Morocco HUMM May 2015

Fingers crossed you get the time off as it would make a cracking end to the trip and extend the time we have in Morocco.

I've read different articles about insurance, I reckon the UK insurance would work out about £70ish more expensive in real terms and would be much less hassle but it depends on what the group is thinking of doing because if a few of us are going to try get in across the border then I may as well do the same.

Weirdly I have been looking at the Spada Sting and Intrepid for a couple of weeks online. I have a Spada jacket and I think its top drawer so I imagine the helmets must be half decent and at only 100 beans, its got to be worth it. Was going to nip up to Infinity and try one on. Just don't fancy dragging my Schubert all over Europe, plus it gives me a right headache which kinda sucks for a £400 lid but because I paid that much for it I will wear even if my head explodes!. Speaking of helmets, anyone got comms fitted? I am using Scalarider Q3. Its the nuts.

The tent and sleeping mat was another drawn out deliberation. Did tonnes of research and wanted to go in at the right price point versus quality and fell on the MSR Hubba Hubba. Was trying to do a deal with an online retailer and gave me a discount code but the discount was 20% off the RRP. Sounds great until you realise that most of their stuff is already below the RPP by varying amounts. I even ordered one item and when I applied the discount code is actually increased the bloody price! I emailed them and commented that in reality the 20% is a complete farce, you were lucky if you managed 7% and they said 'well we'd never make any money if we actually gave 20% off out prices!' Needless to say I gave the company a wide berth but i was pretty gutted because I had my heart set on the tent and the discount would have made it a steal. (Elite Mountain Supplies if you are wondering).

So back to the drawing board. I needed a small and lightweight tent. Good quality, reasonably priced and conscious of the hot weather, it would be handy if you could pitch inner first with lots of mesh. Went for the Jack Wolfskin Gossamer. With discount, £76 from Cotswolds. Reviews seem OK and although a solo/bivi tent, seems fairly spacious and very light weight. you can also roll the fly up at night if its hot and at the end of the day, its only £76. If I don't like it, I'll just bin it afterwards.

Sleeping mat, there is only one really as a solo traveller. Exped Downmat 9. You just have to get it at the right price. £147 from All outdoor using that link from another forum. Work gave me £100 towards my trip so the way I see it, the mat cost me £47. (I know thats not the reality given everything else I have bought but i don't care!).

Might purchase another battery pack as well for charging my gadgets because I purchased the biggest one around from Amazon last year, it was cheap as chips and is a great piece of kit. Took it on a 3 week trip round Europe last year and it kept all my stuff charged the whole time and still had over half its own charge left by the time we got home.

The last thing I need are some new tyres and I've been told the Heidenau Scouts are the tyre of choice for Morocco so I will be getting them fitted as close to D Day as possible.
 
Well I don't mind trying to get it across the border but don't want to be the only so if the others are going to try get it ill do the same and hopefully it won't be too much a mission.

I have the scalarider q1 and I think that is compatible with the q3 in bike to bike comms and that's a great bit of kit !

I've recently starting camping with a hammock and it really does have loads of pros and cons with both- the main one being I have to find trees or something I can tie the hammock to and was thinking of getting a mini/bivi type of tent and that wolfskin one looks great - have you set it up yet ?

I will also need a new set of rubber before the humm and I was deciding between the scouts and tkcs but the scouts have got great reviews and they do look like a great tire for Morocco.
 
I like the idea of a hammock but like you said,you need to trees but if its light enough at least you can throw in it your pannier just in case.

Tent hasn't arrived yet, I'll let you know what it's like when it arrives and try and post up some pics.

It looks like we will have bike to bike comms then which will be a bonus. I will have to see if I can purchase another cradle for the cheap lid or just transfer the whole thing across.

The Scouts seem to have the edge over TKCs from everything I have read both online and in books. I think they will do more mileage as well and a guy at work who has been to Morocco a few times on his GS swears by them.
 
Mark/Bazzer, you better check your route, you have the wrong Ifrane detailed on your map, the one you want is south of Fez.
 
I'm also looking around for a tent, but I am looking for a 2 man. Currently short listed are the Vaude Terratrio and the Wild Country Trisar. I like the look of the Exped Downmat 9, but it seems a lot of money for a sleeping mat.
 
And, I am no artist, but anyone interested in stickers???

Either:
wrongdirection-1.jpg



or:
wrongdirection-2.jpg
 
Neavey, Ref the sleeping mat, all the reviews told me its the one to go for. When I get it, I will let you know if it was worth it, bearing in mind I have a cheapo in the garage and am always more than happy to rough it so I will give you an honest answer.

22 Mar sounds great. Count me in.

Stickers look great, I'm sold. Literally can't wait.
 
Mark/Bazzer, you better check your route, you have the wrong Ifrane detailed on your map, the one you want is south of Fez.
Hey Mark/Count Pikey
Good spot chap, route is indicative only so can be adjusted to include the right Ifrane! Good to have you along, it's been too long since we rode together. Mrs B is thinking about flying out to meet me for a short stay but I'll essentially be solo.
Bazzer
 
And, I am no artist, but anyone interested in stickers???

