1Likes
|
|
14 Feb 2009
|
|
Super Moderator
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: London and Granada Altiplano
Posts: 3,108
|
|
I refer you to my earlier reply...
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tim Cullis
The Midelt to Imilchil section is a long day in itself. It comprises 45km of red piste, then 40km of mixed tarmac/gravel road, then another 45km of red piste. And my 'red' classification is for good weather when there hasn't been recent rain. The first section of red (Cirque du Jaffar) has severe dropoffs, the second section has 60 river crossings.
|
Coming from Midelt there's the Auberge du Jaffar a few miles out of town just as the first piste starts (N32 38.672 W4 46.351).
Then comes the first 45km section of piste.
Then 40km of tar/gravel road of 40km with two gites about halfway, one being Ahdaoui.
Then in the second section of piste there's two more--Ouyide and Fazaz.
My personal preference for accommodation at Imilchil is the Tislite Bride (N32 11.802 W5 38.510) because of the beautiful setting. Some years it's warmer than others.
January 2007
January 2008
Tim
__________________
"For sheer delight there is nothing like altitude; it gives one the thrill of adventure
and enlarges the world in which you live," Irving Mather (1892-1966)
|
14 Feb 2009
|
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Bristol UK
Posts: 454
|
|
Tislit bride, is that on the eastern side of Lac Tislit? we stayed at an Auberge on the east side "camping tislit" i think. roof tent out, only people there lovely setting. The women there told us all about the festival and the single people coming from all over morocco for the festival in the summer, end of August i think. I got some nice shots of the full moon illuminating the lake. But they are all RAW not jpeg sorry.
Nice bit of snow there Tim
G
|
15 Feb 2009
|
Contributing Vendor
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Northumberland, UK
Posts: 556
|
|
Yup, that's the one. Crazy boiler/woodstove but the most fabulous breakfast on the terrace overlooking the lake. Staggeringly beautiful but staggeringly cold! The festival is first week of September as I remember.
Jojo
|
15 Feb 2009
|
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Bristol UK
Posts: 454
|
|
Yes! that is one industrial size burner! Nice old women there isnt she?! Our french was pretty rubbish, but we got by. She cooked up a mean Tagine the night we got there and a cracking soup for starters. It dropped to 5 degrees C overnight mid-October. Fine in our mountain equipment bags though
G
|
15 Feb 2009
|
Contributing Vendor
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Northumberland, UK
Posts: 556
|
|
Happy days! Back there next month.
Jojo
|
15 Feb 2009
|
|
Super Moderator
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: London and Granada Altiplano
Posts: 3,108
|
|
The photo with the snow is from Steve Attwood. It started snowing on the second stage of the piste and he decided to keep going (snow ploughs don't do pistes) and make the hotel where he was stuck for three days.
No TV (Sat dish down), no books, so Steve concentrated on improving Rachid's English.
Snow drifts over the road
Rachid on left with Steve and helper
The crazy wood stove
Tim
__________________
"For sheer delight there is nothing like altitude; it gives one the thrill of adventure
and enlarges the world in which you live," Irving Mather (1892-1966)
|
15 Feb 2009
|
|
Super Moderator
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: Jun 2000
Posts: 4,902
|
|
chris, are you saying the all the way from midelt until 13km behind the auberge is tarmac in the meantime?
It's as Tim says, sections of tarmac, (very slowly joining up)
Ch
|
15 Feb 2009
|
Gold Member
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 619
|
|
Imilchil
About the Imilchil Festival. It used to be a genuine Amazight festival including singles coming to meet a future partner but today you'll go and be fed a "plastic" version. The music is Arabic from Marrakech, there are side acts and coach loads of brain deads with cameras. The Amazight girls hate being photographed to put it mildly. The hijaked festival has had to be moved after perhaps thousands of years to somewhere else. What is there now is not for Travellers but are you a Traveller or not I ask myself! Linzi. On second thoughts, you guys are only going to enjoy the country but please be aware that there are changes going on because we go there and not all are beneficial to the locals. I believe the King wants to promote tourism but in this case the result is a distortion of a local event that has upset the locals and feeds readers of tourist guide books a Disneyland type pile of false photos. Linzi.
|
15 Feb 2009
|
Registered Users
HUBB regular
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Netherlands
Posts: 52
|
|
That's as may be, but nonetheless we encountered a warm welcome at mentioned hotel, the one with the industrial crematorium heating the place!
And, one of the good improvements is the eco-friendly lighting Rachid has in his hotel, with solar panels and energy-saving lamps.
We enjoyed a VERY good meal and a warm nights rest there last year in the company of very good friends.
Definitely a place to re-visit !
__________________
Landrover Discovery 2 Td5 with a Garmin 276c and a great co-driveress
|
15 Feb 2009
|
Gold Member
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 619
|
|
Agreed
I agree, I was too reactionary. Change takes place and nothing'll stop it. It's just that I've worked in the tourist industry and hate the clogs, tulips etc pumped to tourists. In Scotland it's kilts. Everywhere it's false but in Imilchil's case I just see red when I read material from paid journalist spouting rubbish, when I can't get paid for material. It ain't fair. Linzi.
|
15 Feb 2009
|
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Bristol UK
Posts: 454
|
|
Rachid - Top man
We spoke at length about the (then) upcoming US election and Obama.
Its good to see others photo's of places you have visited and people you have seen. Lovely memories.
Thanks for sharing Tim
G
|
4 Mar 2009
|
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
|
|
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Palma de Mallorca
Posts: 9
|
|
Thank you very much for your detailed answers. We changed the route now. Since we don't have much time and need to make to Merzouga in a specified date, we will be driving from Midelt towards Merzouga on asphalt and before reaching Merzouga, take right to Tinerhir to see Todra Gorge at least the beginning part of it. I guess that can be done in one day if we leave early from Midelt.
