The Recce Patrol

[SkyGod]

Having done the same route about 5 times on our Morocco trips I felt it was time to mix things up a bit and try something different. Unhappy about taking customers places I have never been I felt that a recce was in order to ensure the route was all I hoped.

Initially I intended on doing the trip myself but one Saturday when I was planning the route a couple of customers enquired about my trip and asked to tag along.
After explaining that this wasn`t "a jolly" and that it would be at quite a pace with things that where bound to go wrong they still expressed a desire to join me.

So, on Saturday November the 2nd the Mission received a green light and it was a go!


ORBAT (order of battle).

Gaz: Owner of Adventure Bike Warehouse and International Playboy

<a href="http://s1195.photobucket.com/user/munnyman44/media/photo1-2.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa390/munnyman44/photo1-2.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo photo1-2.jpg"/></a>

Bill: Private Equity type bloke ( He is Scottish so do bear that in mind)

<a href="http://s1195.photobucket.com/user/munnyman44/media/IMG_0091.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa390/munnyman44/IMG_0091.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_0091.jpg"/></a>

Brian: Director of some company ( I stopped listening when he explained as a fit bird walked past the window of Starbucks).

<a href="http://s1195.photobucket.com/user/munnyman44/media/IMG_0092.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa390/munnyman44/IMG_0092.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_0092.jpg"/></a>

Let the Show commence!

 

[SkyGod]

As this trip was unsupported we had to carry all our own luggage. We did plan on staying in hotels though so there was no need for all the camping gear.

The bikes chosen for the Mission were:

Gaz: KTM 625 SXC 17 Litre Tank and Rally fairing with road book and ICO (prepared for ATRC Rally events).

Brian: KTM 690

Bill: KTM 500 EXC

We all decided to go with the Kriega Overlander 30 Luggage and fitted Michelin Desert Tyres with Mousses. This was down to the fact that punctures require a certain amount of kit to be carried. Tubes, Tyre Irons, Compressor etc. We wanted to minimise the luggage to keep the bikes as light as possible so Mousses made sense for this alone.
Plenty of folk will talk about how they are unsuitable for bigger bikes and that if run on tarmac for more than a few hours they will burst into flames and prematurely end the riders life. Keep reading and find out what happened to our tyres!

Here is a fit bird as a treat for you:
<a href="http://s1195.photobucket.com/user/munnyman44/media/images.jpeg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa390/munnyman44/images.jpeg" border="0" alt=" photo images.jpeg"/></a>

 

[SkyGod]

Insertion:

The bikes were shipped ahead of us and we flew in on Saturday morning to meet them at the shipping warehouse in Malaga.
We dug out our gear and got changed ready for our insertion into Africa.
<a href="http://s1195.photobucket.com/user/munnyman44/media/IMG_0001.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa390/munnyman44/IMG_0001.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_0001.jpg"/></a>

In typical style our first Drama was in minutes. Bills heated grips had been left on and his battery was flat. Totally flat and wouldn`t even kick. Brian dug out his jump leads and quickly set to work getting Bills bike operational. I entered our first location into the GPS ( Algeciras). Within 5 minutes we where back in the game and headed for the port.

After a brief stop for tickets to Ceuta we boarded a ferry and set off.
Having done Tangier Med for the last few trips I decided to try the Ceuta crossing as I hadn`t done it for a few years.
Ta Ta Spain.
<a href="http://s1195.photobucket.com/user/munnyman44/media/IMG_2999.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa390/munnyman44/IMG_2999.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_2999.jpg"/></a>

 

[rocky burns]

 

[SkyGod]

<a href="http://s1195.photobucket.com/user/munnyman44/media/IMG_0003.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa390/munnyman44/IMG_0003.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_0003.jpg"/></a>

The border crossing at Ceuta was as Chaotic as I remember, somehow the chaos seems to budge things on a bit quicker though.
We complete our paperwork and start heading from booth to booth to get our required stamps.
Just as I was heading to get the Final stamp on Bills paperwork Drama struck.

