Morocco HUMM May 2015

[drewafrica]

Hi GSTraveller,

You will be the 5th member of the team so I am more than happy to have you along. We haven't met up yet so there are no plans at the moment and you haven't missed anything, I think 3 of us are going down to Santander via ferry but drewafrica is in Holland and I guess riding down all the way.

We could all meet up in North Spain somewhere on Saturday 9 May (the ferry gets in about 18:00).

Hi GStravereller

Neavey is right I'm in Holland at the time of the humm so ill be riding down so we could meet up on the way or just meet in Santander?

Cheers
Andrew

 

[drewafrica]

Hi Guys

I think that's great if you guys put a rough plan together and keep us in the loop ?

Looking forward to it.

Cheers

 

[GSTraveller]

Hi GStravereller

Neavey is right I'm in Holland at the time of the humm so ill be riding down so we could meet up on the way or just meet in Santander?

Cheers
Andrew

Hi Andrew,

Now I know when we are likely to be meeting in Santander I can start to plan my journey down. There is a Moto camp in the dordogne I might try and head to or a dutch campsite in the Pyrenees which is great, I need to look into it further. Do you have a route in mind and are you hoteling or camping?

Pete

 

[Bazzer66]

Neavey - we could always meet in a pub in the evening?! Here's my rough route (but am reasonably flexible as long as it includes Casablanca (and a bar with a pianist called Sam!). I'd be keen to see if we could get to Western Sahara but think that might be a bit too far?! I'm reading Morocco Overland - Chris Scott so that should give us a few more hints on where to go and how.

Good to see we have a team of 5 - but what are we going to call ourselves?! Here's a starter for 10:

Uneasy Riders
Wrong Direction
Fab(ulous?) Five
British Bulldogs/Bikers
Morocco Marauders



Cheers

Bazzer

 

[drewafrica]

Hi Andrew,

Now I know when we are likely to be meeting in Santander I can start to plan my journey down. There is a Moto camp in the dordogne I might try and head to or a dutch campsite in the Pyrenees which is great, I need to look into it further. Do you have a route in mind and are you hoteling or camping?

Pete

Hi Pete

That sounds great, I don't have any route so far and was planing on camping but don't mind the odd hotel now and then.

Andrew

 

[GSTraveller]

Bazzer, the route looks cracking, whats the going like? rocky, sandy or just gravel tracks. Thinking of chinning the Mrs off, can't have her slowing me down, only bringing her if it won't spoil my fun!

'Wrong Direction' sounds good or 'Which Direction'
also
'Better late than never'
'Fifth Element'

are my suggestions but I'd leave it up to you Bazzer, this is all your fault after all

This morning I was going to work in May, now I'm off to Morocco!! chuffed to bits.

 

[drewafrica]

Bazzer

I also like wrong direction ...

 

[Bazzer66]

Bazzer, the route looks cracking, whats the going like? rocky, sandy or just gravel tracks. Thinking of chinning the Mrs off, can't have her slowing me down, only bringing her if it won't spoil my fun!

'Wrong Direction' sounds good or 'Which Direction'
also
'Better late than never'
'Fifth Element'

are my suggestions but I'd leave it up to you Bazzer, this is all your fault after all

This morning I was going to work in May, now I'm off to Morocco!! chuffed to bits.

Hey Pete (Andrew)
That route is from Google so I imagine its tarmac. Neavey and I will be fitting (k?)nobblies before we get to Morocco but as we're both on 1200 GSs we'll be keeping to roads and established tracks at all times - and not sand! I've only been off-road once on Salisbury plain so I'm no expert! I'm also thinking of joining up with SWMBO somewhere along the way but probably in Gibraltar on the way home - but there are many variables to that.

Wrong (or which) Direction seems popular so far - any thoughts Neavey?

Bazzer

 

[GSTraveller]

Damm, tarmac! I might to have to bring her along possibly but Ill make that decision further down the road. I think she specifically wants to see a bit of Morocco (or all of it) or nothing.

I do need new rubber soon, was thinking TKCs or H Scouts, can't decide at the moment or the the best time to get them fitted as I wrecked my tourances over Christmas all over Salisbury Plain strangely enough.

My biggest dilemma at the moment is whether to bring canvas or not. Whilst hoteling it is appealing, I've had some cracking nights under canvas and it feels much more like a true adventure if your camped out under the stars.

 

[drewafrica]

Damm, tarmac! I might to have to bring her along possibly but Ill make that decision further down the road. I think she specifically wants to see a bit of Morocco (or all of it) or nothing.

I do need new rubber soon, was thinking TKCs or H Scouts, can't decide at the moment or the the best time to get them fitted as I wrecked my tourances over Christmas all over Salisbury Plain strangely enough.

My biggest dilemma at the moment is whether to bring canvas or not. Whilst hoteling it is appealing, I've had some cracking nights under canvas and it feels much more like a true adventure if your camped out under the stars.

I'll be needing some new rubber soon too but ill prob go for the tkc's.

I'm defiantly bring my canvas because there isn't many things that beat a great night under the stars.

 

[GSTraveller]

I'm defiantly bring my canvas because there isn't many things that beat a great night under the stars.

I reckon a stop off at the Motocamp Dordogne is definitely on the cards then. 6 and a half hours from Santandar which leaves room for a bit of meandering through the Pyrenees on route perhaps. What do you reckon?

Pete

 

[drewafrica]

I reckon a stop off at the Motocamp Dordogne is definitely on the cards then. 6 and a half hours from Santandar which leaves room for a bit of meandering through the Pyrenees on route perhaps. What do you reckon?