Either:
wrongdirection-1.jpg



or:
wrongdirection-2.jpg

Hey Neavey
Stickers are a great idea, I prefer the 'Team' 2nd option, but is it worth reversing one of the letters in Direction too - maybe the R or C?
Bazzer
 
Sunday March 22 is Overland & Adventure Travel Bike Day at the Ace Cafe , anyone fancy meeting up there for a bit of route planning?

I'm in! Even though it's a long day out from Somerset. I doubt we'll get much detailed planning done at The Ace but we could meet in the Bristol area beforehand and develop a more detailed route if nothing else. Maybe me, Neavey and Count P could meet in early March somewhere in the SE Bristol area and thrash out the route, ferries and key accommodation points. Then we should all meet for a day out one weekend in early April, maybe on Salisbury Plain and do a few gravel Byways? [Edit: just like GSTraveller suggested at post #71!]
Bazzer
 
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Only joking GSA1200 yellow like a canary. I have ridden with Bazzer before on a massive 2 day expedition to Bodmin Moor ;) He is a fine young man.

You're a fine young man too Mark, even though your canary has ESA, some of us have to rough it with manual!
 
Hey Neavey
Stickers are a great idea, I prefer the 'Team' 2nd option, but is it worth reversing one of the letters in Direction too - maybe the R or C?
Bazzer

Not that I'll be part of the Humm team but I think if both "R's" were were reversed it would look splendid.
 
I'm in! Even though it's a long day out from Somerset. I doubt we'll get much detailed planning done at The Ace but we could meet in the Bristol area beforehand and develop a more detailed route if nothing else. Maybe me, Neavey and Count P could meet in early March somewhere in the SE Bristol area and thrash out the route, ferries and key accommodation points. Then we should all meet for a day out one weekend in early April, maybe on Salisbury Plain and do a few gravel Byways? [Edit: just like GSTraveller suggested at post #71!]
Bazzer

We could definitely do with meeting up before we embark, what I envisage is to drive through France with my mate Brian and either meet up with the other two who are driving through France or rendezvous with you all at say Palencia, I will have to work out the timings. Then I suppose we head south towards the ferry point Algeciras and overnight somewhere en route. As I said in an earlier post my friend has a villa in Coin which is not to far from the port where we could stay the following night, there's room to put your tents up if you wish or you could sleep inside, maybe on the floor though :aidan
I'm pretty flexible on what everyone decides. While you are doing your Humm event we plan to explore the area each day then move on exploring other areas.
 
Hi, will be good to meet at the Ace, I'll be there.
Regards meeting in the Bristol area, happy to do that as well, just up put the time and place up here please.
Stickers........someone has too much time on their hands :D, but they do look good.....tell me what I'll owe you
Haven't checked insurance yet but will probably get it there.
Do we know how many are in the group once in Morocco? reason I ask is that camping there is not so great but accomodation is cheap and readily available.....but for how many. My thought was to remain flexible.
 
Change of plan for my lot, will meet you at Ifrane on Friday the 15th, just booked into a hotel for two nights, just £20.00 per night, has on suite rooms as well. We are not doing the Humm so thought we'd rather have more time to tour around after the event. Would still like to meet up with you orrible lot before we depart.
 
Going too

Just come across this thread. I'm booked on HUMM too I'm on a GS and first time doing anything like this Going with a mate he's on a triumph. We'll be crossing to Morocco from Spain on the Wednesday. When are you crossing to Morocco would be good to meet up. We've entered the just for fun category:)
 
Just come across this thread. I'm booked on HUMM too I'm on a GS and first time doing anything like this Going with a mate he's on a triumph. We'll be crossing to Morocco from Spain on the Wednesday. When are you crossing to Morocco would be good to meet up. We've entered the just for fun category:)

Think we are aiming to cross over on the Monday or Tuesday to maximise our time in Morocco but the finer details are yet to be decided. If you guys are crossing till Wednesday, i guess we will see you there.
 
Evening Gents, Because I am impatient and like a kid in a sweet shop, I've been pressing ahead with planning my journey south through Europe. I have taken the bold step of booking a double room at the Hotel Don Rodrigo on Sat 09th. (36 Euros) as that was nominated as the meeting point for the whole group. More than happy to share if they can turn it into a twin (not down with spooning) and split the cost. If not, happy to fly solo at that cost.

The question is, do we fancy a 9 hour ride on the Sunday to the next hotel near Algeciras so we can cross over on the Monday and maximise our time in Gibraltar or would everyone prefer the split it. I am happy either way but I could easily do 9 hours if I knew I was in for a good nights sleep at the end of it.

The second question is which hotel near Algeciras? Holiday Inn or Hotel Cristina. My only concern regarding the holiday Inn is the car park. What do we reckon??

Pete
 


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