Morocco – May 2011
The Route
Portsmouth – France, Caen, Pons, Bordeaux, ST Jean Pied de Port – Spain, Espinal, Pamplona, Soria, Alcolea del Pinar, Sacedon, Cuenca, Motilla Del Palancar, Ossa De Montiel, Villacarrillio, Motril, Amayate, Algeciras, Ceuta – Morocco, Chefchaouen, Ketama, Fes, Azrou, Boulojoul, Midelt, Ar Rachida, Erfoud, Tinehir, Boumaine Dades, Quarzazate, Telouet, Marrakech, Tahanoute, Ijoukok, Tafinegoult, Agadir, Imsouane, Tamanar, Essaouira, Safi, Casablanca, Mohammedia, Rabat, Kinatra, Souk el Arba du Rharb, Larache, Tetouan – Spain, Ceuta, Algeciras, Sevilla – Portugal, Lagos, Budens, Odemira, Santiago do Cacem, Alcacer du Sol, Montemor O Novo, Estremoz, Santo Antonio Das Areias – Spain, Castelo Branco, Cavilha, Seia, Viseu, Lamego, Bilbao, Lekeito, Zarautz – France, Hossegor, Parents en Bonn, Biscarrasse, Soulac, Royan, Rochefort, Lucan, Nantes, Dinan, Caen – England, Portsmouth and Hampton here I come! I will be riding solo for this adventure and expect to cover 6000 miles over 3 weeks avoiding all motorways!
Different country, different language and yet another time adjustment. I can’t keep up and think one world, one time, although agree with the romantic languages. The 319 miles from Santa Maria, Spain to Lagos, South coast of Portugal via Seville were
I had a restless sleep due to a room full of cockroaches the size of a thumb and the resident cats trying to break in. I left Mohammedia heading for Ceuta (a Spanish Port in Morocco) with the sea to my
At 0430, I awake to the sound of crashing waves, then prayers being called. I had to think where I was. Today’s route will take me up 315 miles of scenic coast roads from Imousanne to Mohammedia. Along the way I stopped
I successfully completed the now sealed Tizi n Techa pass. I would of liked to continue South through Western Sahara, Mauritania ect.. finally reaching South Africa, but I have my wedding to attend. Instead I’m homeward bound finally heading North. The 256
Last night, I got lost in Marakesh. I woke late, aching from yesterdays little tumble. The Riad Guardian did my laundry as it was red with dust from the Atlas paths. I gifted him a miniature cognac in return, given
The roadside hotel in Boumaine du Dads treated me like a king, I loved it. The locals warned of a 7 hr ride to complete the 192 miles to Marakesh via the tiza n techza pass over the High Atlas mountains.
Highlights
As suggested in my web page heading, there will never be a conclusion to these adventures and although, sometimes challenging here are some highlights which added to my Morocco trip: The French roads. Twisty mountain roads. Crossing the Pyrenees. The 9 days of rain. Camping and camel trek in the Erg Chebbi desert. The cleverness of the Moroccans well established with tourism. Riding through the Todra Gorge. Achieving and navigating off road piste’s. Never felt threatened anywhere, in fact I feel more at risk in London. Marakesh Madina’s culture. Getting lost Marakesh. And everything else that goes with biking. The cost of fuel. The hospitality of the locals, especially Portugal. The disappointing and expensive Caen food. The different culture, food and languages. The undiscovered paradise in NW Portugal’s national forest park. But most of all, how achievable this is for anyone and any bike. I hasten to add that two weeks after I returned from this amazing adventure, I wrote my bike off on the M25!
