Chapter 1 – the journey begins!
In two hours time I was setting off for the Spanish Picos, Northern Spain, for a couple days or a week of riding the mountains there. I'd bought a new bike and the V5 hadn't arrived. This cut short my ambition to go once more to Morocco and do the challenging west route from Merzouga to Zagora.
Then my mam, or mum as it is said down South, phoned. The V5 had turned up! Frantically I began to repack and recheck the equipment – I was going back to Morocco!
For those of you who haven't read trip report #1, I took an R1150GS around Morocco two years ago at the age of 23 with no planning. It was admittedly ballsy and I got myself into a few tight situations but I had good fun doing it and experienced many things you can't do unless you travel solo.
My equipment was a bit simpler this time round. I was carrying three t-shirts, boxers, socks and a pair of trainers. For the bike there was tyre levers & puncture repair, spare 21” tube, additional oil, fuses and the usual cable ties and such. For sleeping there was a Goretex bivy, down bag and inflatable roll mate all rolled into one bag. For hygiene there were separate bags for washing clothes, dishes, myself and a medical kit (really basic one, left the proper one in mates car). The panniers had taps on the bottom and could store 7ltrs of water between them, and two 10ltr jerry cans were slung on the back for good measure. I also carried basic cooking facilities and some packet foods.
http://www.igaro.com/misc/moroc2/101_0005.mov
I was due to travel from Newcastle to Bradford Uni where I'd be staying with a mate and drinking at the uni bars & club that night. I was going to be late now but it had to be so. I set off at around 20:00hrs and got there for 21:30hrs leaving plenty of time for drinking, which ultimately we did a lot off.
http://www.igaro.com/misc/moroc2/101_0006.mov
In the morning my mate (he's Greek as you can see on the video) decided he'd have a shot on my bike. He broke my first bike and I was a bit apprehensive about him breaking the Dakar before I'd even left the country. None the less he quickly mastered it around the university block.
http://www.igaro.com/misc/moroc2/101_0007.mov
http://www.igaro.com/misc/moroc2/101_0008.mov
I booked a SeaFrance ferry and in the afternoon set off for the Dover-Calais ferry for 20:20hrs. I was there in good time but the ferry had been cancelled and I was put on a later P&O alternative for 21:40hrs. That give plenty of time for chatting with various bus drivers on best routes through France and for photo taking of the bike. I also tightened some bolts that were the cause of an oil leak.