Bengaz
Registered user
I`m simply blown away by these photos. Thank you for sharing your talent with us Dirk...
Via Mediterra - The Journey around the Med on a HP2
- Thread starter kimangao
- Start date
kimangao
Registered user
kimangao
Registered user
Eye Watering
Dirk
The photos and places you have been are so attractive.
Have you ever been tempted to make a trip to the Emerald Isle?
http://irishphotorally.com/
I can only imagine what you might do.
Bert
Dirk
The photos and places you have been are so attractive.
Have you ever been tempted to make a trip to the Emerald Isle?
http://irishphotorally.com/
I can only imagine what you might do.
Bert
luke scott
Registered user
Hi Luke,
that was April. Not too many tourists around
Dirk
Thanks Dirk, I have a place between Estepona and Marbella. I've been thinking for a while about shipping the GS down there and doing a trip. Your pics have moved my plans on a bit.
kimangao
Registered user
kimangao
Registered user
From Agua Amarga I'm heading westwards to meet an old friend of mine, Richard. He gave me directions to find his new home in the hills north of Malaga. On the way I'm crossing massive olive tree plantations. 95% of the worlds Olive trees are located in the Mediterranean region. Spain is No.1 worldwide in Olive production. More than 200 different types are cultivated.
Richard and me met on my "Expedition Sindbad" in 2003 in Dubai. He's one of the few persons I know being into Harleys and BMW's at the same time.
Cheers mate, great to see you again after all this time! We started with a café con leche ...
... ordered some fingerfood ...
... while the guy preparing the food seemd constantly in bad mood. Never saw him smile.
This is Richards new home. Well, until he'd finished building his own.
He takes me around on some fantastic roads. Even when he's riding the Harley you'll know after a few minutes that his knowledge of riding bikes must come from somewhere else. And yes, I do remember that he was motocross youth champion in the UAE and took part in the Desert Challenge.
The real fun that day was chasing some Duc's through the mountains. I'm sure that Richard had to order some replace pegs.
And me, I'd better replace the rear tyre.
This is nothing you want to wear when hitting Moroccan tracks or sands.
I'm searching for knobbies whole Malaga but there was nothing to be found. So I took a Tourance. Nice tyre, but not so nice offroad. We'll see ...
More due to the fact that I am near the harbour of Malaga than out of a plan I ask, when the next ferry to Morocco leaves. "In 10 minutes. If you hurry you may get it!"
I got it. Eight hours on the boat should be the first of three planned ferry trips on this journey. At the end of the journey it will be 28 ferry passages ... unplanned
A stunning sunset before we reach Morocco, Africa!
Man, I can't describe the feeling seeing the old continent right in front of me. Africa, Africa ...
Can you imagine, how I've felt then arriving in ... Spain again? :huh
How comes? Those of you familiar with Spanish geography will know.
Cheers
Dirk
Richard and me met on my "Expedition Sindbad" in 2003 in Dubai. He's one of the few persons I know being into Harleys and BMW's at the same time.
Cheers mate, great to see you again after all this time! We started with a café con leche ...
... ordered some fingerfood ...
... while the guy preparing the food seemd constantly in bad mood. Never saw him smile.
This is Richards new home. Well, until he'd finished building his own.
He takes me around on some fantastic roads. Even when he's riding the Harley you'll know after a few minutes that his knowledge of riding bikes must come from somewhere else. And yes, I do remember that he was motocross youth champion in the UAE and took part in the Desert Challenge.
The real fun that day was chasing some Duc's through the mountains. I'm sure that Richard had to order some replace pegs.
And me, I'd better replace the rear tyre.
This is nothing you want to wear when hitting Moroccan tracks or sands.
I'm searching for knobbies whole Malaga but there was nothing to be found. So I took a Tourance. Nice tyre, but not so nice offroad. We'll see ...
More due to the fact that I am near the harbour of Malaga than out of a plan I ask, when the next ferry to Morocco leaves. "In 10 minutes. If you hurry you may get it!"
