Dublin to Nigeria.
- Thread starter luke scott
- Start date
patzx12
Registered user
Cool, I will send you a friend request, it will be interesting to follow his progress.
Are you in Spain?
Are you in Spain?
No doubt he will have all the Irish luck he need,s
Safe travel,keep us updated to his progress...
Safe travel,keep us updated to his progress...
luke scott
Registered user
Hi Pat, I'm in Dublin at the moment. I'll post any updates here from him.
Excellent. Looking forward to this. Thanks for sharing.
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Hopefully he will soon sort his GPS maps problem... 
luke scott
Registered user
Hopefully he will soon sort his GPS maps problem...
His GPS got stuck on his BMW so he picked up another one on his way out of Ireland. He should be able to get it sorted in France or Spain on his way down but I thought that maybe someone here might have the maps. Worst case is that he can buy it from Garmin and post it to my place in Spain on way to ferry.
luke scott
Registered user
If my memory serves me right, it was imported into Germany (maybe from USA) and then onwards to Ireland. It was done that way to avoid import problems. there are so many aftermarket bits fitted to it I would be afraid to disclose the true cost
.
luke scott
Registered user
Hi Ian, Happy New Year to you as well.
Well I just had an update on Facebook from him. He did 500 miles today and is in Victoria in Northern Spain near Pamplona. He had the worst day ever yesterday with gale force winds and torrential rain. He did say that the French are better on the roads when around bikers . . . . . but like me he still dislikes them as a nation
. He is around 650 miles from Malaga so he plans 400 tomorrow which will mean a meet up with a guy in Malaga on Wednesday to get his Africa maps sorted on the Nuvi 660.Brian Dublin
Registered user
Hi. Glad to see the interest in my trip. I did about 350 cold miles today and am overnighting 200 miles from Malaga. Down there in the morning then ferry to Morocco on Thursday morning!
Turns out a mate is joining me (ferry from Ireland tonight) also on a DR 650, so I'll meet him in Rabat (where we'll spend a few days sorting Visas for the next few countries) when he catches up.
When I told the wife I was going to hang out waiting for him to catch up she took it on herself to surprises me by booking flights to Marrakech on Thursday to keep me company for the few days. I didn't have the heart to tell her that will be a nice little 400 mile round trip back to Rabat for me! Ah well
Have to say the DR is going a treat. Fully loaded and I'm cruising all day long at 80 mph.
Bloody cold today - who knew Northern Spain was so mountainous! Was riding in a snow blizzard at one stage which got the old heart beating (and teeth chattering).
The bikes had a lot of mods in prep for this epic journey - actually intend to finish up in Capetown not Nigeria - including Wilbur shocks and upgraded forks. I decided to go light and simple bike for this trip (riding f800gsa ATM and 1200 before that) and I'm delighted with the choice of the DR.
Looking forward to a bit of heat at this stage.
Turns out a mate is joining me (ferry from Ireland tonight) also on a DR 650, so I'll meet him in Rabat (where we'll spend a few days sorting Visas for the next few countries) when he catches up.
When I told the wife I was going to hang out waiting for him to catch up she took it on herself to surprises me by booking flights to Marrakech on Thursday to keep me company for the few days. I didn't have the heart to tell her that will be a nice little 400 mile round trip back to Rabat for me! Ah well
Have to say the DR is going a treat. Fully loaded and I'm cruising all day long at 80 mph.
Bloody cold today - who knew Northern Spain was so mountainous! Was riding in a snow blizzard at one stage which got the old heart beating (and teeth chattering).
The bikes had a lot of mods in prep for this epic journey - actually intend to finish up in Capetown not Nigeria - including Wilbur shocks and upgraded forks. I decided to go light and simple bike for this trip (riding f800gsa ATM and 1200 before that) and I'm delighted with the choice of the DR.
Looking forward to a bit of heat at this stage.
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Spain is the second most mountainous country in Europe after Switzerland. Ten years ago this last week seven of us from UKGSer set out just before New Year to follow the Dakar Rally in Morocco, taking the ferry to Santander and then riding through Spain. Six of us had heated jackets, one didn't. The one that didn't sent a message to his wife instructing her to buy him a heated jacket and ship it down to southern Spain in time for the return journey!
Do you have your GPS maps problem sorted yet?
Sounds like a great trip look forward to reading more . Have a safe journey and good luck. Looks like a good bike for it .
Brian Dublin
Registered user
Arrived in Marrakech yesterday and was met by my two beautiful Grandsons in the square. A sight for sore eyes after alp most 2000 miles in 5 days Dublin to Marrakech and the hassle of a fuel problem with the bike that meant 2 lost mornings draining her, drying sparks and shit. Got to a decent mechanic this afternoon who took the carb out and cleared the gunk so she's sounding sweet again. As I was riding away it occurred to me that the DR and I have a lot in common - old technology. Simple, unsophisticated, reliable, and easy fixed 
So heading back up the road to Rabat on Monday to hook up with a buddy who will be doing the trip with me (also on a DR), couple of days there sorting Visas and back on the road. I have been in contact for the last few months with a group of local bikers in Nigeria. Great bunch and they've been very helpful with advise and practical help, including a letter of invitation which is a Visa requirement. They are meeting up with me to do part of the ride through Nigeria which will be great fun and are also hoping to get biking groups they know elsewhere to ride with us in their countries - Ivory Coast being one. Not sure if others on here have done similar ? But I think it will be great to link up with local bikers and maybe even try to see how such networks could be created for future riders doing this route.
So heading back up the road to Rabat on Monday to hook up with a buddy who will be doing the trip with me (also on a DR), couple of days there sorting Visas and back on the road. I have been in contact for the last few months with a group of local bikers in Nigeria. Great bunch and they've been very helpful with advise and practical help, including a letter of invitation which is a Visa requirement. They are meeting up with me to do part of the ride through Nigeria which will be great fun and are also hoping to get biking groups they know elsewhere to ride with us in their countries - Ivory Coast being one. Not sure if others on here have done similar ? But I think it will be great to link up with local bikers and maybe even try to see how such networks could be created for future riders doing this route.
luke scott
Registered user
As I was riding away it occurred to me that the DR and I have a lot in common - old technology. Simple, unsophisticated, reliable, and easy fixed
I'm biting my tongue here
. I hope your "personal mechanic" 
did a more thorough job than the "bike mechanic" did on the carb 
. Where did the dirt in the carb come from ? 
luke scott
Registered user
Well here is his latest post on FB . . . . . . .
"Bad day at the (visa) office. After riding 200 miles back to Rabat to get onward Visas its been a complete waste of time. Arrived at the Mauritania embassy this morning to be told that they aren't issuing Visas this week - just like that, no explanation other than get it at the border. Then walked to Ghana embassy to be told first that they only issued them there to Moroccan residents and then, when we challenged that, that it would take 10 days to issue it!
So starting the journey south.
At least I met up with my travel companion here"
The seasoned adventurers here will say "oh thats normal" but it makes me realise that a trip like this would never be for me.
"Bad day at the (visa) office. After riding 200 miles back to Rabat to get onward Visas its been a complete waste of time. Arrived at the Mauritania embassy this morning to be told that they aren't issuing Visas this week - just like that, no explanation other than get it at the border. Then walked to Ghana embassy to be told first that they only issued them there to Moroccan residents and then, when we challenged that, that it would take 10 days to issue it!
So starting the journey south.
At least I met up with my travel companion here"
The seasoned adventurers here will say "oh thats normal" but it makes me realise that a trip like this would never be for me.
luke scott
Registered user
The adventure has been "postponed" for the moment due to personal reasons. I'll update it here when it restarts.
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