Morocco 2010

[Martas]

Hi guys,
b'couse an ice has been moved so my route plan is very similar as a Stef's. Only i never make a plan where exactly to sleep.... the day is too short and in Marocco is too many things to see so my plan is just temporary And just for specification I'm from czech republic

Route:

Fri.26/3- departure to UK
Sat.27/3-arrive in UK,go to Plymouth
Sun.28/3-departure to Spain
Mon.29/3-arrive in Santander,go to Malaga(potential exchange of tyres to offroads)
Tue.30/3-crossing Spain,arrive in Gibraltar
Wed.31/3-arrive in Marocco(Ceuta)
Thur.1/4-Ceuta,Chefschaouen,Fes
Fri.2/4-Guercif,Missour,Midelt or Boudnib
Sat.3/4-Ar-Rachidia,Merzouga(Erg Chebbi)
Sun.4/4-potential stay all day in Merzouga or offroad to Tagounite or via Tazzarine,Zagora
Mon.5/4-Vallee du Draa,Ouarzazate
Tue.6/4-Ait-Benhaddou,Telouet,M/kech
Wed.7/4-all day relax in M/kech or Asni or trip to Atlantic ocean
Thur.8/4-R210 to Cascades d'Ouzoud
Fri.9/4-Azrou,Meknes
Sat.10/4-Volubilis,Tanger or Ceuta
Sun.11/4- or or or or
Mon.12/4-departure Marocco
Tue.13/4-crossing Spain
Wed.14/4-arrive in Santander
Thur.15/4-departure to UK

So thats it....
But is up to all of as to say one's own opinion.... And I'm still working on my own plan so things can change.....
P.S. - what tyres are you going to take?

 

[Martas]

Anyone else is going to use route Plymouth-Santander on 28/3 ?????

 

[PembsGSA]

Hi Martas,
Your itinary looks good - Will be travelling on the Plymouth/Santander route Sunday 28th March - Thursday 15th April. Your route is very much what I was looking at.
Priced up Britany ferry (with Cabin £340.00)

Slight hesitation due to work commitments - but will try to provide definite answer next week.

Currently on Bridgestone Battle Wings (road orientated tyres) - it all depends on how much off roading your going to do. Personally if your mostly on the road with a bit of compacted off road surfaces then intermediates will probably be OK. Full knobblies if your feeling adventureous, however not much fun on the road. Personally I will be sticking to the hard surfaces, so I'll probably be on Mettzler Tourances.

Are you B&B or camping under the stars. Personally, I won't be taking the camping gear - will be cheap hotelling.

Once I get the green light from work I'll work out suitable en-route hotels.

Richard

 

[NYUK]

Anyone else is going to use route Plymouth-Santander on 28/3 ?????

Looks like there a few groups going. Anyone thinking of going earlier say Feb/March?

 

[Martas]

Hi Martas,
Your itinary looks good - Will be travelling on the Plymouth/Santander route Sunday 28th March - Thursday 15th April. Your route is very much what I was looking at.
Priced up Britany ferry (with Cabin £340.00)

Slight hesitation due to work commitments - but will try to provide definite answer next week.

Currently on Bridgestone Battle Wings (road orientated tyres) - it all depends on how much off roading your going to do. Personally if your mostly on the road with a bit of compacted off road surfaces then intermediates will probably be OK. Full knobblies if your feeling adventureous, however not much fun on the road. Personally I will be sticking to the hard surfaces, so I'll probably be on Mettzler Tourances.

Are you B&B or camping under the stars. Personally, I won't be taking the camping gear - will be cheap hotelling.

Once I get the green light from work I'll work out suitable en-route hotels.

Richard

Hi Richard,
to be honest.... i dont mind to sleep under the sky as i dont mind to sleep in B&B or cheap hotels but camping stuff i will carry anyway.
Currently I have a Mettzler Tourance and realy recommending but i think to exchange them in Malaga for knobblies(have some a 2nd year at home and never used them) but they're not new. Or i will put on the bike a new Tourance for the trip,dont know yet
I have a voucher from Brittany Ferries for 2persons,bike and cabin so i have to just ring them and confirm the date.
Keep in touch

 

[sijohnston]

We will likely be sailing from Rosslare to Cherbourg on the 26th March. We'll take a few leisurely days to get down through France and Spain, and maybe meet you guys on the 1st April at the entrance to Morocco. Our return ferry will be from Cherbourg on 15th April, so returning on 11th from Morocco suits fine. I'd like to spend a couple of days in the Pyrenees on the way back, so this will allow that.

I too will be bringing basic camping equipment but will not rule out occasional nights in accommodation.