I got it. Eight hours on the boat should be the first of three planned ferry trips on this journey. At the end of the journey it will be 28 ferry passages ... unplanned
A stunning sunset before we reach Morocco, Africa!
Man, I can't describe the feeling seeing the old continent right in front of me. Africa, Africa ...
Can you imagine, how I've felt then arriving in ... Spain again? :huh
How comes? Those of you familiar with Spanish geography will know.
Cheers
Dirk
macroenie
Registered user
Amazing photography of what seems to be a dream trip.
I wish I had what it takes to be able to do this, I'm typing this while stuck at work and family life like the most of us here.
Those last shots of Valencia....just wow!
Ride on!
I wish I had what it takes to be able to do this, I'm typing this while stuck at work and family life like the most of us here.
Those last shots of Valencia....just wow!
Ride on!
kimangao
Registered user
Thank you, mate! There are different times in life and different lifes. I'm not having the family life as such ...
Hope you enjoy the next parts of the story
Cheers
Dirk
kimangao
Registered user
Now this is why I was surprised. Imagine you take a ferry to Africa and you end up in Spain, Europe. Of course, I knew before that Melilla is spanish but - I don't know why - I somehow expected something different.
The town is an exclave in Northern Africa, bordering the Sea and Morocco.
As long as I'm staying in the heart of the town I don't recognise that I'm on another continent.
Ok, let's start the day with a coffee. It has become a kind of addiction to me to stay in coffee houses. Contact to locals is easily made and only few other places offer a such convenient look into peoples lives.
The owner of the cafe is an addict, too. Art is his thing.
Just outside the cafe.
I'm too lazy to change the tire I bought in Malaga myself. A workshop does it for a reasonable price. It won't take long till I have to do it myself.
Meanwhile I check out the historical part of Melilla.
The earlier settlement gathered around the fortress ...
... which nowadays inhabits a military museum.
From the walls of the fortress I see some seagulls playing in the breeze. It's amazing to see how excellent these birds maneuver through all kinds of wind.
Melilla is also home to the probably southernmost spanish bullfight arena. But no corrida while I'm around.
Ok, tire (the Tourance) is on the HP2. A last coffee in Europe ...
Leaving the city centre and getting closer to the border makes me feel very strange. What I see here reminds me of the times Germany was devided in East and West. The iron curtain ... In a way I feel ashamed that this is Europe, too. My Europe ...
I little thought cheers me up:
<style>*<!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"Times New Roman"; panose-1:0 2 2 6 3 5 4 5 2 3; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:50331648 0 0 0 1 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0cm; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US; mso-fareast-language:EN-US;} table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-parent:""; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:612.0pt 792.0pt; margin:70.85pt 70.85pt 2.0cm 70.85pt; mso-header-margin:36.0pt; mso-footer-margin:36.0pt; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style> Morocco behind the fence is very beautiful. And the EU is aware of that. So they have erected big fences with watch towers and armed guards around the city so that the Europeans who live in Melilla cannot get out into the beautiful and less expensive Morocco. And as the government wasn't sure if one fence would be enough, they built a second one right behind the first one.
Of course the truth is just the other way round. When I pass the turnpike in direction Nador the next morning, the outer borders of Europe are lying behind me. Europe starts in Africa. Strange idea, though. But there will be more odd things in the weeks to come. Only a 160 kilometres further to the East, the next oddity will be right in front of me.
Cheers for today
Dirk
The town is an exclave in Northern Africa, bordering the Sea and Morocco.
As long as I'm staying in the heart of the town I don't recognise that I'm on another continent.
Ok, let's start the day with a coffee. It has become a kind of addiction to me to stay in coffee houses. Contact to locals is easily made and only few other places offer a such convenient look into peoples lives.
The owner of the cafe is an addict, too. Art is his thing.
Just outside the cafe.
I'm too lazy to change the tire I bought in Malaga myself. A workshop does it for a reasonable price. It won't take long till I have to do it myself.
