Scoots 2013. The road to Bansang

We know this guy...it's Tarka



Odd to see him out without a mask on though

Fanum said:

We know this guy...it's Tarka

Odd to see him out without a mask on though

Click to expand...

It's deffo Whatton's worst nightmare...

Next traunch of photographs sent by e-mail on Saturday 26 October

An early start from Alcaidesa to ride to Algeciras to get the ferry for Morocco.

<a href="http://s101.photobucket.com/user/AndyHumbug/media/Gambia%20Day%206%20onwards%20Morocco/AnearlystarttoAlgeciras_zpsbd726634.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m53/AndyHumbug/Gambia%20Day%206%20onwards%20Morocco/AnearlystarttoAlgeciras_zpsbd726634.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo AnearlystarttoAlgeciras_zpsbd726634.jpg"/></a>

Tickets to be purchased and then await the boat

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All aboard

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Goodbye to Spain

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Hello Morocco

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Chubby gets a well earned rest onboard the ferry

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Time to press on - regrouping underway

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What a relief - Jon and the truck came along too

<a href="http://s101.photobucket.com/user/AndyHumbug/media/Gambia%20Day%206%20onwards%20Morocco/PhewJonandthetruckhascometoo_zps7f4c49b5.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m53/AndyHumbug/Gambia%20Day%206%20onwards%20Morocco/PhewJonandthetruckhascometoo_zps7f4c49b5.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo PhewJonandthetruckhascometoo_zps7f4c49b5.jpg"/></a>

Are we all ready then?

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The first scenery in Morocco

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And relax.........for 2 minutes anyway

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Barren waste land

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Soon turns into a very busy market town

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Poorly Chubby -can Doctor Jon sort him out

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Wow!

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Off we go again

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Chubby is well again and poses for a photo

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Did I really take that picture?

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This must have been signposted "View Point"

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Cool Dude

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Great Scenery

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"I can go faster than you"

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C90s on the move

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Spot the traffic!

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Stand by your beds

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Did you order me a mint tea?

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New best friends

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Two Cool Dudes

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Moto GP eat your heart out

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Does anybody know the way?

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It must be this way

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Lads who "do" lunch

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A bit of off roading

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Any room for a little C90?

<a href="http://s101.photobucket.com/user/AndyHumbug/media/Gambia%20Day%206%20onwards%20Morocco/AnyroomforalittleChubby_zpsca6bcf50.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m53/AndyHumbug/Gambia%20Day%206%20onwards%20Morocco/AnyroomforalittleChubby_zpsca6bcf50.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo AnyroomforalittleChubby_zpsca6bcf50.jpg"/></a>

Wow!

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And finally - what can I say - WOW!

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Volubilis

This looks great - looking forward to going next year.

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Looking Good, nice report Paula

Day 9 Sunday Midelt to Marrakech

Oops! I have spelt Marrakech wrong in the title and do not know how to edit that.

248 miles today and yes they made it to Marrakech. 9 hours 30 mins - other than fuel stops they had a brief coffee stop and a bread and cheese lunch stop. A long day me thinks - numb bums all round.

It was sunny but cold when they set off - but made worthwhile by yet more stunning scenery - mountains on the left and hills far into the distance ahead of them. Mainly desert, but the last 40/50 miles was on good tarmac. Prior to that the potholes were just enormous - the type you could fall into never to be seen again.

They saw the landscape change many times - dry river beds and huge gullies that clearly do run with water when the rains come.

Andy says that he has not see a Camel yet but lots and lots of Donkeys - these are heavily laden and often have their legs tied together so that they are able to walk but not able to trot or run.

They are at the campsite at Le Relais tonight and tomorrow night. Andy has opted for a sort of Yurt - a comfy bed with en suite facilities. The others have stayed faithful to their miniscule tents. In my opinion I think the yurt is a sensible move - there is plenty of opportunity ahead of them to suffer in a tent.

Tonight they ate at the campsite restaurant and tomorrow they plan to go in a taxi (or two) into Marrakech to explore and then have a meal in the Souk. They do have to check the bikes over in the morning though.

