Sleeptalker
Guest
Ride Report
Day 1
Arrived in Marrakech at about 11am and Bill (Fanum) was waiting for me in arrivals as planned!
We headed off in the Moto-Morocco Land Rover to the local shops so I could stock up on water, alcohol and snacks for the trip - I was surprised to see my first Camels and donkey-drawn karts on the sides of the main road on the way there, as well as families of 4 people (plus sheep!) riding on the same 125cc scooters! Let's just say I was in a state of awe for the first hour of being in this strange new land!
We got to the hotel in Marrakech early afternoon and I was reunited with my GS that Bill had driven down from my home in London to Morocco on the back of his massive trailer. The rest of the group were already out on a short ride, so Bill and I went out on a local piste to do some exploring on our bikes.
I'd only been 'off road' twice before (thanks to 'The Other Paul G') and so I was a little slow to start off with, but Bill rode to my level of confidence and soon we were exploring small pistes and even ventured into a tiny village on the piste - where Bill got stuck up a one way 'street' as it was so narrow and the locals had to come and pull him and his bike around so we could head back the other way!
I was already beginning to see how friendly and amiable the Moroccan people are - and the help and warm welcome they showed to the two of us as we slowly picked our way through their tiny village filled me with confidence and even more desire to see their wonderful country over the coming days.
That evening we returned, and I met Mike (rear support rider and film cameraman for the trip), Martin and Jackie (customers like me - Martin on a 1200GS and Jackie on a 650), and Al - a Canadian who'd ridden his 1200GS down as a customer from where he is now based in the Netherlands! We all enjoyed a beer, peanuts and olives in the hotel bar and then headed off to the large square (F'na?) in the City centre for dinner......which was amazing!
We started off with snails in peppered boiling water, and then after much haggling and shenanigans ended up eating in a open air eatery where we had kebabs, bread, salads, chips, pastir (kind of sweet meat strudel!) and berber whisky (mint tea!) I've never been so hassled by people trying to get us to eat at their establishments - but I strongly recommend you experience it at least once in your lifetime as you feel a mixture of delight (at their attempts to attract your attention) and fear as you desperately try to explain to them that you're not interested! LOL!
We also had a wander around the large Souk/covered market that's there and ended up haggling some more and buying some odds and ends....including Bill's now legendary Berber wool jacket (check it out on the photos)!
Neil (Steptoe) flew in that night and was to be our Land Rover driver and fixer for the rest of the trip.
Day 1
Arrived in Marrakech at about 11am and Bill (Fanum) was waiting for me in arrivals as planned!
We headed off in the Moto-Morocco Land Rover to the local shops so I could stock up on water, alcohol and snacks for the trip - I was surprised to see my first Camels and donkey-drawn karts on the sides of the main road on the way there, as well as families of 4 people (plus sheep!) riding on the same 125cc scooters! Let's just say I was in a state of awe for the first hour of being in this strange new land!
We got to the hotel in Marrakech early afternoon and I was reunited with my GS that Bill had driven down from my home in London to Morocco on the back of his massive trailer. The rest of the group were already out on a short ride, so Bill and I went out on a local piste to do some exploring on our bikes.
I'd only been 'off road' twice before (thanks to 'The Other Paul G') and so I was a little slow to start off with, but Bill rode to my level of confidence and soon we were exploring small pistes and even ventured into a tiny village on the piste - where Bill got stuck up a one way 'street' as it was so narrow and the locals had to come and pull him and his bike around so we could head back the other way!
I was already beginning to see how friendly and amiable the Moroccan people are - and the help and warm welcome they showed to the two of us as we slowly picked our way through their tiny village filled me with confidence and even more desire to see their wonderful country over the coming days.
That evening we returned, and I met Mike (rear support rider and film cameraman for the trip), Martin and Jackie (customers like me - Martin on a 1200GS and Jackie on a 650), and Al - a Canadian who'd ridden his 1200GS down as a customer from where he is now based in the Netherlands! We all enjoyed a beer, peanuts and olives in the hotel bar and then headed off to the large square (F'na?) in the City centre for dinner......which was amazing!
We started off with snails in peppered boiling water, and then after much haggling and shenanigans ended up eating in a open air eatery where we had kebabs, bread, salads, chips, pastir (kind of sweet meat strudel!) and berber whisky (mint tea!) I've never been so hassled by people trying to get us to eat at their establishments - but I strongly recommend you experience it at least once in your lifetime as you feel a mixture of delight (at their attempts to attract your attention) and fear as you desperately try to explain to them that you're not interested! LOL!
We also had a wander around the large Souk/covered market that's there and ended up haggling some more and buying some odds and ends....including Bill's now legendary Berber wool jacket (check it out on the photos)!
Neil (Steptoe) flew in that night and was to be our Land Rover driver and fixer for the rest of the trip.