Meanwhile I check out the historical part of Melilla.
The earlier settlement gathered around the fortress ...
... which nowadays inhabits a military museum.
From the walls of the fortress I see some seagulls playing in the breeze. It's amazing to see how excellent these birds maneuver through all kinds of wind.
Melilla is also home to the probably southernmost spanish bullfight arena. But no corrida while I'm around.
Ok, tire (the Tourance) is on the HP2. A last coffee in Europe ...
Leaving the city centre and getting closer to the border makes me feel very strange. What I see here reminds me of the times Germany was devided in East and West. The iron curtain ... In a way I feel ashamed that this is Europe, too. My Europe ...
I little thought cheers me up:
<style>*<!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"Times New Roman"; panose-1:0 2 2 6 3 5 4 5 2 3; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:50331648 0 0 0 1 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0cm; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US; mso-fareast-language:EN-US;} table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-parent:""; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:612.0pt 792.0pt; margin:70.85pt 70.85pt 2.0cm 70.85pt; mso-header-margin:36.0pt; mso-footer-margin:36.0pt; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style> Morocco behind the fence is very beautiful. And the EU is aware of that. So they have erected big fences with watch towers and armed guards around the city so that the Europeans who live in Melilla cannot get out into the beautiful and less expensive Morocco. And as the government wasn't sure if one fence would be enough, they built a second one right behind the first one.
Of course the truth is just the other way round. When I pass the turnpike in direction Nador the next morning, the outer borders of Europe are lying behind me. Europe starts in Africa. Strange idea, though. But there will be more odd things in the weeks to come. Only a 160 kilometres further to the East, the next oddity will be right in front of me.
Cheers for today
Dirk
kimangao
Registered user
I pass the customs without any problem, welcome to Nador, Morocco.
A quick snapshot of the border post and off I go, again following the coastline where possible.
In one of the tiny ports along the way I meet some fishermen networking in the original sense of the word. Staying with them for a while I easily pick up that their jobs are far away from any kind of romantic fishermans live.
I stop at this huge beach. Yes, there's a little cafe (closed) but almost no sign of any kind of tourism. What a contrast to the European side. In the distance I can already see the hills of Algeria. Though knowing that I won't be able to cross the border (closed for ages) I'm heading towards it. Simply because I'm facing a little problem ...
What problem? Well, my visa for Algeria which I've already got has expired. France (including the dead time waiting for the white HP2) and Spain simply took too much time.
<style><!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"Times New Roman"; panose-1:0 2 2 6 3 5 4 5 2 3; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:50331648 0 0 0 1 0;} @font-face {font-family:Verdana; panose-1:0 2 11 6 4 3 5 4 4 2; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:50331648 0 0 0 1 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0cm; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US; mso-fareast-language:EN-US;} table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-parent:""; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:612.0pt 792.0pt; margin:70.85pt 70.85pt 2.0cm 70.85pt; mso-header-margin:36.0pt; mso-footer-margin:36.0pt; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style> Morocco's flag is flapping in the calm wind and right behind the Algerian one. The good thing is that here at the border they have a consulate. For what you may need a consulate at a border that is closed for more than a decade I don't know. But I can renew my visa here. At least this was what I'm thinking.
My visit to the consulate is a quick one. Quick and unsuccessful. It won't be a problem to get a visa, the haggard employee behind her scuffed desk tells me. Unfortunately this can be done only in Rabat, the capital. And when I am back on my HP2 I am enjoying the thought to do a little detour through Morocco in order to get the visa.
In Midelt, a town in the Atlas Mountains I bump into a group of French and Spanish riders. To be precise: It's a repairshop where the Spanish try to solve some probs with their 12's. The French boys intend to do a track in the mountains which I'd like to take as well.
Pic by Remi.
Let me introduce them to you: This is Thomas riding a DR600 Rebel.
Remi doing the trip on a Dominator.
And here's Benjamin also doing his best on a Dominator.