There is internet acces and so Andy has sent some photos - I think there is still more to come in the morning! I know that when I am sitting on the back of the bike I take far too many pictures and I get told off when I get home and it takes ages to download them. However, the next time I get told off I shall - very politely - remind him of all these photos.......

Photos so far are on the next post.

Fear not ...

... there will be camels a plenty very very shortly; and the best road of the trip is on the day they leave Marra

ps - Thank you for posting these updates

Even more photographs - Day 8 (Sat) & 9 (Sun)

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The yellow 'snakes' in the field are onions being stored for the winter. They mount them on rocks and place straw and tarpaulin on top to have them survive the winter.

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We stopped at the side of the road and saw some apples in the trees. They were Golden delicious and they were just that! We all had one. Scrumping in Morocco eh! Here is Jill with an apple in her hand!

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Gosh - they are so neat -you would think that I am there supervising

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And finally for tonight - little Chubby posing yet again

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I don't get this road sign......they're heading in the wrong direction



Errichidia is due east or Marrakech...Missour is even further North


Er.....Dennis?

A quick update

I have received an e-mail this morning so thought I would do a quick update while I eat my lunch!

Sounds as if they had a great meal last night (Sunday) they ate chicken tagine and kofta. It was delicious. The bill with plenty of red wine came to 15 euros each.

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Andy said he slept really well in his luxury little house - it's got to be better than a tent!

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The next photos will be from today in Marrakech

Day 10 - Monday 28th - at leisure in Marrakech

The morning spent doing domestic chores and checking the bike over - Little Chubby rattles more than when he set off but is still going well.

A bit of laundry to do followed by a spot of lunch from the supplies on the truck - Thai instant noodles - very very nice - not at all like the ones you get in supermarkets here.

We are in the same time zone now - made that way by our clocks going back - and it will stay the same for the rest of the trip now.

Very hot and sunny at the camp site.

About 2.30pm they all piled into taxis (I assume they needed more than one) to go out on the town - Marrakech.

Marrakech was much hotter (31 degrees) but no sunshine - overcast and sticky - I guess that is down to pollution.

Bit of a nightmare all staying together in the crowds and I think Andy and Jill wandered off on their own. They saw the Grand Mosque but did not go inside - they had shorts on and I do not think they wanted to be dressed up in the clothes that are sometimes provided at these places!

They did, however, go to the Jewish Cemetary which is thought to date back to 1492, and they paid a visit to the Synagogue.

Dinner tonight was taken in the Souk - they had mainly skewered meat and Jill had fish. The food does not sound inspiring -once you get fed up with Tagine and couscous there is not too much choice other than the usual Steak Hache!

I should be geting some photos later and they did spot a little Yamaha Fizzy whist on their walk around.

They did find a bike for Peter - but apparantly he did not even want to go and look at it! Said he is happy in the truck and can be useful as a back up rider if anyone is (God Forbid) unwell and unable to ride or just in need of a day off.

Well Andy has got his nice little house to sleep in tonight but after that it is wild camping. There will probably not be any wi fi now either until Senegal.

Tomorrow they have about 150 miles to do but they will be hard miles - they head for The world famous blue rocks of Tafraoute, - painted in 1984 by Belgian artist Jean Verane. Verane used about15 tons of paint on this massive project.

If all goes well they will wild camp right by the rocks.

Day 11 - leaving Marrakech

Andy called at about 7pm tonight, they had covered 150 miles today and had set up camp just off the main road. They had eaten their Pad Thai, and, as there is a limit to what you can do in a pitch dark wild camp they were going off to bed. A really fun packed night then......

They are still 80 miles away from Tafraoute and so have not yet seen the Blue Rocks - hopefully they will see them tomorrow.

Today has been a spectacular ride crossing the 'Tizi n'Test' Pass at 7000feet or 1.3 miles high.
Tizi n’Test is an awe-inspiring pass that crosses the Atlas and connects to Taroudant and Taliouine. Cutting right through the heart of the Atlas Mountains.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/niallcorbet/7303187964/in/photostream/

They left at 8.15am this morning and had to negotiate a route through Marrakech passing a new building development of very upmarket appartments on the edge of the city.

Out of the city and onto the Plains it became a little cooler - straight roads with cactus growing everywhere.

