Anyone travelling alone to Morocco next April or may 2009

[Farmboy]

Well no beers thats for sure but if your still alone come next spring then we can sort something out no problems, i am flexible on dates but want to get away before middle of May to avoid the real Heat.

I will have it all planned out down to the finest detail by then only for it all to unravel on day 1 in Morocco much like the rest of my trips

Still thats what makes it an Adventure.

Got me new compass so I will be out at the weekend brushing up on those map reading skills.

Keep in touch

Chris

 

[Bighorn]

Hi went to Morocco last year for three weeks, thinking about going again next year 2009 for a month over Easter, it's a matter or negotiating the time off work, so if anyone fancy's this happy to chat.

Me and a mate mainly camped, it was cheap, about £1.00 per day, and i would be more than happy to do this again, as the cheaper i make it the longer i can stay.

I found the easiest way of getting down was Plymouth to Santander, and then a two day blast down to southern Spain. you could do it in a day, if you wanted to blast it.

again if your interested call me.

Cheers,

 

[Farmboy]

£1.00 a day Cannot get much cheaper than that.

I am up for camping thats for sure.

Might push the trip to 15-16 days and after a number of searches the route to Santander and straight down is the most direct.

Trouble for me is that its a days ride to the ferry ( not like you southerners who can be on the Tunnel or ferry in an Hour ) swings and roundabouts i guess as i can be on the Norway Ferry in an hour ( until they stopped it )

I wil pm you later

 

[sijohnston]

Hi sijohnston, the other possible traveller I know is my brother who is also living in Coleraine, if he goes for it you guys could travel down here the day before, stay here over night and head out the next morning.

Whatever the outcome your welcome to a bed for the night if you want it, no funny sh*t mind!

Cheers Cormick

Cormick, that's very kind, but hey, on what grounds are you throwing around implications like that? i happen to be a very big fan of the feminine form and funny sh*t is well off my agenda. metro i may be, but homo is not for me (never used that before, but it's got a nice ring to it)
He lives in Coleraine? I wonder if I know him? Anyway, starting to plan it now. My mate David who posted the 'Ireland to Morocco' ride report spent a good bit of time charting his trip, so I'll just lump all of his co-ordinates onto the zumo and take off. if anyone wants to meet in Ireland, France, Spain, or Morocco, great. Since I did a solo trip around Europe in the summer, company for this one would be good. Obviously it helps if those planning on going don't mind big mileage days on belting down and have similar riding ability off-road, but we'll cross that piste when we come to it...

 

[sijohnston]

£1.00 a day Cannot get much cheaper than that.

I am up for camping thats for sure.

Might push the trip to 15-16 days and after a number of searches the route to Santander and straight down is the most direct.

Trouble for me is that its a days ride to the ferry ( not like you southerners who can be on the Tunnel or ferry in an Hour ) swings and roundabouts i guess as i can be on the Norway Ferry in an hour ( until they stopped it )

I wil pm you later

Farmboy, glad to see you're still up for this one. Regarding camping, accomodation there is so cheap and if you plan well enough ahead you can stay at good joints along the route that will give you good food and a clean bed for little enough money...which is I believe, luxury to be embraced after a hard day's riding. bringing a tent and all that jazz simply puts more weight on the bike and Morocco isn't exactly as camping friendly as say...Sweden! any thoughts?

 

[Bighorn]

Si,

You're right, hotels are cheap, we didn't camp all the time, there was one occasion where the evening meal in the hotel was more than the cost of the room. You're also right about the weight, but taking the camping equipment increases your options. Mistake or not, we didn't plan much more than the next day ahead, and we wanted to keep the option of camping on the piste open. Also the cost of accommodation in Spain on the way down wasn't cheap.

We found some really nice camp sites out of the rough guide, but generally the ground is find gravel/dust, and the toilets are the old French hole in the ground. for example, we camped in the walls of Mekanes and walked into the town at night, experienced an indoor market where they kept chicken's etc, and ate some nice Moroccan food in the town square.

