JackieG
Registered user
Well, as everyone else has posted their reports I thought I ought to get my act together and get mine up there too. Let me say from the start that I am pretty novice on the road (let alone off road), which meant that I seemed to struggle with some of the harder stuff that the others didn't. Also, I can be a girly about it and have a hissy fit when I get freaked out Bill, Mike, Neil and the other guys (including Martin who is used to me as he's lucky enough to be married to me!) on the trip were great and really supportive when my confidence let me down!
We turned up in Marrakech late afternoon on the 15th and were met at the airport by Bill and Mike who took us to the hotel where the bikes were waiting for us. We also met Al and wandered out for a first taste of Morocco. A very nice meal gave me my first taste of pastilla (essentially a chicken filled strudel topped with icing sugar and cinnamon) and tagine (both of which we ultimately ate enough of to be considered connoisseurs!), which were excellent.
On Friday 16th Bill was picking up Anders, so Mike took Al, Martin and me for an easy ride on some graded piste. We continued onto another track that led us through a little village, and here we were greeted by hoards of kids running out to wave and wanting to slap hands as we passed. A lot of the adults also ‘bonjoured’ or ‘salaamed’ as we went by too. Somehow it made the sense of an adventure really start. Maybe it’s because it was the first ride, and also the first experience of Moroccan communities, but this village stays as one of my favourite memories of the holiday. A word to the wise – watch out for small boys wanting to slap hands – one slapped so hard I ended up with a numb arm for 5 minutes (hee hee)!
Here are our bikes on their first bit of off road, and a very bleak view with some sheep!
We turned up in Marrakech late afternoon on the 15th and were met at the airport by Bill and Mike who took us to the hotel where the bikes were waiting for us. We also met Al and wandered out for a first taste of Morocco. A very nice meal gave me my first taste of pastilla (essentially a chicken filled strudel topped with icing sugar and cinnamon) and tagine (both of which we ultimately ate enough of to be considered connoisseurs!), which were excellent.
On Friday 16th Bill was picking up Anders, so Mike took Al, Martin and me for an easy ride on some graded piste. We continued onto another track that led us through a little village, and here we were greeted by hoards of kids running out to wave and wanting to slap hands as we passed. A lot of the adults also ‘bonjoured’ or ‘salaamed’ as we went by too. Somehow it made the sense of an adventure really start. Maybe it’s because it was the first ride, and also the first experience of Moroccan communities, but this village stays as one of my favourite memories of the holiday. A word to the wise – watch out for small boys wanting to slap hands – one slapped so hard I ended up with a numb arm for 5 minutes (hee hee)!
Here are our bikes on their first bit of off road, and a very bleak view with some sheep!