Bills V5 stated that the Bike was owned by William, yet his passport had the more informal version of his name: Bill.
Something I would consider to be quite minor on the verge of entering Africa turned into a BIG Drama.

The customs guys where having none of it, as I tried to explain in far from fluent French that Bill was an abbreviation of William there was lots of head shaking.
It looked like Bills trip was over before it started!
Then suddenly out the Blue head customs guy came over and said "OK".
Happy Days.

A lesson to be had for all there though.

From start to finish it was 45 mins.

A quick stop in Fnideq for some currency and fuel and we headed for our first nights stop which was Chefchaouen.
I already have an amazing days riding which is nearly all Piste into the very heart of Chefchaouen so there was no need to ride this. We rode through Tetouan and after another hour pulled into the Atlas Hotel for our first nights refuge.
A long day with the odd drama thrown in so I was pleased to hatch open the first Beer and tuck into the first inevitable Tagine for supper.

 

[FERRET]

Come on, don't keep us waitin

 

[Sgt Bilco]

Come on, don't keep us waitin

Don't hold your breath, he hasn't finished his RR from 2010 yet.....

 

[Tinytim]

Never mind all that....what music was playing when ya set off eh? When do ya get to Kenfookintucky?


Anyrode, I'm in.

 

[timeandtide]

Don't hold your breath, he hasn't finished his RR from 2010 yet.....

Just what I was thinking!!

 

[SkyGod]

I will ignore all the negative comments about me failing to complete my last ride report and continue this evening with this one.

Anyway, most folk who are whinging about it are big gay ball sucking bears!!!!!

 

[SkyGod]

After a cracking nights sleep and an evening chatting to the owners of 20 ish bikes that where parked outside on our arrival ( not one BMW among them curiously). I`m not sure of their nationality as I have little interest in finding out about the wherabouts of "Johnny Foreigner" being the bigot I am. Needless to say that they spoke very little of the Queens English and to that end the conversation was quite one sided as I explained about the hay day of the British Empire and the decline of said empire was now why the world was on its arse!
God Save the Queen.

<a href="http://s1195.photobucket.com/user/munnyman44/media/Unknown.jpeg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa390/munnyman44/Unknown.jpeg" border="0" alt=" photo Unknown.jpeg"/></a>

A hearty Moroccan breakfast of boiled eggs and flatbread and we where on our way.
Quick stop to replen the tanks and we took in 50 miles of twisty road to warm us up which only took an hour or so.

Now Northern Morocco in November is a lovely temperature after about 1030 in the morning but before then it is bitter cold.
My team members where well covered in a Klim badlands Jacket and a powercross jacket with all the vents done up I will add.
Being a mans man I decided to just wear an enduro shirt and let the cool air run through the vents and engulf me in a "bracing" breeze which without a doubt would have had an average man shaking like a shitting dog!

<a href="http://s1195.photobucket.com/user/munnyman44/media/images-1.jpeg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa390/munnyman44/images-1.jpeg" border="0" alt=" photo images-1.jpeg"/></a>

 

[SkyGod]

We then hit our first bit of piste which took us along the coast. 20km of very undulating hard packed gravel. Quite loose on the corners though and I had the 625 stepping the back out a few times before I reigned myself in an took it a bit steadier.

Fabulous views of the coast to our left as we negotiated the ridge line we found ourself on.

