Going to Morrocco without GPS?

smaytum

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Sorry about all these little posts i've been making. Just can't sit still or get it out my head. Just 5 weeks to go :mmmm I'm sure you understand.

We are going to Morocco without a GPS (other than my iPhone if that counts). Trying not to spend anymore money on "stuff".

Is this wise? Will it be easy to find the trails with a map alone (Michelin 742)?
 
GPS has not been around forever!
Use your map and take a compass, but you'll find many tracks, forks and junctions where you'll need to make decisions and in my opinion much more fun.:thumb
GPS is a really useful tool but takes away the uncertainty of exactly where you are and where to go, which again can be much more fun.

You'll be able to find many enjoyable routes using just the Michelin map.

But you can buy a very cheap second hand GPS these days, there's no need to fall into the trap that's catches so many with the latest all singing, dancing toys.
 
On Last summers trip in the Arctic my GPS packed up on day 3 and we had the best time ever exploring roads and tracks we would never have gone on otherwise. We got lost and found ways through all sorts of weird places that you just never would have thought to go on otherwise :eek:

I reckon you will find some real gems just loosely following the 742 Map and asking some locals along the way :thumb2
 
why not get a gps and only use it to help in an emergency?


use a map and explore?

gps is good but its not the be all and end all of travelling.

tims idea is good buy a tidy cheap unit but dont rely on it till you need it..
 
Not so much a case as needing a GPS to find where your going.

But finding where you are. :thumb

Plus it makes life easier to mark an exact point of interest or accomodation for future trips.

They can be picked up for less than £100. As Tim says, you don't need the latest model.
 
As Tim suggests, you don't have to have a GPS to do it (though it can help enormously)

The 742 is innacurate in many many places, and there are many great pistes that aren't even on it that you'll have problems finding without a GPS, but if it's your first trip to Morocco you'll still have a cracking time.

You'll be able to pick up a decent GPS fit for purpose for well under £100....for example, there's a Quest 1 on ebay right now at £57.25 buy it now price- I use one of those for tour leading in Maroc (as well as a couple of others but that's another story...the quest is all you actually need) and it's fine..you don't even need any mapping as the topo maps are free and very very good.

You don't need an on-bike charger or a mount as the Quest will happily do a day's riding on its internal batteries- just charge it overnight (assuming you're using hotels) and keep it in a clear pocketed tank bag for use.



One thing I'd say to you though is don't ask locals for directions...mad though that seems :D

Moroccans will always want to help....that's really great and you may well get some good advice, but the problem comes because a Moroccan will ALWAYS want to help, even if they have absolutely no idea what you mean or where you want to go, they'll make their best guess and point you down roads and tracks that they may never have been down or that they just think go in the direction of where they think you want to go :D

Actually, scrub that advice.....always ask a Moroccan which way to go...you'll have some fine adventures and end up in some really special (if unexpected) places :clap:clap:clap:clap





EDIT....QUEST ON EBAY HERE
 
I had a flash of inspiration... my iPhone has GPS on board, but the problem is that you need a live data connection to collect the maps.

I found this product "MotionX GPS" that will run on my iPhone and supports topo maps http://news.motionx.com/category/motionx-gps/

But it still needs a data connection for the maps :tears so i emailed them. Here their reply...

Thank you for contacting the MotionX team. I'm happy to tell you that version 4.1 of MotionX-GPS supports map caching and was submitted to the app store last week. This will allow you to cache up to 50 Mb of map tiles before your trip for use when you don't have cellular or WiFi service. Once you've setup your cached maps, simply turn off map caching and your existing cached tiles will remain intact for your trip. I expect version 4.1 to be accepted by Apple soon. :bounce1

Not sure that i like to 50MB limit, but nevertheless they're heading in the right direction.
 
Also, can anyone recommend a paper map with latitude & longitude marked?

Fanum, will be watching ebay closely over the next few weeks. I take you're point re cheap GPS.
 
Bakes and I (and a few others) were on the trail between Erfoud and Merzouga when a sandstorm blew up. Without GPS pointing the direction, we'd have had to sit the storm out.

You would only need a very basic GPS (like a Geko 101/201/301 - around £50) pre-loaded with a few key waypoints and it could save you a lot of trouble if you are off-piste.

If you stick to the roads, you don't need a GPS.

Greg
 
Timolgra said:
GPS has not been around forever!
Use your map and take a compass, but you'll find many tracks, forks and junctions where you'll need to make decisions and in my opinion much more fun.:thumb
GPS is a really useful tool but takes away the uncertainty of exactly where you are and where to go, which again can be much more fun.

You'll be able to find many enjoyable routes using just the Michelin map.

But you can buy a very cheap second hand GPS these days, there's no need to fall into the trap that's catches so many with the latest all singing, dancing toys.
Click to expand...

+1

The first few times I went to Morocco I'd not heard of GPS:augie Had a ball exploring the country and using my now much battered but still used Reise map. That and a compass is all you need.

Have a great trip.:thumb2
 
maroc maps/gps?

hi smaytum.................i'm setting off for maroc via france,spain,no boats except the dover ferry. am taking the michmap 742,an A4 size pad and marker pen.will scribe ruff route in 2 inch letters on it into my tankbag mapcase for general points,exits ect.i need glasses for gps,so no good unless i get ear stuff (don't want) listen,i get lost going to my city centre,it's a standing joke with the mrs (she thinks i won't get to dover!) the whole idea is getting up,pointing ther GS south,with a 'general' plan.if i get lost so what? my fronse and spanglaise is shite,but it'll be fun if nothing else.i have a rolling timespan (19 days for the round trip) so aint bothered about hitches....tyke
 
I like GPS because is nice to have. My first I get when in the night my friends even my wife told me to go from city Hvar to our bay (15 minutes with full speed on good weather) when I told that I will not find entry in the night , all told we will find , weather was stormy. After 3 hours I decide to go to the most strong lights. 2 hours later we where in the small city on another island. From this time I every time told to myself "I have never done so many mistake on the road with GPS than before without".
This staff is good when you have good map inside, when not it is only to help nothing more.
If you will trust without thinking you will finish like them.

http://www.tvn24.pl/26086,1570096,0,1,wtopil-przez-glupote-i-gps,wiadomosc.html

http://www.tvn24.pl/12690,1583636,,,gps-utopil-samochod,wiadomosc.html

Regards Marek
 
smaytum said:
Sorry about all these little posts i've been making. Just can't sit still or get it out my head. Just 5 weeks to go :mmmm I'm sure you understand.

We are going to Morocco without a GPS (other than my iPhone if that counts). Trying not to spend anymore money on "stuff".

Is this wise? Will it be easy to find the trails with a map alone (Michelin 742)?
Click to expand...

Doing the same in seven weeks :bounce1
 
Yeah but if you keep the throttle pinned at the Ferry Ramp at Tarifa you might just about make it to Tangiers.

If not then it will look Great on You Tube ! :D
 
smaytum said:
Sorry about all these little posts i've been making. Just can't sit still or get it out my head. Just 5 weeks to go :mmmm I'm sure you understand.

We are going to Morocco without a GPS (other than my iPhone if that counts). Trying not to spend anymore money on "stuff".

Is this wise? Will it be easy to find the trails with a map alone (Michelin 742)?
Click to expand...

We are off to Morocco via Spain in five weeks ourselves. I'll be the one at the crossroads looking for my glasses and squinting at a map ... no GPS either :blast
 
we are doing the same in 5 days :D :D :D

We won't be taking GPS - even though we had one offered. GPS is for girls.

Britain built an empire without GPS - so I think we can manage a few weeks in Morocco :D :D
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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