Morocco Overland Bike Tour Experts: Guide Book Reviewer Required

[TRDman]

Hello all,

I am the editor of The Rider's Digest magazine; hopefully many of you will know about us.

Trailblazer Guides recently been sent me a book for inclusion in our 'reviews' section and although I have read (most of) it, I can't really tell if it's a good one or not. I have no experience of Morocco or major overland tours (2 months on a despatch GT550 across the tarmac of Western Europe probably doesn't count ) so I was wondering whether there were any experts here that might be interested in reading and reviewing it for us.

Of the travel articles that get sent in to us by readers, Morocco is by far the most favourite destination and we are considering doing a spread on the country, looking at why it's so popular, including a travel article and I thought it would be good to have a brief review of the book to go alongside it.

Judging from the fact that UKGSers have a dedicated sub-forum on the area I think I may have found what I'm looking for!


So, anyone up for writing a couple of hundred words on Chris Scott's (published June 2009) Morocco Overland - Route Guide From the Atlas to the Sahara?

Thanks

Rog


PS Thanks to Adam from The Rev Counter for pointing me in this direction

 

[Deleted account W]

So, anyone up for writing a couple of hundred words on Chris Scott's (published June 2009) Morocco Overland - Route Guide From the Atlas to the Sahara?

Can you give an idea of how much you pay for a review?

 

[TRDman]

Can you give an idea of how much you pay for a review?

I'd have to check with the publisher but I expect that you'd be doing it for no more than the satisfaction (or not) of seeing your name in the magazine.

We work to a very tight budget, especially coming out of the slow winter advertising months and are pretty much hand-to-mouth most of the time. We're starting to make the breakthrough in terms of retail sales and having just won the contact to provide all four of this year's BMF show guides are hoping that 2010 will put us on a firm financial footings.

I hope this doesn't put anyone off offering help.

Rog

PS How do I reverse the display of threads so that the newest post comes last?

Edit: Found it!

 

[contact23]

offer a fair fee for decent copy and that is what you may get!

 

[Fanum]

If you were a susbsciber here, people could PM you to discuss, but you're not (and don't be the slightest bit surprised if you get a massive slagging for asking for free reviews like other Journo types have in the past )


FWIW, Chris Scott's books are great, but only at the time he's writing them*.

Things are changing so quickly in some areas of Morocco that even by the time the book was published, several of the routes were either graded to a point where they are no longer of much interest, or partially/fully tarmacked.

Like stickers on the panniers of a bike whose owner has never been to a place but likes to look good, the book looks great on a wannabee adventurer's bookshelf though

In fairness, I should add that the info and tips he puts in are pretty sound and someone going there solo for the first time should get and read the book, but be prepared to ve totally flexible when following routes that no longer exist in the form he describes them in.

 

[TRDman]

If you were a susbsciber here, people could PM you to discuss, but you're not (and don't be the slightest bit surprised if you get a massive slagging for asking for free reviews like other Journo types have in the past )

That's a shame although I'm thick-skinned enough take being flamed for requesting free assistance

FWIW, Chris Scott's books are great, but only at the time he's writing them*.

Things are changing so quickly in some areas of Morocco that even by the time the book was published, several of the routes were either graded to a point where they are no longer of much interest, or partially/fully tarmacked.

Like stickers on the panniers of a bike whose owner has never been to a place but likes to look good, the book looks great on a wannabee adventurer's bookshelf though

In fairness, I should add that the info and tips he puts in are pretty sound and someone going there solo for the first time should get and read the book, but be prepared to ve totally flexible when following routes that no longer exist in the form he describes them in.

I read the book as far as the route descriptions and certainly felt that there was plenty of useful information regarding the country's infrastructure, social attitudes and mores but where I would be less comfortable commenting on are the guides on vehicle prep, riding skills required and other more specific advice he offers.

Thanks for your comments Fanum. As it happens, Adam mentioned you specifically as someone to ask

 

[Timolgra]

For what it's worth, there's far more info in this section of UKGSer on Morocco than in Scott's book, written from several perspectives and regularly updated.......better still, it's for free

 

[TRDman]

For what it's worth, there's far more info in this section of UKGSer on Morocco than in Scott's book, written from several perspectives and regularly updated.......better still, it's for free

Judging from the threads in here that's probably true. An amazing resource!

 

[Timolgra]

Judging from the threads in here that's probably true. An amazing resource!

I'd also say that 8 to 10 years ago Scott's books were very helpful, I remember religiously plotting his waypoints into my old GPS, reading his notes...even photocopying sections for a trip.

These days I'd dare to say a book like his is not only outdated soon after his info is compiled but outdated in that via internet we can directly download routes, waypoints, border entry forms etc. etc.
Personally I think this is a great shame, perhaps I'm a luddite, and feel so much readily available information detracts from 'Adventure Motorcycling'.

Get out there and find it for yourself

 

[tricky463]

Hello all,

I am the editor of The Rider's Digest magazine; hopefully many of you will know about us.

Trailblazer Guides recently been sent me a book for inclusion in our 'reviews' section and although I have read (most of) it, I can't really tell if it's a good one or not. I have no experience of Morocco or major overland tours (2 months on a despatch GT550 across the tarmac of Western Europe probably doesn't count ) so I was wondering whether there were any experts here that might be interested in reading and reviewing it for us.

Of the travel articles that get sent in to us by readers, Morocco is by far the most favourite destination and we are considering doing a spread on the country, looking at why it's so popular, including a travel article and I thought it would be good to have a brief review of the book to go alongside it.

Judging from the fact that UKGSers have a dedicated sub-forum on the area I think I may have found what I'm looking for!


So, anyone up for writing a couple of hundred words on Chris Scott's (published June 2009) Morocco Overland - Route Guide From the Atlas to the Sahara?

Thanks

Rog


PS Thanks to Adam from The Rev Counter for pointing me in this direction

i'm going to morocco in september, so if you can wait that long we could try and check the route out for you.

 

[TRDman]

i'm going to morocco in september, so if you can wait that long we could try and check the route out for you.

Judging from what has been said above it would appear that the route info would be out of date by September. Thanks for the offer anyway.