billyt53
Registered user
KY and frangers! 
Have a look at the TRAVEL LIST - 2008 VERSION.
There's nothing in it which is specific for Morocco, but you should get some useful tips from it.
There's nothing in it which is specific for Morocco, but you should get some useful tips from it.
Why do you need to take spare house keys to Morocco??
Why?
I know two people who kept their house keys attached to their motorcycle keys.
One of them put his keys in his motorcycle jacket, as one does, and promptly had his jacket stolen in a restaurant / petrol station on the motorway out of Nice. He had a spare motorcycle key but no house key. He had to call a 24 hour locksmith on his return, to remove the double Chubb security locks and the Yale lock on his front door.
The second one? Put their keys in their helmet, with gloves on top. They then put the helmet on a parapet while we admired the view. Picked up helmet, one glove and keys went over the edge. This clever monkey had no spare bike key, either.
I also know one other person who lost their motorcycle key. They had a spare key, so all was well. With one small glitch. They had one key for the disk lock. Where was the disc lock? Locked on their front wheel. Where was the key? Attached to their motorcycle key.....which was lost. Exactly how a post above describes the problem. All was well in the end. The keys were found, having simply fallen down between the side of his hotel bed and the bedroom wall.
After reading the advice given re essential stuff, I'd hire a ford transit van to carry it all!
I'm very much with civil re the passport and money, but would add a sense of humour as it doesn't weigh very much, and will fit in anywhere.
I'm very much with civil re the passport and money, but would add a sense of humour as it doesn't weigh very much, and will fit in anywhere.
Much good advice has already been given.
The only other thing we did for our trip was to make a list of all document numbers, passport, insurance, health numbers etc as well as credit card numbers and the lost stolen telephone numbers, emergency cash number. The list was laminated and I kept a copy under the inner sole of my boot. Hence I could lose all documentation and still get by. You could keep a spare credit card there if placed carefully.
I also kept a spare wallet with an old credit card in and a small amount of cash so if mugged I was not in the brown stuff. Not needed I must report.
I knew whate ever happened I could get on with the trip. Enjoy.
SMB
The only other thing we did for our trip was to make a list of all document numbers, passport, insurance, health numbers etc as well as credit card numbers and the lost stolen telephone numbers, emergency cash number. The list was laminated and I kept a copy under the inner sole of my boot. Hence I could lose all documentation and still get by. You could keep a spare credit card there if placed carefully.
I also kept a spare wallet with an old credit card in and a small amount of cash so if mugged I was not in the brown stuff. Not needed I must report.
I knew whate ever happened I could get on with the trip. Enjoy.
SMB
High-Tower
Registered user
Yep, Civil's got it right I reckon. You can't carry something for every eventuality. Take whatever makes you feel prepared but remember most of abroad takes credit cards these days and a flexible attitude helps. Relax and enjoy.
It despends on what type of person you are.
If you're like Snoopy then just go and you'll have an 'adventure'.
If you like everything pre-planned in advance then buy a support vehicle to carry all your kit and a driver and a film crew and possibly meet your wife half way round......
You're healthy, intelligent and well off. So just go and see how it pans out. It sounds to me like you're trying too hard!
If you're like Snoopy then just go and you'll have an 'adventure'.
If you like everything pre-planned in advance then buy a support vehicle to carry all your kit and a driver and a film crew and possibly meet your wife half way round......
You're healthy, intelligent and well off. So just go and see how it pans out. It sounds to me like you're trying too hard!
I use Daytona boots and find that gaffer taping any spare keys to the inside of the shin guards is a handy way to carry them.
I usually leave a house key with my neighbour. If the wife isn't in when I get home I don't need to panic. 
The Foolish Fellow
Registered user
PLAN
SOME NEED MORE MERCY THAN OTHERS
SOME NEED MORE MERCY THAN OTHERS
alimey4u2
Registered user
NorthernBoy
Registered user
I'd tend to side with the people recommending that you take as little as possible. Last time I went, I filled the bike with everything that I coudl conceivably need, (including emergency blanket, food, water purification etc), and used none of it. You have to try exceptionally hard, even in Morocco, to end up somewhere that has no people within walking distance. I crossed the Sahara a few years back, and you could pretty much guarantee that within five minutes of stopping at the top of a dune in a seemingly remote spot that a local lad would turn up to try to sell you fossils.
So, the "survival" stuff, I'd junk. Same with the huge variety of clothes. Take a bottle of travel wash, and use it for you, for your underwear, socks and t-shirt, and you need, at most, a spare one of each. If you decide that you want more, keks are cheap in Africa.
The only non-basic stuff I'd recommend taking is chargers, phone, something to read (sony electronic reader is ideal), and the bare minimum supplies that will let you get the bike to a dealer if things go wrong. For me, that is a spare key, and a tyre repair kit. As others have said, documentation makes sense, and an atlas is always a good idea, but you are not going to change a final drive by the side of the road, not going to need to sleep with it in a thunderstorm, and are not going to need to carry any more food and water than you would on a normal day's riding.
I've known people do Morocco with absolutely nothing with them except a change of pants, a toothbrush, and some cash, and they had a great time.
Good luck.