We did do it on the cheap, living on bread and the laughing cow (Dairylee?) cheese in the day, drinking coffee in the cafe's and eating in locale restaurants. All really nice, but must admit, after living on process cheese for a week wears thin!!!

On the last day we stayed at the same camp site in Cheffchowen? as we did on the first night (really good site, just out of town) and then went into the Medina for Coke, starter, main course, coffee (all traditional food), all for about £2.00.

I would recommend taking the rough guide or something like it, we found it a god send for places to stay.

Any other thoughts, as others experiences are always welcome.

 

[Cormick]

Cormick, that's very kind, but hey, on what grounds are you throwing around implications like that? i happen to be a very big fan of the feminine form and funny sh*t is well off my agenda. metro i may be, but homo is not for me (never used that before, but it's got a nice ring to it) He lives in Coleraine? I wonder if I know him? Anyway, starting to plan it now. My mate David who posted the 'Ireland to Morocco' ride report spent a good bit of time charting his trip, so I'll just lump all of his co-ordinates onto the zumo and take off. if anyone wants to meet in Ireland, France, Spain, or Morocco, great. Since I did a solo trip around Europe in the summer, company for this one would be good. Obviously it helps if those planning on going don't mind big mileage days on belting down and have similar riding ability off-road, but we'll cross that piste when we come to it...

Wasn't implying anything pal just didn't want to get your hopes up if you were You are a little too colour coded though mate(are you pissed off yet?)
So far my plan is to travel south for 6 days and North for 8 though I might work on that plan a bit now the weathers gone to crap. For me I intend to work out a rough route but I'm going to keep it fluid and let it flow

My brother isn't riding at the minute (just split up with his misses so best to avoid him for a bit ) his a big fat ugly b*stard with no tact nothing like me!

I haven't read the Ireland to Morrocco thread yet will have a look in a minute.

Keep in touch mate
ps Do you want me to get you a union jack sticker for yer bike?

 

[sijohnston]

Wasn't implying anything pal just didn't want to get your hopes up if you were You are a little too colour coded though mate(are you pissed off yet?)
So far my plan is to travel south for 6 days and North for 8 though I might work on that plan a bit now the weathers gone to crap. For me I intend to work out a rough route but I'm going to keep it fluid and let it flow

My brother isn't riding at the minute (just split up with his misses so best to avoid him for a bit ) his a big fat ugly b*stard with no tact nothing like me!

I haven't read the Ireland to Morrocco thread yet will have a look in a minute.

Keep in touch mate
ps Do you want me to get you a union jack sticker for yer bike?

No, not pissed off.

I like the idea of keeping it somewhat fluid. I'm a kind of 'get up and see where the front wheel takes me today' kind of bloke and don't get precious about being at such and such a place at 4:23pm.

Yeah, by all means, let's keep talking about it.

 

[Voyager61]

Hi All

I've read this thread with interest ... and I'm interested!

I haven't camped since I was a teenager, but would be up for it ... though a bed in a hotel is generally my preference after a day's ride ...

I was thinking about next April ... I have enquired of Moto-Morocco about their April 2009 supported tour ... but the idea of going unsupported is much more appealing!

Anyhow ... the only off-roading experience I have is the BMW off-road skill course level 1 (last April). I have an R1200GS Adventure (since November '07).

I'm based in Surrey and don't mind being seen out and about with a man out of uniform



Paul

 

[apple3]

Morocco 09

Hi
I would be interested in joining you on my Transalp if you fancy some company? Date's I'm free after the Easter weekend 14th April onwards. Leaving on a Friday would make my Child care arrangments easier.
Had a look on the 742 Map at the route as I'v never been to Morocco I havn't any surgestions,10/12 days and due to the Credit Grunch I may be on a budget so I'd like to do it cheaply, I may be out of work the way its going.
Regards A3

 

[Cormick]

Gentlemen looks like we’re got ourselves a posse, and fortunately one that doesn’t mind a bit of piss taking (but not in a golden showers way). For me its all about the craic so we should all do what we all want to do if that means we split one day, meet back up on another no worries.

