian Amazon

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


Photo by George Guille
It's going to be a long 300km...
Bolivian Amazon



Reply
Page 1 of 2 1 2
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 5 Aug 2016
Mattbibby's Avatar
Registered Users
HUBB regular
  
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: England
Posts: 39
Morocco, solo biker, Aug/Sept 2016
Hi All,

I'll be travelling solo around Morocco by motorcycle (XRV750 Africa Twin) from around 18th August to 25th September this year.

So far I have planned:

- 18th August (+/- 5 days) Ferry Malaga - Mellila
- Ride fairly quickly down Rif and Eastern Morocco to Saharan region (approx 5 days)
- Tour interesting areas and do various routes around the south for a while (some ideas from 'Morocco Overland' but nothing fixed)
- Friend flies into Marrakech (17th Sept), travel 2-up to Rabat (25th Sept)
- Head back to Malaga for 29th September

Is anyone interested in joining for all or parts? Car or bike, old or young, single or group - I don't care so long as we get on well.

I tend to live cheaply, camp a lot. Keen to explore countryside and local cultures, on and off road. Not into riding mega miles or fancy hotels.


Let me know if it sounds like your thing!
Attached Thumbnails
Morocco, solo biker, Aug/Sept 2016-image.jpg  

Last edited by Mattbibby; 5 Aug 2016 at 17:20. Reason: Photo still upside-down?
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 5 Aug 2016
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Montreal
Posts: 105
If you need OSM maps with tracks, let me know.

From Melila/Nador, on day one, you can go South to Guercif->Mahirja ->Rchida which is only a couple of hours.
Then from Rchida you climb to the Plateau of Rekam through rocky roads.
Cross the Plateau and reach Tendrara two days later. Camp in Tendrara's old railways station about 8km East of the town (access of the road from behind the military casern). The Algerian border is 50km East, so be carefull not going too deep. Don't miss the Y intersection. Try getting to Figuig and follow more or less the border down to Boudnib. From there, it's more pistas to Merzouga. But these should be tackled with a partner. Can be dangerous alone. Many oueds to cross. Fesh fesh is your ennemy.

Tendrara's station



Boudnib to Merzouga (the easy part)



I rode "against" Rally Lybia





Oued #1



Caught in oued #3



Got help (water) from nomads



If you fall and don't have handguards...



You can be in trouble. Bring spares or fit handguards



Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 6 Aug 2016
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
  
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Reunion
Posts: 16
Travelling spain portugal morocco 25/8 to 18/9
I will be travelling a kind of round trip starting from Beziers to spain portugal and then morocco.

I would like to do some scott's overland MH7 or else. I should be in atlas around 5/9.

I am bringing my camping stuff in case.

I ride an AT Crf1000.

tobern.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 10 Aug 2016
Mattbibby's Avatar
Registered Users
HUBB regular
  
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: England
Posts: 39
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tobern View Post
I will be travelling a kind of round trip starting from Beziers to spain portugal and then morocco.

I would like to do some scott's overland MH7 or else. I should be in atlas around 5/9.

I am bringing my camping stuff in case.

I ride an AT Crf1000.

tobern.
Hi Tobern,

There's a few routes, including MH7, that I'm interested but would prefer not to tackle alone. Perhaps we should arrange to meet up around Zagora or Ourzazate around 5th September, ride a route together, and take it from there?
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 11 Aug 2016
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
  
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Reunion
Posts: 16
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mattbibby View Post
Hi Tobern,

There's a few routes, including MH7, that I'm interested but would prefer not to tackle alone. Perhaps we should arrange to meet up around Zagora or Ourzazate around 5th September, ride a route together, and take it from there?
Hi Matt,
Yes, same for me. Just picking the new AT today. In a few days I will get an Inreach SMS number, and will be reachable from anywhere.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 12 Aug 2016
Mattbibby's Avatar
Registered Users
HUBB regular
  
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: England
Posts: 39
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tobern View Post
Hi Matt,
Yes, same for me. Just picking the new AT today. In a few days I will get an Inreach SMS number, and will be reachable from anywhere.
Cool, I'm now in Granada. I'll cross to Melilla in the next few days.
Send me a private message when you're sorted.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 22 Aug 2016
Mattbibby's Avatar
Registered Users
HUBB regular
  
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: England
Posts: 39
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tobern View Post
Hi Matt,
Yes, same for me. Just picking the new AT today. In a few days I will get an Inreach SMS number, and will be reachable from anywhere.
Hi,

Did you get your new bike? Send me a PM when your plans are more firm.