Unfortunately I didn't take a portrait of Thierry. But you'll easily recognise his Honda XL600LM.
Ok, here we start climbing the Atlas towards the Cirque de Jaffar, a kind of huge mountainous basin.
The idea of Remi, Thomas, Benjamin and Thierry was to by bikes for the trip not exceeding €1000.-. So there's enough money left to enjoy the trip. And, as Benjamin says: "These bikes were brilliant some 10 or 15 years ago. So what should be bad about it riding them now?"
Here's Remi and his Dom.
Thierry and his LM.
And Benj on the second Dominator.
Everyone is a keen offroad rider and I'm happy that I'm with the boys as the terrain get's a bit rougher. Spot the bike at the bottom of the picture.
The fertile areas are behind us now. There's only rocks and stones around now.
We're getting closer to the Cirque de Jaffar. I feel my heart beating watching this scenery. Man, what a landscape!
We decide to follow a Oued, a dry riverbed which according to our maps is supposed to be a little shortcut. But ...
... this doesn't only turn out to be a misinterpretation of the map. The track get's rougher and rougher.
Rocks and stone work on destroying bashplates, pegs, brake- and shift pedals. Though we're already in a decent altitude we're sweating like on Sumatra.
No shadow at all, rocks and more rocks ... shall we go on or turn back?
Pic by Remi
Pretty exhausted faces as I look around. And I have to admit that the thumpers did a lot better than the heavy boxer. Or was it about the riders?
Pic by Remi
Anyway, let's get out of here!
Cheers
Dirk
A quick snapshot of the border post and off I go, again following the coastline where possible.
In one of the tiny ports along the way I meet some fishermen networking in the original sense of the word. Staying with them for a while I easily pick up that their jobs are far away from any kind of romantic fishermans live.
I stop at this huge beach. Yes, there's a little cafe (closed) but almost no sign of any kind of tourism. What a contrast to the European side. In the distance I can already see the hills of Algeria. Though knowing that I won't be able to cross the border (closed for ages) I'm heading towards it. Simply because I'm facing a little problem ...
What problem? Well, my visa for Algeria which I've already got has expired. France (including the dead time waiting for the white HP2) and Spain simply took too much time.
<style><!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"Times New Roman"; panose-1:0 2 2 6 3 5 4 5 2 3; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:50331648 0 0 0 1 0;} @font-face {font-family:Verdana; panose-1:0 2 11 6 4 3 5 4 4 2; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:50331648 0 0 0 1 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0cm; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US; mso-fareast-language:EN-US;} table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-parent:""; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:612.0pt 792.0pt; margin:70.85pt 70.85pt 2.0cm 70.85pt; mso-header-margin:36.0pt; mso-footer-margin:36.0pt; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style> Morocco's flag is flapping in the calm wind and right behind the Algerian one. The good thing is that here at the border they have a consulate. For what you may need a consulate at a border that is closed for more than a decade I don't know. But I can renew my visa here. At least this was what I'm thinking.
My visit to the consulate is a quick one. Quick and unsuccessful. It won't be a problem to get a visa, the haggard employee behind her scuffed desk tells me. Unfortunately this can be done only in Rabat, the capital. And when I am back on my HP2 I am enjoying the thought to do a little detour through Morocco in order to get the visa.
In Midelt, a town in the Atlas Mountains I bump into a group of French and Spanish riders. To be precise: It's a repairshop where the Spanish try to solve some probs with their 12's. The French boys intend to do a track in the mountains which I'd like to take as well.
Let me introduce them to you: This is Thomas riding a DR600 Rebel.
Remi doing the trip on a Dominator.
And here's Benjamin also doing his best on a Dominator.
Unfortunately I didn't take a portrait of Thierry. But you'll easily recognise his Honda XL600LM.
Ok, here we start climbing the Atlas towards the Cirque de Jaffar, a kind of huge mountainous basin.