I think the camping v hotel option is totally down to personal choice, Simon has a valid point if you use hotels you don’t have to carry so much crap and hotels will be cheap enough but for me it’s not cost, personally I just love sleeping and especially waking up outside and there’s something about having everything you need on your bike. If you guys want to hotel it no problem.
I have to camp because I’m going to Verns tomorrow to pick up a set of panniers and I don’t fancy telling Mrs Cormick that I don’t really need em!

Haven’t done a lot of off road for years (decades actually) so my off road skills are not going to be great, but I’ve got some training before the off and am confident I can wing it when it counts.

The trick will be keeping this thread alive… You still about farmboy?

As for the uniforms … if we have to then bagsy the red indian outfit …or was i a bit too quick to jump on uniform thing?

 

[apple3]

Safari 09

Hi my line of work is full on until Xmas eve when it comes to a halt, I quess the bloke in the Red suit takes over driving my truck. Its OK kids he dose'nt get stuck on the M25. Having watched a thread last year on the same subject on XRV.ORG people just kept adding to it so I think the thread will last, would like to meet at some point?

Regards A3

 

[sijohnston]

Gentlemen looks like we’re got ourselves a posse, and fortunately one that doesn’t mind a bit of piss taking (but not in a golden showers way). For me its all about the craic so we should all do what we all want to do if that means we split one day, meet back up on another no worries.

I think the camping v hotel option is totally down to personal choice, Simon has a valid point if you use hotels you don’t have to carry so much crap and hotels will be cheap enough but for me it’s not cost, personally I just love sleeping and especially waking up outside and there’s something about having everything you need on your bike. If you guys want to hotel it no problem.
I have to camp because I’m going to Verns tomorrow to pick up a set of panniers and I don’t fancy telling Mrs Cormick that I don’t really need em!

Haven’t done a lot of off road for years (decades actually) so my off road skills are not going to be great, but I’ve got some training before the off and am confident I can wing it when it counts.

The trick will be keeping this thread alive… You still about farmboy?

As for the uniforms … if we have to then bagsy the red indian outfit …or was i a bit too quick to jump on uniform thing?

So at the moment it seems like there's at least 5 of us with a few other possibilities:

1. cormick
2. voyager
3. apple3
4. farmboy
5. me

Farmboy is doing some planning, and nearer the time I'll throw out some well mapped GPS points of some routes including the cirque de jaffer. I wouldn't worry too much about the off-road ability, the more there are of us, the more diverse will be the experience, and the more hands there will be to help lift bikes!

I reckon we should land on concrete dates this side of 2009 so ferries etc can be booked at cheaper prices. I would think I'm aiming for mid to end of April/early May. It seems that meeting in France would be a good call as some are coming from Ireland (me) and some from England. We can then beat down through France/Spain and get to Tangiers in a couple of days.

I'm undecided about camping but may well bring gear. I too prefer being under canvas and ordinarily wouldn't even contemplate a hotel, but am conscious of the weight for being on the pistes. Camping seems a bit more authentic it has to be said. Like you cormick, I'm away to pick up my new panniers now and am having TKC's fitted as I write, to get some Donegal off-roading in before April.

If you lovely boys don't mind, I'll go for the Tennyson sling for my uniform

 

[Martas]

Hi all,
im a new member here but thinking of trip to marocco a lot... so why dont go with you I prefer a camping coz working in hotel and trying keep away from them at all the time and loves mountaineering so i dont mind to sleep for example in middle of dessert.... But still dont know when will suits for me yet also thinking of scotland and europe for next year so.......
Martin

 

[Bighorn]

Hi,

I maybe interested in joining you, if you don't think the group is getting too big, and you don't mind. I'm planning to leave on the 8th of April and return on the 5th of May. The original intent was to go with my mate, but it's starting to look like he's not going to get his exit visa from she who must be obeyed.

Your thoughts would be appreciated.

