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Sixty or so of the 500+ photos taken during our trip are shown below.
But first some pointers on subjects that concerned us before the trip. The most useful accessory was bike-to-bike communications. This enabled us to let each other know when the road was clear to overtake, to warn about tricky conditions, and to generally chat.
Although we all had knobblies (TKC etc) fitted, the weather was generally dry and Tourances would have been fine even on the roughest offroad. The knobblies didn't prevent the bikes bogging down in fine gravel. They wore fairly quickly but were better than expected on cornering.
Although we took ferry tiedowns and rachets, these weren't needed as the staff on both the Plymouth to Santander and Algeciras to Ceuta ferries handled this themselves.
Getting unleaded petrol was never an issue. We looked for petrol in larger towns and only ever found one station without unleaded. The Afrique chain are modern filling stations with welcome shady canopies.
The main roads were brilliant. Generally excellent surface, no white lining problems, no cats eyes and no manhole covers. Extremely safe and no problems with locals (unlike the nutters in southern Spain).
The police are helpful and courteous, and salute you even when you just forced their car off the road!
Nick, Rob, Steve and Tim line up in front of the Ace Cafe.
Getting secured on Brittany Ferries' Pont Aven.
Interior shots of Pont Aven.
Interior shots of Pont Aven.
One of the ferry's eating areas.
Arrival at Santander (moments after this photo was taken, Nick's F650GSD was knocked over by another biker).
Skirting the edge of the Picos de Europa.
Mucking about in the Guadarrama Mountains north of Madrid.
Reservoirs in the Guadarrama Mountains.
Major disaster. We were planning to overnight on the Autorail from Madrid and wake up refreshed in Southern Spain, but despite having been issued with tickets for four bikes and riders on the Autorail to Algeciras, we were refused boarding.
Although they were facing an additional 450 miles each way, the mascots were still smiling, so we headed off into the sunset.
Northern Morocco near Chefchaouen. The main roads are mainly superb and apart from roadworks this is about as bad as they get. Here, the surface is wearing and in hot weather on hot tyres the backend shifts about at times.
Rif Mountains.
It's getting towards sunset, so Red Bull and coffee are the order of the day. By the end of the day we've done in excess of 500 miles plus ferry crossing and border entry into Morocco.
Loading up the next morning in Fez.
A sign we were to see on most of the mountain roads.
Rather overloaded. But at least the road surface is good.
The shade temperature was around 32°C (90°F)
Town traffic was haphazard, but no problems.
Minor roads often have a dusting of sand and gravel.
Spectacular scenary in the Middle Atlas.
At night time, the central square in Old Marrakech is converted to a huge eating area.
Our hotel in Marrakech was on the edge of Djemma El Fna (Square of the Dead).
Swallows darting around the Ktoubia Mosque (note the gallows at the top).
Posing by the pisé ramparts of Marrakech.
Looking back over Tizi 'n Tichka (Tichka pass).
We were too busy on the harder offroad sections to take photos.
Steve leading Rob.
Problems with Tim's topbox as bolts give way.
Rob has a thing whenever he sees water.
But blasts through this time.
The road goes where???
Eating dust somewhere.
Ait Benhaddou
Pope John Paul enters Mauretania
Rob stuck in a puddle.
No, it wasn't Tim's wake that overturned the lorry!
Steve, Tim and Nick relax with a beer.
Pity nobody took down the laundry before Rob's photo.
Gorge of the Todra
Mobile 40-person hotel
Nick shows how it should be done.
Rob pulls the bike over whilst Tim fills in the hole. Unforunately the rock underneath dented the tank.
Ample evidence of iron ore.
Nothing for miles around other than silly hats.
Another river for Rob (where he dented the other side of the tank)
Steve's Adventure totally stuck.
This could be rural England.
Breakfast consisted of an olive/egg omelette and bread.
Rob by the Ace Cafe, Meknes
Morocco showing its green side.
Arriving back at Fnediq with the taxis waiting for Moroccans coming through the border.
Boarding the ferry to Algeciras
At least it wasn't the spare petrol!
Tim's patented cruise control.
Final hotel in Spain...
... had an unusual taste in interiors.
Skirting the Picos on the way back north.
Mascot not so happy by now.