So, the "survival" stuff, I'd junk. Same with the huge variety of clothes. Take a bottle of travel wash, and use it for you, for your underwear, socks and t-shirt, and you need, at most, a spare one of each. If you decide that you want more, keks are cheap in Africa.
The only non-basic stuff I'd recommend taking is chargers, phone, something to read (sony electronic reader is ideal), and the bare minimum supplies that will let you get the bike to a dealer if things go wrong. For me, that is a spare key, and a tyre repair kit. As others have said, documentation makes sense, and an atlas is always a good idea, but you are not going to change a final drive by the side of the road, not going to need to sleep with it in a thunderstorm, and are not going to need to carry any more food and water than you would on a normal day's riding.
I've known people do Morocco with absolutely nothing with them except a change of pants, a toothbrush, and some cash, and they had a great time.
Good luck.
ampthill
Registered user
I love these threads .....................
>
E111 card
>
Perhaps worth noting that the E111 has not been valid since 2006. It has been replaced by the European Health Insurance card. You can apply for one online here: http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Diol1/DoItOnline/DG_4018163 .
Further information also available here: http://www.travelhealth.co.uk/advice/ehic.htm
And enjoy your trip.
My tip would be to travel as light as possible- if it won't easily fit in the panniers throw stuff out until it does 
Peter
Carry a spare wallet with enough cash for the day and a duff credit card about your person. If some scrote nicks it, you haven`t lost anything. Keep your money and cards hidden elsewhere.
Take old pants, socks and t-shirts and bin them as you go along. Gives you plenty of room on the way home for goodies
Take old pants, socks and t-shirts and bin them as you go along. Gives you plenty of room on the way home for goodies
A Petzl head torch - packs away tiny and much easier than trying to hold a maglight in your gob at the side of a dark road.
Oh yes and Araldite rapid and cotton wool (when combined, makes an excellent gap-bridging reinforced composite - will fix anything - well almost) chances are your pillion (if female) will have cotton wool in her capacious make-up bag, so you'll just need the araldite.
Oh yes and Araldite rapid and cotton wool (when combined, makes an excellent gap-bridging reinforced composite - will fix anything - well almost) chances are your pillion (if female) will have cotton wool in her capacious make-up bag, so you'll just need the araldite.
I think most things have been covered here.....I'm with the travel light brigade...cos it's pointless taking a work shop full of tools if you don't have the ability (that'll be me then)! to fix it.
Just take a few emergency things....tyre repair kit, gaffa/duck tape, assorted cable ties, bulbs, motor oil, etc
A few tips....
I used to go down Primark before a long trip and buy loads of cheap pants and socks for about £15/20(this buys many weeks worth!)..then throw them away everyday!...the bike gets lighter, and you get more space the longer you travel.
However now I wear lycra swimming trunks (or I think you can buy lycra pants in Tesco's) as pants, and take 2 pairs....then wash them everyday.
They are really comfy, take up no space, weigh next to nothing, and they dry in no time at all!.......and wash a few pairs of socks every few days.
I also wear those 'base-layer' type t-shirts too....they wash easily, and dry quickly too.
...if you do this it can greatly reduce the amount...and weight ...of the clothes you take.....it's just having the strength to only take what you really need, not all the other stuff you ‘think’ you might need.
I also take originals and photo-copies of my passport/driving licence/insurances (bike and personal)/log book etc, and any other relevant documentation with me….but also then e-mail them to myself!.....the internet is everywhere…so if you lose something, or everything, you can get a record of it almost anywhere.
Other than that, the E111 replacement card, maps, and all the obvious stuff….
….but the main thing, is to take a sense of adventure and a smile….cos believe it or not, no matter where you go in this world, if you’ve got that you will always overcome everything, and will get you help from almost everyone.
Have fun, and enjoy
Just take a few emergency things....tyre repair kit, gaffa/duck tape, assorted cable ties, bulbs, motor oil, etc
A few tips....
I used to go down Primark before a long trip and buy loads of cheap pants and socks for about £15/20(this buys many weeks worth!)..then throw them away everyday!...the bike gets lighter, and you get more space the longer you travel.
However now I wear lycra swimming trunks (or I think you can buy lycra pants in Tesco's) as pants, and take 2 pairs....then wash them everyday.
They are really comfy, take up no space, weigh next to nothing, and they dry in no time at all!.......and wash a few pairs of socks every few days.
I also wear those 'base-layer' type t-shirts too....they wash easily, and dry quickly too.
...if you do this it can greatly reduce the amount...and weight ...of the clothes you take.....it's just having the strength to only take what you really need, not all the other stuff you ‘think’ you might need.
I also take originals and photo-copies of my passport/driving licence/insurances (bike and personal)/log book etc, and any other relevant documentation with me….but also then e-mail them to myself!.....the internet is everywhere…so if you lose something, or everything, you can get a record of it almost anywhere.
Other than that, the E111 replacement card, maps, and all the obvious stuff….
….but the main thing, is to take a sense of adventure and a smile….cos believe it or not, no matter where you go in this world, if you’ve got that you will always overcome everything, and will get you help from almost everyone.
Have fun, and enjoy
...oh...
....and it's always wise to notify the credit cards you think you might use where you'll be going....
....they can be wary of debits in strange countries these days
....and it's always wise to notify the credit cards you think you might use where you'll be going....
....they can be wary of debits in strange countries these days