Cheers,

 

[Cormick]

Not that I’m the least bit jealous but I’not sure I want to travel with someone who has a whole bloody month to play with! I’m just kidding I don’t want to get into a cock fight with someone called Bighorn. I can’t speak for the others but I don’t see that it matters how many come along, I figure after a few days we’re all going to smell like road kill but we’re not going to be sitting in a car together so what does it matter?

For me it would be best to start Easter Friday (…er straight after church obviously) as it gives me an extra day that I don’t need to book off work. As I can only do a 2 wk trip an extra day would be very handy.

I think we already have several various trip durations so I would suggest we each give our preferences for start dates and durations it would be good to bundle down together but I doubt if we will be able to all agree on a single date that said lets see what we’ve got then plan from there. Given there’s been over a 1000 viewings on this thread I guess there may be a few others who fancy coming along too?

PS My mate is still trying to ship his KTM990 Adv from the US for the trip but at present its proving ridiculously expensive does anybody know of cheap shipping or rentals who would allow a yank to take it to Morocco? No news on my brother other than he’s still single and taken up diy I assume?!

 

[Voyager61]

... would like to meet at some point?

Regards A3

Regarding timing and work, I have a web project to deliver before Easter.

Thereafter I'm pretty flexible if I can do the planning fairly early ... so a coupe of weeks in Morocco is do-able with a few days either side for the ride from/to Santander/Bilbao.

I also plan to see friends of mine in Marbella after the trip before returning to the UK.

It would be good to meet at some point (in or out of uniform ) ... I don't want to go away with a bunch of obnoxious, hairy, or gay bikers!

 

[sijohnston]

Easter Pilgrimage

So, what about meeting in France on Good Friday? I will leave Coleraine on the Thursday and get down to Cherbourg on the same day and meet anyone going to Calais on the Friday in Caen (between Calais and Cherbourg). For those who want to boat it to Santander, we could meet the next set of pilgrims at Zaragoza on the Saturday and get down to the south of Spain for that evening? That would mean we start off in Morocco on easter Sunday where either Cormick or I could read the Easter story on the shores of north Africa! I would envisage spending 5 days around Morocco and then another 3 days blasting back up through Europe, meaning 11 days in all.

Good, now that we've got that sorted, get your ferries booked, and if the Santander ferry is delayed, see you in Maroc somewhere

Unless all y'all want to come to Ireland, I can't see a meet before it happening for me, but given I'm not obnoxious, gay, or hairy, there's no real need to meet me! :cool

 

[Cormick]

Regarding timing and work, I have a web project to deliver before Easter.

It would be good to meet at some point (in or out of uniform ) ... I don't want to go away with a bunch of obnoxious, hairy, or gay bikers!

V61 a web project isn't work!! And as for not wanting to go away obnoxious hairy or gay bikers??? Jesus I cant help being obnoxious I was born that way!! Suppose I’d better book meself in for a back sack and crack before the off - bloody hirsute phobe!

As far as meeting up we can do it whenever you like. If you're in Surrey & A3 is in Loughton we could meet up easily, Farmboys from Up North so that would be more tricky. Martin is over in NI with Simon and works in a hotel so I assume he is Polish? are you ok with the Polish V61 ?

Simon good plan I’m up for that. You’ll have to read the sermon though bibles bring me out in a rash.

And just for the record I’d just like to state I hold nothing against gay people and just to prove it if there are a couple of lesbians (tasty looking ones mind!)out there who would like me to join you for the night please feel free to PM me (...er just not on pig week )

Don’t worry V61 I think we got away with it

 

[Farmboy]

Now then.

Definately not a dead thread, but I guess everyone is seeing what the state of play is with money etc before they start getting all carried away on long trips.

I know over the last month spare money has been halved in my household

For now I am still planning to go but I have also got another cheaper trip on the cards if things get worse.

So currently in the process of planning two trips that way I can save the other one for 2010

Even if I end up shelving my trip until 2010 please feel free to carry on with the thread their seems to be a decent group hoping to go.

Chris