The route looks good Martas. I'll have a look at it in more details shortly.

Regarding tyres, I'll not be bringing spares as Heidenau's do it all well. They'll get me from the north of Ireland, to morocco and back with lots to spare, and in my experience, they're as good as TKC's off the road.

Hi Richard,
to be honest.... i dont mind to sleep under the sky as i dont mind to sleep in B&B or cheap hotels but camping stuff i will carry anyway.
Currently I have a Mettzler Tourance and realy recommending but i think to exchange them in Malaga for knobblies(have some a 2nd year at home and never used them) but they're not new. Or i will put on the bike a new Tourance for the trip,dont know yet
I have a voucher from Brittany Ferries for 2persons,bike and cabin so i have to just ring them and confirm the date.
Keep in touch

 

[Martas]

We will likely be sailing from Rosslare to Cherbourg on the 26th March. We'll take a few leisurely days to get down through France and Spain, and maybe meet you guys on the 1st April at the entrance to Morocco. Our return ferry will be from Cherbourg on 15th April, so returning on 11th from Morocco suits fine. I'd like to spend a couple of days in the Pyrenees on the way back, so this will allow that.

I too will be bringing basic camping equipment but will not rule out occasional nights in accommodation.

The route looks good Martas. I'll have a look at it in more details shortly.

Regarding tyres, I'll not be bringing spares as Heidenau's do it all well. They'll get me from the north of Ireland, to morocco and back with lots to spare, and in my experience, they're as good as TKC's off the road.

I will arrive in Santander on Mon. 29/3/10 at 12.00 am. Don't have a route in Spain done yet but working on that so maybe we can meet on Spain and go together down to Algeciras....

 

[sijohnston]

That could be a good plan. I'm not precious about where to go through Spain, but generally avoid main roads where possible when traveling. Meeting with Spikerjack at lunch today to look at some routes for that, but for sure, we could meet you close to Santander and ride down.

What did you consult for your Morocco routes? Is this based on reading other ride reports, or have you been chatting to Tim Cullis? I'm hoping to plan quite a few pistes and so was wondering are you hoping to do more road work? For example, there are some brilliant pistes that don't seem to be near any of your planned waypoints, unless you're planning big detours. Your route is too ambiguous for me to tell.

I will arrive in Santander on Mon. 29/3/10 at 12.00 am. Don't have a route in Spain done yet but working on that so maybe we can meet on Spain and go together down to Algeciras....

 

[casperghst42]

That could be a good plan. I'm not precious about where to go through Spain, but generally avoid main roads where possible when traveling. Meeting with Spikerjack at lunch today to look at some routes for that, but for sure, we could meet you close to Santander and ride down.

What did you consult for your Morocco routes? Is this based on reading other ride reports, or have you been chatting to Tim Cullis? I'm hoping to plan quite a few pistes and so was wondering are you hoping to do more road work? Your route is too ambiguous for me to tell.

Take into considerations that it's about 750miles from north to south - it takes a good day to get from north to south - and that is if you do motorways and only stop for gas.... and and a quick lunch.


Casper

 

[Martas]

That could be a good plan. I'm not precious about where to go through Spain, but generally avoid main roads where possible when traveling. Meeting with Spikerjack at lunch today to look at some routes for that, but for sure, we could meet you close to Santander and ride down.

What did you consult for your Morocco routes? Is this based on reading other ride reports, or have you been chatting to Tim Cullis? I'm hoping to plan quite a few pistes and so was wondering are you hoping to do more road work? For example, there are some brilliant pistes that don't seem to be near any of your planned waypoints, unless you're planning big detours. Your route is too ambiguous for me to tell.

I didn't consult with anybody,just reading a guides,maps and watching videos.... That route is just my idea and of course i have a plan for few more pistes and off roads but don't want to put pressure on somebody to do the same things which i like to do..... Once we will arrive in Morocco everything can be different,and i want see the crew first and know their opinions.... so thats it.....

 

[sijohnston]

we will be coming from the pyrenees and the place where those who are coming into Santander on the 29th and we bisect is probably in and around the Madrid area. I'd suggest a meet up at aranjuez which is south of madrid and will take you just under 5 hours from santander (getting you in at 5pm-ish). From there we could ride a brief bit, find a campsite, and have a few drinks. Arise the next day and head south for the evening before picking up the ferry on the 1st? If this works for you, do you want me to pick a waypoint for that area and suss out a place to stay that evening? Of course, anyone else traveling the santander route can also meet at the same point.

