Noudhibou to Timboucto, the options

[2cvfred]

We are planning our route trough Mauritania, we will be heading for Timboucto (and then further south..). Unfortunatly we will be travelling in August, which seems to be a limiting factor.
Any advises on following routes?

Plan A:

- Noudhibou to Choum/Atar via the train piste. (3days according to Chriss book)
- 1day rest in or round Atar
- Atar to Tidjiki piste (4days)
- We will not be taking the piste to Nema, as it seems to be a bit out of our league. Instead we would like to take the road from Tidjiki to Kifka via the route passing El Ghadiya and Boumbeit. Has anybody travelled this road? Or is it more advisable to take the "main" road back to Sangrafa and then on to Kifka?

Plan B: Take the beach route onto Nouakchott and then take sealed road to Kifka (is it sealed 100% already?).

The first sounds more appealing ofcourse, but I'm in doubt if it is feasible during August.

Another question: Any news on the border past Bassikounou into Mali? Is it safe/hard/... ? How long should we account for the route from Kifka to the Mali border (and then onto Timbouctou)?

Would appreciate some input.

Thanks!

Fred