Scotland to Morocco (and back) - what could possibly go wrong?

NiallFD

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Well no going back now! A first for us riding in Europe and certainly a first for riding in Morocco. Maybe bitten off a bit much but hey...

Partner and myself will be leaving Dunbar in Scotland on 2 August (on a '08 1200gs) to ride to Plymouth to catch 4th August ferry to Santander. Any folks heading out let me know - it would be good meet some fellow travellers!

Plan on boosting right through Spain, to Algericas in 3 days (no Sat Nav just using maps, the old noggin and a lot of motorways). Nothing booked accommodation wise - we just plan to rock up somewhere each day (have tent just in case). Then catching ferry to Cueta probably and on to Essauoria in Morocco for a two week stay with friends. Same again back up the way.

Looking for some advice:

1. three days to do the length of Spain realistic?
2. two days to get from Ceuta to Essauoria realistic?
3. experience of just turning up and getting accommodation each day en route - easy?
3. do I really need to get two warning triangles for the bike?
4. have green card, insurance, v5, licence, passports etc all ready but do i really need an international driving licence for Europe and Morocco?
5. insurance company - carol nash - tell me breakdown doesn't extend to Morocco. I'm assuming it's the kind of country where a bike can still get fixed (or at least put in a van and driven back to Spain - where i can call breakdown?)
6. is it best to change euros to dinar and where do we get best rates (Cueta?)
7. have spare k&n air filter, oil, puncture repair kit, headlight bulb - any else I really, really need?

Any wisdom I'll happily take - maybe see you on the road. :D

Niall
 
If you are using mostly motorways then it won't take three days to do Spain. I've done it in one day easily with pillion in January.

International licence useful to have if stopped by police as it shows everything in French and only costs £11.
 
Crapaud said:
If you are using mostly motorways then it won't take three days to do Spain. I've done it in one day easily with pillion in January.

International licence useful to have if stopped by police as it shows everything in French and only costs £11.
Click to expand...

+1

I crossed Spain, Santander to Algeciras in a very relaxed 2 days,two up and no motorways.
Back roads of Spain can be some of the best and emptiest in Europe, seems a shame to miss them.
Ceuta to Essauiria, again easy 2 days, I didn't bother with warning triangles, never have but personal choice. Insurance and money change available immediately on right after going through border. Modern and straightforward.
I couldn't get any recovery cover at all, I think it's almost impossible unless your on an organised tour. I was given tel nimber of a guy called Peter who owns Bikers home in Morocco, was reliably informed he would help you out in an emergency, will see if I can find it, he does have a website though.
Have a great trip, morocco is awesome. Quite a culture shock though.

Cheers
Steve
 
Last edited:
Yup, 2 days to cross Spain even without using the motorways. Their roads are superb. If arriving at Santander, make sure you go over the Picos, don't just bolt down the A67. Have fun.
Don't worry about recovery cover in Morocco. There are thousands of 'man with a truck' types who can get you to the ferry or a garage.

Doubt you need a spare air filter. You wont need oil. Petrol stations are everywhere and just the same as ours.
I have a spare FPC and Alternator belt that I usually carry with me on longer trips. You're welcome to borrow them if you want.

Do you have a compressor to go with your puncture kit ?

You might want to consider preparing a 'Fiche'. Just a slip of paper with your passport and bike details on. Make a few copies then, If you come across a police check point you just hand over a copy. Saves having to wait 10 minutes while they write your details down. You probably won't need them in the north but if you head further south to Western Sahara, you will.
Another tip is to scan all your docs and put them online somewhere you can get at them. Handy if you lose something.
 
Cheers all!!

Some good advice. I'm glad a couple of days is enough to get through Spain, doubly glad that we can do it on backroads rather than the tarmac treadmill - i'll have had enough of that getting from Dunbar to Plymouth! I'll check out the Spain map now.

AbderdeenAngus - what's the FPC? Got three small compressed gas cannisters with the puncture repair kit so good to go there I think. Do you know many it takes to reinflate a tyre btw - I assume no more than three!

Steve if you manage to get Peter's details that would be magic!

Many thanks all.

Steve
 
AberdeenAngus said:
If arriving at Santander, make sure you go over the Picos, don't just bolt down the A67.
Click to expand...

Agreed but I think of it differently:D

Get straight down to Morocco asap and built a couple of days into your 'rough plan' for emergencies, if you don't use them, spend them in the Picos on the way back:thumb
 
NiallFD said:
Cheers all!!