Any suggestions on accomodation in Midelt?
Another question I have is about the road from Marrakech to Fes. We can leave Marrakech about 3 afternoon and will try to drive about 4-5 hrs max that day. We won't make it to Fes the same day, any suggestions on where to stop at the end of the day? Kasba Tadla, Khenifra, Beni Mellal? Any decent accomodation in those towns, I assume since they are on the main road from Marrakech to Fes, there should be some hotel/motels next to the road.
|
4 Mar 2009
|
Registered Users
HUBB regular
|
|
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: aachen/germany and valence/france
Posts: 95
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by viatormundi
Any suggestions on accomodation in Midelt?
|
we stayed at the hotel atlas, which is a nice private pension.
for a double room we payed 100DH. that included shower and a garage for 2 bikes.
coordinates are: N32° 40' 54.7 W4° 44' 39.5
let me add a general remark about finding a suitable place to stay in morocco.
it is very helpful and saves tons of price negotiating if you enter the
hotel or whatever with the lonely planet guide under your arm.
they ALL know the prices in that guide!
find out BEFORE you aggree, what is included and what is not. especially ask, if garage and breakfast are included. otherwise they will ask for extra money the morning you want to leave.
|
4 Mar 2009
|
Registered Users
HUBB regular
|
|
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: aachen/germany and valence/france
Posts: 95
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Linzi
I agree, I was too reactionary. Change takes place and nothing'll stop it.
Linzi.
|
you are absolutely right, linzi, but adventure riders usually are the spearhead of tourism industry. morocco nowadays is hard to compare with when i was there first time about 40 years ago. so when we point with one finger to nowadays tourists, 4 fingers are pointing back to us.
what could be the consequence? we keep our hidden paradises for ourselves and stop answering questions like: how can i best do morocco in 5 days.
|
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 Registered Users and/or Members and 1 guests)
|
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
Next HU Events
ALL Dates subject to change.
2025 Confirmed Events:
- Virginia: April 24-27 2025
- Queensland is back! May 2-4 2025
- Germany Summer: May 29-June 1 2025
- CanWest: July 10-13 2025
- Switzerland: Date TBC
- Ecuador: Date TBC
- Romania: Date TBC
- Austria: Sept. 11-15
- California: September 18-21
- France: September 19-21 2025
- Germany Autumn: Oct 30-Nov 2 2025
Add yourself to the Updates List for each event!
Questions about an event? Ask here
See all event details
Check the RAW segments; Grant, your HU host is on every month!
Episodes below to listen to while you, err, pretend to do something or other...
2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.
"Ultimate global guide for red-blooded bikers planning overseas exploration. Covers choice & preparation of best bike, shipping overseas, baggage design, riding techniques, travel health, visas, documentation, safety and useful addresses." Recommended. (Grant)
Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance™ combines into a single integrated program the best evacuation and rescue with the premier travel insurance coverages designed for adventurers.
Led by special operations veterans, Stanford Medicine affiliated physicians, paramedics and other travel experts, Ripcord is perfect for adventure seekers, climbers, skiers, sports enthusiasts, hunters, international travelers, humanitarian efforts, expeditions and more.
Ripcord travel protection is now available for ALL nationalities, and travel is covered on motorcycles of all sizes!
What others say about HU...
"This site is the BIBLE for international bike travelers." Greg, Australia
"Thank you! The web site, The travels, The insight, The inspiration, Everything, just thanks." Colin, UK
"My friend and I are planning a trip from Singapore to England... We found (the HU) site invaluable as an aid to planning and have based a lot of our purchases (bikes, riding gear, etc.) on what we have learned from this site." Phil, Australia
"I for one always had an adventurous spirit, but you and Susan lit the fire for my trip and I'll be forever grateful for what you two do to inspire others to just do it." Brent, USA
"Your website is a mecca of valuable information and the (video) series is informative, entertaining, and inspiring!" Jennifer, Canada
"Your worldwide organisation and events are the Go To places to for all serious touring and aspiring touring bikers." Trevor, South Africa
"This is the answer to all my questions." Haydn, Australia
"Keep going the excellent work you are doing for Horizons Unlimited - I love it!" Thomas, Germany
Lots more comments here!
Diaries of a compulsive traveller
by Graham Field
Book, eBook, Audiobook
"A compelling, honest, inspiring and entertaining writing style with a built-in feel-good factor" Get them NOW from the authors' website and Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk.
Back Road Map Books and Backroad GPS Maps for all of Canada - a must have!
New to Horizons Unlimited?
New to motorcycle travelling? New to the HU site? Confused? Too many options? It's really very simple - just 4 easy steps!
Horizons Unlimited was founded in 1997 by Grant and Susan Johnson following their journey around the world on a BMW R80G/S.
Read more about Grant & Susan's story
Membership - help keep us going!
Horizons Unlimited is not a big multi-national company, just two people who love motorcycle travel and have grown what started as a hobby in 1997 into a full time job (usually 8-10 hours per day and 7 days a week) and a labour of love. To keep it going and a roof over our heads, we run events all over the world with the help of volunteers; we sell inspirational and informative DVDs; we have a few selected advertisers; and we make a small amount from memberships.
You don't have to be a Member to come to an HU meeting, access the website, or ask questions on the HUBB. What you get for your membership contribution is our sincere gratitude, good karma and knowing that you're helping to keep the motorcycle travel dream alive. Contributing Members and Gold Members do get additional features on the HUBB. Here's a list of all the Member benefits on the HUBB.
|
|
|