In the distance through the mist, the Atlas Mountains came into view - the route then snaked over these mountains - climbing and climbing and then going down a little bit before ascending again. Coming down finally was stunning.

At one point Andy had a wobbly back end - - it was not a flat tyre but certainly a soft one. Replacement back wheel was the Doctor's orders this time.

They have had a great day as far as the scenery is concerned - it has been very hot - they are all very dirty and dusty and I am sure tired.

They were on the road for 9 hours with one coffee stop and a side of the road lunch stop of cheese triangles and mini cheddars. At one point (around lunch time) Andy said that there were tantalising aromas drifting out of a cafe - no time to stop ws the answer to a request to get some of the delicious smelling food.

What is the saying "An Army marches on it's stomach". Clearly the adage does not apply to C90 riders!

The more I hear the more relieved I am that I am here with my decorating tasks!

Marrakech - Photographs

Particular note to be taken of :-

THE FIZZY - an unexpected sighting - an interesting restoration project?
THE SNAILS - cost 50p were cooked in spices and were delicious
THE HONDA - could have been Peter's but he never got to go and see it.
THE PLATE OF FOOD - yes it is a picture of dinner in the Souk!


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Paula aka Mrs Humbug said:

...
They were on the road for 9 hours with one coffee stop and a side of the road lunch stop of cheese triangles and mini cheddars. At one point (around lunch time) Andy said that there were tantalising aromas drifting out of a cafe - no time to stop ws the answer to a request to get some of the delicious smelling food.

What is the saying "An Army marches on it's stomach". Clearly the adage does not apply to C90 riders!

The more I hear the more relieved I am that I am here with my decorating tasks!

Click to expand...

"request to stop"?!
Tell Denis to Feck.Right.Off.
The Team certainly did when i did the trip.

You canNOT run on empty and without rest stops.
Sure - there's a schedule to keep to, but it does NOT need to be all pain / no pleasure.

Firstly I must apologise for not writing in my user name but I have had log in problems. Decided to be "Humbug" until I can get back on as me!

I received these photos at lunch time today – just found the e-mail. They had stopped for lunch in Tafraoute (yes I did say lunch – and it was a tomato salad with tuna)! They must have had wi fi and so whilst waiting for said lunch to appear Andy obviously downloaded some pics.
It is now 23.39 and I have not had my daily call yet – surely they are not still riding - paying the price of having lunch!!!!?

I guess they have no signal (or he is with another woman ) - I did try to call Andy's mobile and got nothing.

The photos all relate to Day 11 – Marrakech to somewhere north of Tafraoute – the first ones are of his little house – it does look very nice – he clearly thought it merited another photo just before he left. Perhaps he should have it on his lap top so he can dream about it whilst in the miniscule tent!
Anyway, here goes – there are loads more but I have tried to give an overall flavour of the day from dawn to night fall.

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:

Thursday Day 13 - Halloween

Not a lot to report today – I never did get my evening call last night – there was no signal until late this morning.

Last night was another wild camp – I cannot tell you which of the five meal options they chose last night as today’s call was very brief due to pressure to get the miles behind them.

They did get to see the Blue Rocks – I wonder why this French guy decided to paint huge rocks blue?

They were on the road by 8am despite Chris needing a puncture repair. Andy did say that it was cold overnight as they were at 1300metres.

The journey this morning was not so inspiring (yesterday Andy said that the scenery was the best so far so I await photos). Although still in Morocco they are now very close to Western Sahara and that is exactly how today’s route looks – Sahara like - one long straight road with desert on both sides.

Despite struggling to stay awake on the bike coffee was considered a waste of time yet again.

Forgot to say before, that the superglue did not work on the dislodged crown – it has now come off and being swallowed!

Also the blow up seat has sprung a puncture and so Andy has Joe’s sheepskin as Jo has Peter’s Airhawk. I wish now that Andy had invested in an Airhawk. Although, the sheepskin does make for an excellent pillow at night.

The aim for tonight is a campsite at Tan Tan Plage but from Dennis’ notes the campsite is not up to much – he says that “there are chalets with ensuite facilities but neither the campsite or chalets are particularly wonderful.” He also says that “there is a restaurant but no beer so probably better off self catering.” That last comment I do not understand at all – I cannot see why the fact there is no beer means that you have to self cater. Only Dennis knows the answer to that.