Some good advice. I'm glad a couple of days is enough to get through Spain, doubly glad that we can do it on backroads rather than the tarmac treadmill - i'll have had enough of that getting from Dunbar to Plymouth! I'll check out the Spain map now.

AbderdeenAngus - what's the FPC? Got three small compressed gas cannisters with the puncture repair kit so good to go there I think. Do you know many it takes to reinflate a tyre btw - I assume no more than three!

Steve if you manage to get Peter's details that would be magic!

Many thanks all.

Steve
Click to expand...

FPC is the fuel pump controller - these were problematic in earlier GS's. If it fails - you're dead in the water. There is an easy workaround for an FPC failure but a replacement is a small item to carry.
Can't recommend CO2 cartridges for tyre inflation. You could easily use three just getting the bead to sit right, then what?
With a compressor you can play around all day till it inflates.
You can get a small inflator from Halfords and strip off the casing to save space - or - you can borrow mine if you want.
 
Cheers mate sounds like a compressor is the way to go - need to visit Halfords anyway to pick up high viz vests etc..
just spent a pretty penny getting the bike through its major service with BMW (24k done early at 21k) so reluctant to go there again but will look online
 
Here's a thought:thumb

Don't use a K&N for Morocco, I guess the reason for taking a spare is in case it gets chocked with sand/just.

A K&N is more likely to because of the sticky oil.

Use an OEM paper filter, in the event of it getting very dirty, just shake it out:)
 
Timolgra said:
.... in the event of it getting very dirty, just shake it out:)
Click to expand...
And if you are tempted to use an airline.... blow it from the inside of the filter outwards, never the other way round :thumb

Oh and Morocco in August you say..... best not go packing your thermal vests then :eek:
 
Watch out for marrauding towrags (spelling) in the populated areas....... :rob



.



.



.


. But once you're through the midlands and on the ferry - you should be okay :thumb2

Al:)
 
Probably better to change to into Dirhams! We just stuck a card in the hole in the wall for cash and used plastic where possible. Three days through Spain should be fine. Remember to enjoy that bit; don't write it off! Spot on with breakdown. I have never taken a warning triangle in the bike. I think that's only cars but somebody might know better. Pump to go with repair kit? Never had an international driving licence but agin I might be wrong. Fill out import documents in advance - read this if you haven't:

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=179522

Wish I was going. You'll have a great time.
 
NiallFD said:
.....

Looking for some advice:

1. three days to do the length of Spain realistic?
2. two days to get from Ceuta to Essauoria realistic?
3. experience of just turning up and getting accommodation each day en route - easy?
3. do I really need to get two warning triangles for the bike?
4. have green card, insurance, v5, licence, passports etc all ready but do i really need an international driving licence for Europe and Morocco?
5. insurance company - carol nash - tell me breakdown doesn't extend to Morocco. I'm assuming it's the kind of country where a bike can still get fixed (or at least put in a van and driven back to Spain - where i can call breakdown?)
6. is it best to change euros to dinar and where do we get best rates (Cueta?)
7. have spare k&n air filter, oil, puncture repair kit, headlight bulb - any else I really, really need?

Any wisdom I'll happily take - maybe see you on the road. :D

Niall
Click to expand...

May not be correct, but this was my experience
  1. 2 days was fine and we went the pretty route. Going did the Almeria - Mellila overnight crossing, as it saved another hotel for the night. We returned via Ceuta so it giva us more of a 'u' trip in Morocco rather than returning to the same port.
  2. didn't do this so can't say but distances in Morocco are bigger than you think and your not going to see that much if you doing that distance/time
  3. No
  4. Didn't take and never needed the IDL
  5. I didn't have any breakdown cover and bought insurance in Nador when I arrived
  6. Just used the cash machines - although get enough at major towns to cover you when you in more remote areas
  7. Can't comment

I took the fiche that Tim Cullis has on the link walrus posted - saved a lot of time and made it look like I knew what i was doing. Only other advice I have, is just enjoy it and don't stress too much. Everything sorts itself out :beerjug:

Here's a video of our trip

[video width=425 height=344 type=youtube]GJY_cX9OKwE[/video]

[youtube]GJY_cX9OKwE[/youtube]

[yt]GJY_cX9OKwE[/yt]


I give up !!! :blast Here's the link, you'll just need to follow it yourself :)

http://youtu.be/GJY_cX9OKwE
 
Walrus

I was just going to leave the paperwork until at the border (really just to simply experience the craziness of it all) the but might save some - time and hassle having a look at forms now.

Mike - nice video and music to go with it!

Best,

N
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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