I didn't consult with anybody,just reading a guides,maps and watching videos.... That route is just my idea and of course i have a plan for few more pistes and off roads but don't want to put pressure on somebody to do the same things which i like to do..... Once we will arrive in Morocco everything can be different,and i want see the crew first and know their opinions.... so thats it.....

 

[NYUK]

we will be coming from the pyrenees and the place where those who are coming into Santander on the 29th and we bisect is probably in and around the Madrid area. I'd suggest a meet up at aranjuez which is south of madrid and will take you just under 5 hours from santander (getting you in at 5pm-ish). From there we could ride a brief bit, find a campsite, and have a few drinks. Arise the next day and head south for the evening before picking up the ferry on the 1st? If this works for you, do you want me to pick a waypoint for that area and suss out a place to stay that evening? Of course, anyone else traveling the santander route can also meet at the same point.

Hi guys, definetly up for this. So count me in. I'll be doing Santander route but not sure on route through Spain. May even get second ferry to Barcelona but will be there to cross on the 1st.
On a 08 1200GS will have camping equipmement and will be using Heidenau K60's.

Jason

 

[Martas]

we will be coming from the pyrenees and the place where those who are coming into Santander on the 29th and we bisect is probably in and around the Madrid area. I'd suggest a meet up at aranjuez which is south of madrid and will take you just under 5 hours from santander (getting you in at 5pm-ish). From there we could ride a brief bit, find a campsite, and have a few drinks. Arise the next day and head south for the evening before picking up the ferry on the 1st? If this works for you, do you want me to pick a waypoint for that area and suss out a place to stay that evening? Of course, anyone else traveling the santander route can also meet at the same point.

I think about spanish route and the shortest is Santander-Salamanca-Merida -Sevilla-Algeciras. Mostly on motorway but still about 1000 km so Tue afternoon we should be there and Wed. in Morocco. The same route is going to use also Casper from Rotterdam.

 

[Martas]

PembsGSA & NYUK , we are going to use the Plymouth-Santander ferry so what about yours spanish route? Any idea?

 

[NYUK]

PembsGSA & NYUK , we are going to use the Plymouth-Santander ferry so what about yours spanish route? Any idea?

At the moment I'm possible looking at earlier ferry Plymouth to Santander on Wed arive Thursday. Ride to Barcelona and spend of couple of days there. Not been there before so bonus. Pick up ferry to Tanger on Sunday arrive next day on the 28th. Trouble is I'm there earlier than everyone else before crossing in morroco but then its saves trek across spain.

Thoughts anyone?

 

[NYUK]

At the moment I'm possible looking at earlier ferry Plymouth to Santander on Wed arive Thursday. Ride to Barcelona and spend of couple of days there. Not been there before so bonus. Pick up ferry to Tanger on Sunday arrive next day on the 28th. Trouble is I'm there earlier than everyone else before crossing in morroco but then its saves trek across spain.

Thoughts anyone?

Just had a look again and realised it was Portsmouth to Santander ferry I was looking at so there was no Sunday service.

Can actually do Plymouth on the Sunday 28th arrive Monday. Ride to Barcelona and get ferry on the Wednesday.

 

[sijohnston]

In that case, we'll see you in Algeciras

I think about spanish route and the shortest is Santander-Salamanca-Merida -Sevilla-Algeciras. Mostly on motorway but still about 1000 km so Tue afternoon we should be there and Wed. in Morocco. The same route is going to use also Casper from Rotterdam.

 

[branchadventure]

Hi All. I will be arriving in Morocco on about the 11th or 12th of April. Looks like I will miss the start of your trip. I'll check this thread for more plans and dates. Hopefully I will catch up with some of you along the way. G.

 

[Martas]

Hi All. I will be arriving in Morocco on about the 11th or 12th of April. Looks like I will miss the start of your trip. I'll check this thread for more plans and dates. Hopefully I will catch up with some of you along the way. G.

Hi,
some of us may stay longer in Morocco so you can catch us on the border
Anyway Merry X/mas to all of you and hope see you soon on our way to adventure trip to Morocco

 

[Steptoe]

Tue.30/3-crossing Spain,arrive in Gibraltar
Wed.31/3-arrive in Marocco(Ceuta)
Thur.1/4-Ceuta,Chefschaouen,Fes
?

Three days to get from gib to fes

Algerciras to fez is 204 miles.


Also, the total fuel and toll cost for riding from calais to Bayonne then to algerciras using autoroutes, then 5 days in morocco and then back to calais was approx £760 ( this was in april 2009, when the pound was worth approx just a bit more than a euro). Not forgetting there was no fuel in morocco due to tanker drivers striking so we were riding in economy mode in morocco and didn't get as far as previous years