Well I am going to have my tea now and then off to our bike club evening.

:

Paula aka Mrs Humbug said:

They did get to see the Blue Rocks – I wonder why this French guy decided to paint huge rocks blue?

Click to expand...

Just 'because'

The local fire brigade did the actual painting, using their pump engine.

Some are blue, some red, and there are some random stripes thrown in for good measure.

Here we go.....original paintwork (much faded) back in 2007



The rocks were re-painted a couple of years ago......a really vivid blue (apparently the same shade as original and it's expected to fade, but still, a bit aggressive)

2010

Airhawk and a sheepskin cover........ Pure heaven ;-)

xxx

Ash said:

Airhawk and a sheepskin cover........ Pure heaven ;-)

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Click to expand...

......As long as you don't mind your arse feeling extremely vague on the seat

Liked my airhawk (I think Skygod still has it but I'm not sure.....mebbe I shouls ask hime one day ) for comfort, but for 'pressing on', it felt really dodgy

Western Sahara

Well, I have had a call tonight and I am amazed that they are not in Tan Tan Plage but 150 miles further on.

I spoke with Andy at 11.30am and they were in Tafraoute – they made it to Tan Tan Plage by about 1.30pm.
From there they carried on – and ended up doing 300 miles today from 8am to 8pm. Other than stopping to refuel and have a drink of water they had one cup of coffee and yet again bread and cheese for “lunch”. I have no idea if it is just Andy that thinks these long days are unreasonable especially with the lack of decent refreshment and quality breaks, all I can say is that the others must be very tough indeed.

I appreciate the reason for the trip and I know it is not a holiday, however, I would have hoped that Andy would have some fun along the way……………….

Dennis is pushing on hard – he is riding his little bike to its death – cruising at 50mph is not what these Cubs do best – they have a comfort zone and it certainly is not that fast mile after mile. There are two bikes that tend to keep up with Dennis but they are both burning oil – 0.5 of a litre for every one hundred miles – the bike only takes about 0.8 of a litre in total. The oil that is in the truck to do oil changes is rapidly diminishing – thank goodness that Andy has his own (I believe that so does Jill).
Andy is tail end Charlie with Jon and Peter in the truck bringing up the rear. Joe tends to be in front of Andy and he keeps his bike at a comfortable 42mph thus Andy is doing about the same. Most of the time Dennis is about a mile ahead nowhere to be seen. What happened to the “everyone must keep together” and “I will ride at the speed of the slowest in the group” statements of a few months ago?

I thought the entire purpose of the trip was to arrive at Bansang in one piece with a bike that will help people for a long time to come. Thrashing them on the journey is surely not the idea.

The other Andy has been unwell with a stomach bug and now Peter has it – was that a reason to have a shorter day perhaps? There was no need to push so hard today and when asked “Why”; Dennis said that they had to have a clear week at the hospital to work there. Bikes that are still running or some (albeit very tired) workers – which is it to be – who knows? I have lost the plot somewhat.

Anyway, I will get off my soap box now and home in on the positives.

Today they followed the Atlantic coast – with the ocean on their right and on their left – sand dunes as far as the eye could see. White breaking waves – it was stunning. Albeit very windy with salt and sand covering their visors – Andy said the only way you could see, was to ride with the visor up, that combined with the strong wind pushing you around making it hard on the old shoulders.

Thank goodness that wild camping was a “no no” because of the strong wind – but this meant that they had to keep going. They left the main road – it was pitch dark by then – and travelled about 4 km to a track – at the end of the track was their home for tonight. Andy has paid for a room which he says is very nice, the others are in Bedouin Tents which are also fine apart from the fact that two people have showered and there is no more hot water.

They have about 1300 miles to go - The Western Sahara is about 1100km from top to bottom and then they enter Mauritania – they will have to wild camp from tomorrow until they reach the Zebrabar in Senegal. On the notes that Dennis provided some time ago he says that now is the part of the trip where time can be made up and I think he will be looking to regain the day they had to spend getting Visas in Madrid.

I certainly do not envy them.

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