I'm still in Granada, got delayed enjoying myself in this lovely city. I plan today to ride to Almeria and then to cross to Morocco tomorrow or the day after.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 31 Aug 2016
Mattbibby's Avatar
Registered Users
HUBB regular
  
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: England
Posts: 39
Currently in Aït Benimathar, just about to cross the Rekkam Plateau heading south.

Still looking for buddies to tackle some of Chris Scott's routes with.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 2 Sep 2016
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
  
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Reunion
Posts: 16
I will be in Fez today,
see you,

tobern
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 2 Sep 2016
Tim Cullis's Avatar
Super Moderator
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: London and Granada Altiplano
Posts: 3,077
How are you finding the heat?
__________________
"For sheer delight there is nothing like altitude; it gives one the thrill of adventure
and enlarges the world in which you live," Irving Mather (1892-1966)
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 2 Sep 2016
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
  
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Reunion
Posts: 16
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tim Cullis View Post
How are you finding the heat?
It was 43°c today, if you ride it is ok, but if you stop...
i always ride with all gear, so i drink 1l of water per hour.
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 3 Sep 2016
Mattbibby's Avatar
Registered Users
HUBB regular
  
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: England
Posts: 39
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tim Cullis View Post
How are you finding the heat?
It's OK. I am getting up very early normally when camping to ride mostly before the middle of the day. The best hour of the day is between first light and sunrise - just watch out for animals on the roads!

Riding between 2-5pm is tough - like Herve says, lots of water is necessary. I think the weight of my luggage has nearly doubled with all the water I am carrying!

This morning I planned to set off by 8am but my new Moroccan friends are delaying things (I am still on 'UK time', ie. Punctual mode!). Today we do route ME7 from Fuguig to Merzouga. They think it may be closed by the Algerian military but we go to see.

No petrol currently in Fuguig but there was yesterday - it seems to be intermittently available.

Later in the year would probably be better heat-wise but it unfortunately didn't fit with the rest of my plans. And being here off-season is quite nice, I am the only tourist in town and it feels like more of an adventure.

By the way, for anyone that's a hit adventurous that visits Figuig, you can trek underground through a stream, in claustrophobic tunnels for a few KM to the source of the Oasis water - recommended but you'll need local knowledge and a thirst for the Unknown!
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 3 Sep 2016
Tim Cullis's Avatar
Super Moderator
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: London and Granada Altiplano
Posts: 3,077
Interesting about the khettaras in Figuig.

Try completely soaking your riding gear in water, it creates a refrigerator effect and helps lower your inner core temperature.

There's not much in the way of fuel west of Figuig until you hit the N13 to Merzouga. There's an Afriquia station at Tajite, waypoint N32 18.232 W3 27.419 . Also fuel in cans at Hotel Caravanserai at Boudnib, waypoint N31 56.675 W3 36.956

If you find more, please let me know.
__________________
"For sheer delight there is nothing like altitude; it gives one the thrill of adventure
and enlarges the world in which you live," Irving Mather (1892-1966)
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 3 Sep 2016
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Montreal
Posts: 105
Boudnib has no fuel station at all. You have to buy black market fuel. There are 3 vendors and they are known. The one I got my fuel from was a block away (to the left) from the hotel shown below.





Boudnib is where you leave tarmac and dive into tracks to Merzouga. The tracks start right at the exit of Boudnib on your left. Very small oued to cross and here you go.







I even managed to ride against Rally Lybia ;-)







And if you cross some of the oueds, better have some help nearby. ;-)

Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 4 Sep 2016
Mattbibby's Avatar
Registered Users
HUBB regular
  
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: England
Posts: 39
Thanks for all the advice guys.

There's a petrol station in Bouarfa (10.22 MAD/litre), a big one right in the centre.
I was offered fuel in cans at Bounane but held out hoping for a proper petrol station at Boudnib.
But there is no petrol station in Boudnib (despite what I was told in Bounane), so I bought some fuel from cans, just behind the main roundabout (13 MAD/litre)

You call it 'black market' fuel but I don't think there's anything illegal about it. In fact I was directed there by a man in military uniform, so it's at least widely accepted! Most people know where the 'fuel in cans' people are, I tend to ask rickshaw riders.

I did ME6 yesterday (I wrote ME7 in my last post by accident) with no problems at all. Not mentioned in 'Morocco Overland' or shown on the Michelin map is the reservoir around 1/3 of the way through, which is worth a stop.

