Thanks for the updates and glad you had a good time, Frost. You got a lot done and probably need a holiday. Weather's been amazing, even here in the High Atlas, still. Been out bagging new pistes today. It can't last much longer.

Are you sure MS3 is sealed all the way to Merzouga? That will be the end of the famous MS6 then. Or could it be MH3 - also a former classic - but it has a col.

Next time try MS12 and MH14 - both brilliant full-day routes (doable on a F650 twin).

Hi Chris, yes, weather was perfect except for 1 day in 14, so we rode every day. I think I mean MS3 but don't have the book to hand. Tazzarine-Tarhbalt-Tizi-n-Tafilalet-Zagora? It's not yet sealed over the col but the rest is. Nowhere near Merzouga so it looks like I've messed up...

New motorway to Dakhla...
 

… soon

Voie express Tiznit-Dakhla: le projet démarre – Lavieeco

Crossing ramlia
 

We crossed Ramlia in early October 2015 going from Taouz to Zagora. We did it after a few days of heavy rain. The river was flowing and it was a muddy affair.

We paid £10/bike for the locals in Ramlia to cross our 1200GS's to the other side. They crossed one motorcycle and then the other. This meant that we did not have to turn back and go round.

Morocans are very resourceful!

Attachment 17073

Attachment 17074

Snow in the mountains Feb 16
 

For those of you who are planning a trip or travelling in Morocco just now. In recent days we had (finally, although a bit late) some precipitation in the North and East of the country, including the Rif and Atlas.
This is picture from today morning in Ifrane. Some roads are now closed but this should not last for long.
Attachment 17128

Hi All,

Tuesday, gorge south of Tounfite closed due to erosion of road by river. Driving in riverbed not possible as current too strong.
Wednesday, Agoudal - Dades closed by snow. Just passable South North as snow in downhill sections so much digging etc necessary. In the other direction no go as mud and snow prevent uphill driving/riding. Should be clear soon.
Thursday, 35C in Zagora, more to come. Off to the desert tomorrow.

Happy trails,

Peter

Hi All,
Zagora-Foum Zguid now tar all through. Old piste getting badly beaten up in places through lack of use.
FZ-Mhamid fine across Lac Iriki. All dry and relatively smooth. Pistes now generally quiet following the usual chaos of Semana Santa. Tourist numbers down following Paris/Brussels incidents. Very few French tourists.
Zagora-Taghbalte now all tar and about to open soon.
Oued Rheris very dry yesterday with lots of feche-feche. Probably more difficult tomorrow as it's been quite windy and ruts now filled with soft sand. Could be tricky for solo travellers.
Now at Erg Chebbi, temp down to upper 20s following last week's mid/upper 30s.
As an aside, Fes tanneries have been completely renovated, now awaiting opening by the king.
Happy trails,
Peter

I went down the Todgha-Dades off-road piste on a KTM 1190 2 days ago without actually realising what it is, or how tough it was, I just saw it there and decided to take it. It wasn't too bad on the big bike until the last approximately 3-4km by GPS. I had spent approximately 30-40 minutes in nasty dry riverbed, I got to a point where the tracks disappeared in the riverbed and I was trying to bash my own way through. I was alone, it was getting late in the day and had only 1/2 a liter of water left so I decided to turn back, I met 3 Dutch guys in 3 Land Rover discovery 4x4's about half way through the crossing on my return and I camped with them. They had Chris Scotts Moroccan handbook and showed me details about the route. It had said strictly 4x4, trail bikes and MTB, though some big BMWs had been known to get through. In the morning I decided to keep heading back to where I had entered, as I had no idea how difficult it was actually going to get. The Dutch guys offered to help me and do it as a team but I really didn't want to get stuck and have to turn back anyway even further down.

It was more or less like this when I decided to turn back
http://i66.tinypic.com/15x39qr.jpg

And where I was on the GPS
http://i65.tinypic.com/i4l6yt.jpg

I am really curious as to what lay in that last section, if I could have just muscled it through or made a good decision turning back. Highly recommend it though, was a great ride until the riverbed

Beause of heavy rainfall in the Smara region friday and saturday the bridge north of Laayoune on the N1 and in Foum el Oued has been washed away. Wednesday it was still not possible to pass.
The road 15 km. north of Smara was also flooded, and is now under reconstruction. Today it was possible to pass with 3 hours delay, because of road work. So right now the only route south is Tan-Tan - Smara - Laayoune

What are the options? Trying to think how to by pass that bridge ...

Any updates appreciated as always!

Thanks

bypass via Smara
 

I just did bypass via Smara, about 150km extra, tarmac all the way but not very even surface, somehow managed to loose my plates, so as police suggested getting one made tonight @ laayoune :)))

Thanks, any rumours about when the bridge might be fixed?

The road via Smara must be horrific with all that traffic on it ... that's not going to make life easy!

Good luck with your plates!!!

Road is still closed apparently. I didn't know sadly! I'm at the Bedouin Camp Maroc just south.

I don't fancy the drive back to Tan Tan if i can help it for the diversion via Smara. There appears on my GPS and Google a road that follows the coast and doest use the bridge to get south of Laayoune. Just called 'Route Tarfaya - Foum El Oued'

Anyone know about this? Dirt road I'm guessing

Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

Short version to my above question: The road i mention is fine for all vehicles

Medium version: The last few km the road is poor, but fine for all vehicles. 95% of the road is old tarmac

Long version: Speaking to the police. You could follow the N1. Then before Layaane there is a 20km diversion onto the road i mention above. That 20km is iff piste though. On the road i mention i did 70mph for most of it and that was safe. Few potholes here and there but no worse than the rest of Morocco. Speed trap setup, i was warned and ok. Recommend this road over the official diversion. I suspect they want to encourage people to avoid it as traffic would be horrific in the town.

Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

Came over the bridge today , all ok . Petrol available all the way to Dahkla . Crossing into Mauritania tomorrow , fingers crossed will be hassle free!