Pete

That sounds like a plan.

what your route in France, are you heading straight towards Santander/Dordogne or taking a longer route ?

I'll be heading from Holland toward Rouen( well in that direction) then towards Dordogne.

Andrew

 

[GSTraveller]

That sounds like a plan.

what your route in France, are you heading straight towards Santander/Dordogne or taking a longer route ?

I'll be heading from Holland toward Rouen( well in that direction) then towards Dordogne.

Andrew

No set plan after touch down in Calais. When are you departing Holland? If we are all meeting up Sat evening, we are in Dordogne the night before, do you want to stop somewhere the Thursday, possibly somewhere around [Poitiers]?

I have got loads of holiday to take so not strapped for time.

Pete

 

[Neavey]

Wrong (or which) Direction seems popular so far - any thoughts Neavey?

Bazzer

Yeah, Wrong Direction sounds good.

 

[Neavey]

Neavey - we could always meet in a pub in the evening?! Here's my rough route (but am reasonably flexible as long as it includes Casablanca (and a bar with a pianist called Sam!). I'd be keen to see if we could get to Western Sahara but think that might be a bit too far?! I'm reading Morocco Overland - Chris Scott so that should give us a few more hints on where to go and how.

Bazzer

I like the route and would love to do the whole way but my return ferry from Santander is Sunday 24 so I don't think I will have time, especially if doing part of the post event tour.

 

[Neavey]

Thanks Neavey, thats great, can start putting the plan into action now (better book the time off work!). I think I will definitely ride south from Calais as I know a few decent places to pitch up. Meeting up in northern Spain sounds like a good plan. Maybe I could link in with Drewafrica on his way down from Holland?? I am good to meet up anytime, happy to travel down to Bristol or wherever really.

What's the plan after it finishes? The wife is looking to fly into Fez afterwards and jump on the back for the tour northwards home but we want to hang out in Morocco for a bit but this has all been decided today (and not really by me either!) but anyway, looks like I will have a busy 3 weeks in May.

Cheers,

Pete

My ferry is booked to leave Santander on Sunday 24, so I have to get back up through Spain for that. But there was talk of maybe joining Motoadventours for at least some of the post event tour after the HUMM.

 

[drewafrica]

No set plan after touch down in Calais. When are you departing Holland? If we are all meeting up Sat evening, we are in Dordogne the night before, do you want to stop somewhere the Thursday, possibly somewhere around [Poitiers]?

I have got loads of holiday to take so not strapped for time.

Pete

Hi Pete

I was thinking about leaving Holland on the Tue and first stop around Rouen.

That sounds good, I've never been to Poitiers so we could stop around there somewhere.

Are you on a 1200 too ? It seems like the rest are all on them I'm on the Baby f650gs - I prefer the lighter bike and should still be able to keep up

How many of us have done the humm or Morrocco before ? I've rode around in southern Africa before (I'm from South Africa originally ) but haven't been in North Africa so looking forward to it.

Andrew

 

[GSTraveller]

Hi Pete

I was thinking about leaving Holland on the Tue and first stop around Rouen.

That sounds good, I've never been to Poitiers so we could stop around there somewhere.

Are you on a 1200 too ? It seems like the rest are all on them I'm on the Baby f650gs - I prefer the lighter bike and should still be able to keep up

How many of us have done the humm or Morrocco before ? I've rode around in southern Africa before (I'm from South Africa originally ) but haven't been in North Africa so looking forward to it.

Andrew

I think from what I have read and I may be wrong but Jeff and you might just be the resident experts. I myself have not been further than Italy/Spain on a bike but I have visited a few middle eastern countries in the past.

I'm on a 1200 as well but speedwise I doubt there will be much of a difference.

I'm going to knock up some kind of basic spreadsheet to see if I can give us all sometime kind of idea of time scale and distances including costs which might be useful and I can email it round or host it in my dropbox.

Pete

 

[GSTraveller]

Hi Jeffk,

The ferry gets to Santander about 5:30pm on Saturday and I know of a hotel a couple of hours ride south which I think we should stay at for that evening, and thats about it as current plans stand.

Patrick, where abouts roughly is the hotel you were thinking of staying at on the Sat and does everyone want to get onto the African continent ASAP after Sat or on the day we are due to arrive for the HUMM?

Andrew, Whats your plan after the event? back to Holland or up to Santandar with Bazzer and Patrick?? I am contemplating a hard right to Italy for the Moto GP but depends on work giving me 4 weeks off.

Last question, the tour afterwards, personally I can't commit the funds they are asking for it, i am happy to wing it along the lines of Bazzer's plan. What are everyone's thoughts?

 

[Neavey]

Patrick, where abouts roughly is the hotel you were thinking of staying at on the Sat and does everyone want to get onto the African continent ASAP after Sat or on the day we are due to arrive for the HUMM?

Its the Hotel Don Rodrigo in Palencia, I have no personal experience but it is mentioned in this thread here. There is a secure underground car park and its 2-3 hours from Santander. The ferry gets in about 18:00 on the Saturday 9 so this is a good first night to stop, and could also be a good place for Team Wrong Direction D) to meet up. After Palencia we can argue/discuss use of tents or hotels for the rest of the trip. Coming back I will probably book the same hotel for the night before the ferry crossing.

That leaves all day Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. We need to be at the HUMM briefing for 18:00 Wednesday, so I was thinking an early ferry to Algeciras -> Tangier that morning.

Optionally, we blast through Spain and get an earlier ferry for more time in Maroc.


Cheers,

Patrick