Today I did ME2. Some of the sandy Oeds were a little tough but a good intro to the soft stuff for me. Several wells en-route but I didn't drink from them (is it safe?). The nomad kids seemed to all want bon-bons, so I guess it's a more touristy route than those farther East.
Reply With Quote
Reply
Page 1 of 2 1 2

« Previous Thread | Next Thread »

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 Registered Users and/or Members and 1 guests)
 

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Ghana to Morocco by moto solo ardo123 Route Planning 2 4 Oct 2016 14:43
France, Spain, Morocco Aug-Sep 2016 Ron. Rainbow Travellers Seeking Travellers 3 21 Mar 2016 11:52
Riding Companion Morocco 2015 / 2016 Nick G Morocco 8 30 Dec 2015 10:21

 
 

Announcements

Thinking about traveling? Not sure about the whole thing? Watch the HU Achievable Dream Video Trailers and then get ALL the information you need to get inspired and learn how to travel anywhere in the world!

Have YOU ever wondered who has ridden around the world? We did too - and now here's the list of Circumnavigators!
Check it out now, and add your information if we didn't find you.

Next HU Eventscalendar

HU Event and other updates on the HUBB Forum "Traveller's Advisories" thread.
ALL Dates subject to change.

2024:

Add yourself to the Updates List for each event!

Questions about an event? Ask here

HUBBUK: info

See all event details

 
World's most listened to Adventure Motorbike Show!
Check the RAW segments; Grant, your HU host is on every month!
Episodes below to listen to while you, err, pretend to do something or other...

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

"Ultimate global guide for red-blooded bikers planning overseas exploration. Covers choice & preparation of best bike, shipping overseas, baggage design, riding techniques, travel health, visas, documentation, safety and useful addresses." Recommended. (Grant)



Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance.

Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance™ combines into a single integrated program the best evacuation and rescue with the premier travel insurance coverages designed for adventurers.

Led by special operations veterans, Stanford Medicine affiliated physicians, paramedics and other travel experts, Ripcord is perfect for adventure seekers, climbers, skiers, sports enthusiasts, hunters, international travelers, humanitarian efforts, expeditions and more.

Ripcord travel protection is now available for ALL nationalities, and travel is covered on motorcycles of all sizes!


 

What others say about HU...

"This site is the BIBLE for international bike travelers." Greg, Australia

"Thank you! The web site, The travels, The insight, The inspiration, Everything, just thanks." Colin, UK

"My friend and I are planning a trip from Singapore to England... We found (the HU) site invaluable as an aid to planning and have based a lot of our purchases (bikes, riding gear, etc.) on what we have learned from this site." Phil, Australia

"I for one always had an adventurous spirit, but you and Susan lit the fire for my trip and I'll be forever grateful for what you two do to inspire others to just do it." Brent, USA

"Your website is a mecca of valuable information and the (video) series is informative, entertaining, and inspiring!" Jennifer, Canada

"Your worldwide organisation and events are the Go To places to for all serious touring and aspiring touring bikers." Trevor, South Africa

"This is the answer to all my questions." Haydn, Australia

"Keep going the excellent work you are doing for Horizons Unlimited - I love it!" Thomas, Germany

Lots more comments here!



Five books by Graham Field!

Diaries of a compulsive traveller
by Graham Field
Book, eBook, Audiobook

"A compelling, honest, inspiring and entertaining writing style with a built-in feel-good factor" Get them NOW from the authors' website and Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk.



Back Road Map Books and Backroad GPS Maps for all of Canada - a must have!

Your ad could be here, on EVERY page of the HUBB, or the whole website, or as many as you like!

New to Horizons Unlimited?

New to motorcycle travelling? New to the HU site? Confused? Too many options? It's really very simple - just 4 easy steps!

Horizons Unlimited was founded in 1997 by Grant and Susan Johnson following their journey around the world on a BMW R80G/S.

Susan and Grant Johnson Read more about Grant & Susan's story

Membership - help keep us going!

Horizons Unlimited is not a big multi-national company, just two people who love motorcycle travel and have grown what started as a hobby in 1997 into a full time job (usually 8-10 hours per day and 7 days a week) and a labour of love. To keep it going and a roof over our heads, we run events all over the world with the help of volunteers; we sell inspirational and informative DVDs; we have a few selected advertisers; and we make a small amount from memberships.

You don't have to be a Member to come to an HU meeting, access the website, or ask questions on the HUBB. What you get for your membership contribution is our sincere gratitude, good karma and knowing that you're helping to keep the motorcycle travel dream alive. Contributing Members and Gold Members do get additional features on the HUBB. Here's a list of all the Member benefits on the HUBB.



All times are GMT +1. The time now is 12:59.

Contact Us - Horizons Unlimited Motorcycle Travellers Website - Archive - Privacy Statement - Top