The idea of Remi, Thomas, Benjamin and Thierry was to by bikes for the trip not exceeding €1000.-. So there's enough money left to enjoy the trip. And, as Benjamin says: "These bikes were brilliant some 10 or 15 years ago. So what should be bad about it riding them now?"
Here's Remi and his Dom.
Thierry and his LM.
And Benj on the second Dominator.
Everyone is a keen offroad rider and I'm happy that I'm with the boys as the terrain get's a bit rougher. Spot the bike at the bottom of the picture.
The fertile areas are behind us now. There's only rocks and stones around now.
We're getting closer to the Cirque de Jaffar. I feel my heart beating watching this scenery. Man, what a landscape!
We decide to follow a Oued, a dry riverbed which according to our maps is supposed to be a little shortcut. But ...
... this doesn't only turn out to be a misinterpretation of the map. The track get's rougher and rougher.
Rocks and stone work on destroying bashplates, pegs, brake- and shift pedals. Though we're already in a decent altitude we're sweating like on Sumatra.
No shadow at all, rocks and more rocks ... shall we go on or turn back?
Pic by Remi
Pretty exhausted faces as I look around. And I have to admit that the thumpers did a lot better than the heavy boxer. Or was it about the riders?
Pic by Remi
Anyway, let's get out of here!
Cheers
Dirk
Good work Dirk. 
Did you know what you were getting yourself into on the Cirque de Jaffar? It's a tough ride up there.
Did you know what you were getting yourself into on the Cirque de Jaffar? It's a tough ride up there.
kimangao
Registered user
I had a rough idea but I was in the end happy that I had some company. I did the Cirque de Jaffar again last October and it was a pleasure once more. But seems as if you're able to ride there more often than others ;-)
Cheers
Dirk
Cheers
Dirk
Bengaz
Registered user
Hi Dirk, did you use the bog standard seat? I had an HP2 and it was `ard as nails!
From Agua Amarga I'm heading westwards to meet an old friend of mine, Richard. He gave me directions to find his new home in the hills north of Malaga. On the way I'm crossing massive olive tree plantations. 95% of the worlds Olive trees are located in the Mediterranean region. Spain is No.1 worldwide in Olive production. More than 200 different types are cultivated.
Richard and me met on my "Expedition Sindbad" in 2003 in Dubai. He's one of the few persons I know being into Harleys and BMW's at the same time.
He takes me around on some fantastic roads. Even when he's riding the Harley you'll know after a few minutes that his knowledge of riding bikes must come from somewhere else. And yes, I do remember that he was motocross youth champion in the UAE and took part in the Desert Challenge.
How comes? Those of you familiar with Spanish geography will know.
Cheers
Dirk
Hi Dirk,
Some tremendous photographs there my friend, I was planning a trip to Morocco in April but a hefty financial problem means I cannot go now, maybe next year?
I noticed your comment about your friend Richard who likes BMW and Harley Davidson, well, I have a Road King and 2 BMW's! I guess I just like the big twins!
I am planning my trip to Morocco next year now, but seeing your thread has made me decide to do a 'Round Great Britain' trip instead. I am starting on or around 19th April and have 2 weeks.
Good luck and ride safe.
Steve.
jealous of the trip
jealous of the photo quality
happy to be able to read it
good job
jealous of the photo quality
happy to be able to read it
good job
very upsetting
bought the dvd from touratech.
all very depressing,
fantastic trip, super shots,
sat there deeply regretting selling my hp2e.
thanks again!
bought the dvd from touratech.
all very depressing,
fantastic trip, super shots,
sat there deeply regretting selling my hp2e.
thanks again!
kimangao
Registered user
Hi Dirk, did you use the bog standard seat? I had an HP2 and it was `ard as nails!
Hi Bengaz,
it was the standard one and yes, it was hard. After about two weeks I'd adapted to the seat. But those first two weeks were a little pain ...
Dirk
kimangao
Registered user
jealous of the trip
jealous of the photo quality
happy to be able to read it
good job
Thank you, Kaister.
Dirk
kimangao
Registered user
