Drag Your Loved One To Morocco

[Garry H]

It's taken me a while to persuade Kay to go to morocco
But the end of last year she agreed to go
We have done most of europe and some eastern europe
But she did not like the idear of Africa
We don't do guided tours or big groups so it was just Kay, Myself and the trusty 1100

Part of the deal was we spent some time in Portugal

So here's a report on how things went....
It turned out to be quite a adventure

First worry Kay had was the crossing to Santander
No problems there it was calm for a change

The weather was great when we arrived in Spain and i had picked a nice scenic route through the Picos mountains towards Portugal
A stunning lake in the Picos

The trees didn't look to impressed mind you

Topbox or foodbox

The weather was stunning not too hot or cold
So we did a few tracks that we came across just before Portugal

Not the easiest thing to ride on 2 up but great fun

Then the bit Kay was looking forward to Portugal

 

[jailon]

Looks great, making me jealous........

Am just planning our trip to Rome in June. The wife still a little nervous about "possible arseache" but she managed Scotland ok......

 

[Garry H]

Portugal turned out to be better than i expected
How many tracks to ride

Just pick a minor road on route and it would often turn into this

The other great thing about going out of season is it's nice and quiet
A picnic area in central Portugal
Just us two and the trusty 1100

Great place for lunch even the villages were quiet

Drink

Stunning area...Blasting down to Algeciras
You are missing some stunning stuff

The weather was holding up too
Another great place for lunch

Portugal turned out to be great...
Friendly people nice B+B

Even the animals were friendly

Kay loved Portugal...But it was time to leave and head back to Spain

Those Spanish women certainly know how to dress up

We did a few tracks around the Ronda and i found out where cork comes from

You could tell we were near the end of the Spanish part of our trip by the hedges....You would not want to crash into this

Next day a worried Kay and the ferry to Morocco

 

[Aidan1150]

Good report Garry. I'm looking forward to the next installment.

 

[Wilburt]

Good report Garry. I'm looking forward to the next installment.

Ditto, hurry up Garry

 

[Timolgra]

Good stuff so far Garry and your right blasting down to Algerceiras and missing rural Portugal and Spain is almost a crime

 

[Paul Rochdale]

Nice story so far Garry. I'm planning to ride down to Granada at the end of the summer and after reading what you've written, I may decide to divert though the Picos and Portugal.

 

[iangough]

Give us more Garry, dont leave us hanging

 

[Garry H]

We got the ferry across to Ceuta...
Kay thought we were staying in Morocco for a couple of days
But after having to pay 185 euros for the ferry i got the all clear for a bit longer

So we set off to the border crosing into Morocco..
I like to sort it all out myself and to my horror it had all changed from when i was there last time
Still i was determine to sort all the paperwork out myself...
Every time i looked round to see how Kay was getting on she was surrounded by Morocanns offering advise and touting for business...
I went back and told her to keep calm and i would sort it all out
It took a me about 10 mins and i had it sorted....Or so i thought
I then jumped the wrong cue got to the front only to find out i needed a signature from the guy at the front of the correct que
The guy called someone over and took my paperwork away to the guy at the front of the correct que who signed it and we were in

So off we went on our way to the first hotel just out side Quezzane...
Due to a delay in Spain cuz a road was closed for a road rally we arrived at the hotel well after dark...

So we loaded up and we were off for our first full day in Morocco

We took the main road down to Fez and the weather was fine to start

Kay's quote of the day " it's not like Spain is it "

We arrived in Fez just as the weather was starting to turn

We went into a big supermarket to get some supplys and a spare bike

We carried on to Sefrou but the weather in the mountains was looking terrible so we decided to knock it on the head early...Find some accommodation and have a look around the souk

It turned out to be a wise decision because there was a major thunderstorm....
We were in for a surprise when we set off the next day

 

[Garry H]

Off we set for the main climb into the high Atlas
It was as misty as hell when we left the hotel...Just like a autum day in the UK..
But we soon climbed up through the clouds into beautiful sunshine

It was then we started to realize just how big a storm there had been in the mountains
The flood water had not done the road any good at all

We were stopped taking pics when a local stopped and told us the road was flooded ahead..At least thats what i think he said..
So we decided to go and have a look...
We came across the biggest puddle i have ever seen

Even the locals were having trouble

We had no choice..We had to go around it
So we made a detour to see the cedar forests around Azrou
and would join the road further south

The cedar forest are stunning and well worth a visit

With loads of tracks through them

But the rain had made some of them impassable

Best send the copilot off to check it out

What do you mean we will have to turn back
Best check it out for myself
Fair enough lets turn around

So off we went heading back towards Midelt

More floods

And some more

The rest of the road to Midelt was a mixture of dry and wet mud and took a while to ride

It was also a bit windy with the odd sandstorm

The bus to Midelt

We arrived at Midelt just in time to pop down the local market for some supplies
Kay starting to feel at home and trying to blend in

Thats as long as you like bananas

Stock up for tomorrow

 

[Wilburt]

Nice one Garry!
Strange to get a Morocco report which features storms, flooding and forests - keep it coming, gives me something interesting to read while i'm working!

 

[Garry H]

Next day i thought i would give the trail from Midelt to Tounfite a go

Cracking day and all strted off well

What a awsome place and how remote

Kay is starting to feel a lot more relaxed and spots a bedouin tent with kids outside...So armed with some sweets off she goes and the kids make a beeline for her

Great thing about a decent camera....This shot was taken from over 50 meters away

We carried on for a good few miles then came to the first sign of flood damage to the track

A couple of miles further on after crossing a few more minor washouts they started to get worse and more frequent

Soft mud covered in rocks..And just the 2 of us
I chicken out and decided to turn back

 

[Sgt Bilco]

Cracking report so far Garry. Looked like a proper adventure.

Me and Santrix are heading down to Spain in a couple of weeks and will dock in Santander so will check out the routes into Portugal

 

[David Nimrod]

Really inspiring stuff... More please!

 

[Passing Phase]

GOOD ONE

A real good rerort I see you stayed at the Rif motel we stayed there last year, good pictures what camera do you use? Wife liked the idea of gowing over with me next time after we get a few more shorter trips out of the way first.

 

[STUBBS]

great write up youve made me want to return again

 

[rocks]

Cracking shots

Great photos and report.. please keep them coming.

 

[Garry H]

The next day i thought i would have a look at the road from Rich to Imilchil via Amouguer
I thought i would be tarmac all the was but was not sure...
It turned out to be a stunning single track tarmac road all the way to Bousmou

Local traffic

Stunning views and very quiet

Real interesting rock formation

I can reccomend this road for sure and its not far off 100 miles long

 

[Garry H]

Thanks for the comments Chaps..It makes it worth the time and effort to do a report

Camera is a Nikon D80 with a 18-200 vr lense
and a Panasonic LX2 for the point and shoot stuff

 

[garfield]

Thanks for the comments Chaps..It makes it worth the time and effort to do a report

Camera is a Nikon D80 with a 18-200 vr lense
and a Panasonic LX2 for the point and shoot stuff

excellent stuff Garry, really enjoyed that.....