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Photo by Lois Pryce, schoolkids in Algeria

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and schoolkids in Algeria



 
 
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Old 23 Apr 2011
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Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Johannesburg, South Africa
Posts: 72
To Greet or Not to Greet in Morocco

I’ve been in Morocco for about six weeks now, travelling by myself on my KLR. It’s carried me for 42,000kms through Africa, parts of the Middle East, Mediterranean coast and now Morocco . I’m not really a motorcyclist and bought the bike just to do this trip. I was planning on selling it in Europe and then fly back to South Africa, but I like travelling around on my bike and discover/experience different places, people and cultures. I also liked the motorcycle camaraderie that I encountered right through from South Africa to Spain……until I hit Morocco
In Africa, your fellow motorcyclists will not only greet you, they will stop, chat for a long time, and probably invite you for a drink or to join them for dinner to share experiences and stories. On the open road in Europe you will get a raised hand, extended arm, helmet nod, or a leg being kicked out……all acknowledgement of that camaraderie, and you know that if you really find yourself in a tight spot, these guys and gals will not hesitate to help .
Not in Morocco . I must have passed a few hundred motorcycles by now, mostly riding in groups. In the beginning, when I saw that familiar sight of headlight, helmeted rider, and protruding panniers, I got excited, and I would give an extended arm greeting to often just receive a stare (if I’m lucky!) or just be totally ignored. It took me by surprise a few times but apart from wondering how big the stick up that guys’ ass was I ignored it. Then it happened again and again and again and again until I finally decided to stop greeting. That’s when I noticed that very few riders would actually initiate a greeting. I gave much thought to this and couldn’t believe that the same guys who would greet you in the rest of Africa and Europe are now so ‘self-important’
I had just pulled off the side of a quiet road a few days ago when a group of five bikes appeared out of nowhere. I was simply going to ignore them as just another group of wannabe adventurers thinking Morocco qualifies you as a serious biker dude when the front rider slowed down, opened his visor and gestured an is-everything-ok. I was taken by surprise but managed to signal a yes. Every guy in that group greeted me…..I couldn’t believe it and decided to give chase to find out where they came from….France!
That group made me reconsider my own attitude, so now I greet again, fully expecting to be ignored though, and taking count……I only started recently but the count now is: Good Guys 21 (70%), Bad Guys 9 (30%) and I cannot help but think how miserable it must be to travel in a group where some of the guys are so sour that you feel like puking when you have to face them first thing in the morning , and I count my blessings for the friendly waves I get from the locals and even some of the campervans……perhaps I’m using the wrong transportation in Morocco
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Jo’burg to Cairo (And a bit further): KLR 650
Southern Africa (And still going strong): XT660Z Yamaha
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