Tim's Jesse setup.
Final milage.
But first some pointers on subjects that concerned us before the trip. The most useful accessory was bike-to-bike communications. This enabled us to let each other know when the road was clear to overtake, to warn about tricky conditions, and to generally chat.
Although we all had knobblies (TKC etc) fitted, the weather was generally dry and Tourances would have been fine even on the roughest offroad. The knobblies didn't prevent the bikes bogging down in fine gravel. They wore fairly quickly but were better than expected on cornering.
Although we took ferry tiedowns and rachets, these weren't needed as the staff on both the Plymouth to Santander and Algeciras to Ceuta ferries handled this themselves.
Getting unleaded petrol was never an issue. We looked for petrol in larger towns and only ever found one station without unleaded. The Afrique chain are modern filling stations with welcome shady canopies.
The main roads were brilliant. Generally excellent surface, no white lining problems, no cats eyes and no manhole covers. Extremely safe and no problems with locals (unlike the nutters in southern Spain).
The police are helpful and courteous, and salute you even when you just forced their car off the road!
Nick, Rob, Steve and Tim line up in front of the Ace Cafe.
Getting secured on Brittany Ferries' Pont Aven.
Interior shots of Pont Aven.
Interior shots of Pont Aven.
One of the ferry's eating areas.
Arrival at Santander (moments after this photo was taken, Nick's F650GSD was knocked over by another biker).
Skirting the edge of the Picos de Europa.
Mucking about in the Guadarrama Mountains north of Madrid.
Reservoirs in the Guadarrama Mountains.
Major disaster. We were planning to overnight on the Autorail from Madrid and wake up refreshed in Southern Spain, but despite having been issued with tickets for four bikes and riders on the Autorail to Algeciras, we were refused boarding.
Although they were facing an additional 450 miles each way, the mascots were still smiling, so we headed off into the sunset.
Northern Morocco near Chefchaouen. The main roads are mainly superb and apart from roadworks this is about as bad as they get. Here, the surface is wearing and in hot weather on hot tyres the backend shifts about at times.
Rif Mountains.
It's getting towards sunset, so Red Bull and coffee are the order of the day. By the end of the day we've done in excess of 500 miles plus ferry crossing and border entry into Morocco.
Loading up the next morning in Fez.
A sign we were to see on most of the mountain roads.
Rather overloaded. But at least the road surface is good.
The shade temperature was around 32°C (90°F)
Town traffic was haphazard, but no problems.
Minor roads often have a dusting of sand and gravel.
Spectacular scenary in the Middle Atlas.
At night time, the central square in Old Marrakech is converted to a huge eating area.
Our hotel in Marrakech was on the edge of Djemma El Fna (Square of the Dead).
Swallows darting around the Ktoubia Mosque (note the gallows at the top).
Posing by the pisé ramparts of Marrakech.
Looking back over Tizi 'n Tichka (Tichka pass).
We were too busy on the harder offroad sections to take photos.
Steve leading Rob.
Problems with Tim's topbox as bolts give way.
Rob has a thing whenever he sees water.
But blasts through this time.
The road goes where???
Eating dust somewhere.
Ait Benhaddou
Pope John Paul enters Mauretania
Rob stuck in a puddle.
No, it wasn't Tim's wake that overturned the lorry!
Steve, Tim and Nick relax with a beer.
Pity nobody took down the laundry before Rob's photo.
Gorge of the Todra
Mobile 40-person hotel
Nick shows how it should be done.
Rob pulls the bike over whilst Tim fills in the hole. Unforunately the rock underneath dented the tank.
Ample evidence of iron ore.
Nothing for miles around other than silly hats.
Another river for Rob (where he dented the other side of the tank)
Steve's Adventure totally stuck.
This could be rural England.
Breakfast consisted of an olive/egg omelette and bread.
Rob by the Ace Cafe, Meknes
Morocco showing its green side.
Arriving back at Fnediq with the taxis waiting for Moroccans coming through the border.
Boarding the ferry to Algeciras
At least it wasn't the spare petrol!
Tim's patented cruise control.
Final hotel in Spain...
... had an unusual taste in interiors.
Skirting the Picos on the way back north.
Mascot not so happy by now.
Tim's Jesse setup.
Final milage.