Early Morning in Chefchaouen

<a href="http://s1195.photobucket.com/user/munnyman44/media/IMG_0043.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa390/munnyman44/IMG_0043.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_0043.jpg"/></a>

Bill on our first Piste
<a href="http://s1195.photobucket.com/user/munnyman44/media/IMG_0044.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa390/munnyman44/IMG_0044.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_0044.jpg"/></a>

Bryan looking a bit" half rice half chips" (if you know what I mean)......
<a href="http://s1195.photobucket.com/user/munnyman44/media/IMG_0009.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa390/munnyman44/IMG_0009.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_0009.jpg"/></a>

 

[SkyGod]

Around noon we stopped off at a small fishing village and had a slap up lunch!
<a href="http://s1195.photobucket.com/user/munnyman44/media/IMG_3005.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa390/munnyman44/IMG_3005.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_3005.jpg"/></a>

The rest of the afternoon was a combination of very scenic coastal piste with the odd bit of road thrown in.
A great first day with nothing to technical to settle the troops in for what lay ahead.
<a href="http://s1195.photobucket.com/user/munnyman44/media/photo2-5.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa390/munnyman44/photo2-5.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo photo2-5.jpg"/></a>

As I was going to miss my usual remembrance day parade I decided to still wear my poppy with great pride ( please save any of your political views on this for someone who gives a fuck).
<a href="http://s1195.photobucket.com/user/munnyman44/media/photo3-7.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa390/munnyman44/photo3-7.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo photo3-7.jpg"/></a>

Bill enjoying the 500
<a href="http://s1195.photobucket.com/user/munnyman44/media/IMG_0049.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa390/munnyman44/IMG_0049.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_0049.jpg"/></a>

 

[SkyGod]

We arrive in the coastal town of Al Hoceima around 5 and have a look for a hotel. We had a recommend from Tim Cullis (his Knowledge of Morocco is second to none) and it came up trumps. Bang in the middle of town and a great room. I insisted the chaps had a coffee downstairs why I took over the room and relaxed "in the style of a gentleman".

Suitably refreshed after my bout of self coitus I took in a brew and perused the map to make the plan of attack for our next day.
(Brian, yet again looking like someone who "bowls from the pavilion end"....)

<a href="http://s1195.photobucket.com/user/munnyman44/media/IMG_0003-1.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa390/munnyman44/IMG_0003-1.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_0003-1.jpg"/></a>

 

[SkyGod]

The 625 had a Nav tower mounted as I entered the centennial rally in August on it. Although there was no need at all to have the roadbook on for this trip I believed if woman saw it they would be instantly "dripping like a fucked fridge" and to that end kept it on.
It also made a very good scrolling map which is a lot better than the GPS for giving you perspective on where you are in relation to key roads and towns.

A lady who just spied my Nav Tower ( not a euphemism )
<a href="http://s1195.photobucket.com/user/munnyman44/media/female-orgasm.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa390/munnyman44/female-orgasm.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo female-orgasm.jpg"/></a>

The kit itself. ( caution, this picture may give you a "diamond cutter").

<a href="http://s1195.photobucket.com/user/munnyman44/media/IMG_002128129.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa390/munnyman44/IMG_002128129.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_002128129.jpg"/></a>

 

[Timolgra]

src="http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa390/munnyman44/female-orgasm.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo female-orgasm.jpg"/></a>

The kit itself. ( caution, this picture may give you a "diamond cutter").

<a href="http://s1195.photobucket.com/user/munnyman44/media/IMG_002128129.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa390/munnyman44/IMG_002128129.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_002128129.jpg"/></a>

Now you've shown me your's, I'll show you mine......... when I've wiped it down

 

[SkyGod]

One of the hopeful applicants to come on this mission that didn`t quite make the grade.
<a href="http://s1195.photobucket.com/user/munnyman44/media/images-2.jpeg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa390/munnyman44/images-2.jpeg" border="0" alt=" photo images-2.jpeg"/></a>


Swanning around without both hands on her weapon,,,,bloody amateurs!!!

 

[Sgt Bilco]

Now you've shown me your's, I'll show you mine......... when I've wiped it down

Salida 2011....

 

[SkyGod]

Salida 2011....

Just let that night go Chris, I was full of drink and he said it would go in fine with a bit of spit on it! Just leave it.........

 

[earthmover]

Well having seen both, I have to say Tims is bigger, and neater.
Mark