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Photo by Hendi Kaf, in Cambodia

I haven't been everywhere...
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Photo by Hendi Kaf,
in Cambodia



Trans Sahara Routes.

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  #1  
Old 28 Mar 2009
motorbike mike's Avatar
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Morocco Weather
Hi All,

There's 5 of us going to Morocco next weekend - if anyones just back ( or gets back end march/first few days april ) it would be really handy to know what the recent weather conditions are. Is there snow still at Tizi-n-Test / Tizi-n-Tichka / Imilchil, if so above what altitude is it still present ? Also has it been a particularly wet late winter ?

Thanks in advance.

Cheers Mike
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Old 28 Mar 2009
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Yes it has been a very wet winter.

I'm leaving Portsmouth on the Tuesday Brittany Ferries crossing so have been watching conditions. According to reports on ThornTree there was a big dump about ten days ago with 20-25mm of packed snow above Imlil (Imlil near Asni, not Imilchil).

Tizi n'Tichka is well supported by snow ploughs and would undoubtedly have been cleared within 24 hours of the snow ceasing, Tizi n'Test is not so well supported (it's only an 'R' road) but would have been cleared within two-three days. The tarmac around Imilchil gets cleared once other roads are done so takes maybe three-four days. Pistes are not ploughed.

As you will see from the weather forecasts below there's likely to be some rain around in the next few days which may fall as snow at altitude.
Marrakech: Marrakech-10-day Extended Weather Forecasts - weather.co.uk
Ouarzazate: Ouarzazate-10-day Extended Weather Forecasts - weather.co.uk

Tim
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  #3  
Old 28 Mar 2009
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Tim,

Thanks for the info/links - the forecast on the links show improvements over the next few days onwards so hopefully the pistes we're hoping to do ( including the Cirque du Jaffar ) should be doable - I'm just glad I've done the "T" piece mod on the XT ! ( assists fording ). Have a great trip yourself.

Thanks Again Mike
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  #4  
Old 30 Mar 2009
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Hi Mike

Weather around us is changeable. Morocco has had the same weather fronts as us and as Tim said, it's been a bit damp (Lake Vinuela rose by 10m over 3 days last month). We had temperatures of between 25C and 32C last week. It's raining now and snowing ooop north.

Here's a link for traffic through Spain (it shows traffic problems due to weather) - Tiempos de recorrido. Not sure which route you're taking, but on the news this morning a few mountain passes in the north were closed, but they should be clear by the weekend.

If you're coming down the A45 and you've got time, give me a call - Casabermeja coffee stop is 10 minutes away. If not, have a great trip and give my regards to Dai, Tony and David. If you're all coming down again in September, fancy doing a presentation on your trip . You have a good trip too Tim.

Alison
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Old 30 Mar 2009
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Hi Alison,

It's great to hear from you - the 2008 HU Malaga meet up seems like years ago not 6 months !

I must admit I hadn't taken into consideration the Cantabrian Mountains that we have to cross in N.Spain - but during my summer/autumn time travels up there I do remember a profusion of snow poles ! So I'll be leaving the bar muffs on the XT after all.

We're hoping to get down to the 2009 HU Malaga meet - Sue's just bought a Honda CLR 125 and is taking her bike test in the next few months so I'm hoping we can both make it ( she'll need a bigger bike by then though ).

Look forward to seeing you soon ( possibly sooner rather than later ! )

Cheers Mike
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  #6  
Old 30 Mar 2009
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Quote:
Originally Posted by motorbike mike View Post
Hi Alison,

It's great to hear from you - the 2008 HU Malaga meet up seems like years ago not 6 months !

I must admit I hadn't taken into consideration the Cantabrian Mountains that we have to cross in N.Spain - but during my summer/autumn time travels up there I do remember a profusion of snow poles ! So I'll be leaving the bar muffs on the XT after all.

We're hoping to get down to the 2009 HU Malaga meet - Sue's just bought a Honda CLR 125 and is taking her bike test in the next few months so I'm hoping we can both make it ( she'll need a bigger bike by then though ).

Look forward to seeing you soon ( possibly sooner rather than later ! )

Cheers Mike
Hey mike

When are you leaving? I am planning to leave on the saturday from dover and pootle down through france and spain over the following days.

C
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Old 31 Mar 2009
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Hi C,
Yes it would be great to go down to Malaga in convoy again - last year there were two XT 600 s and an R1150gs, Dai's R1150 was getting incredible MPG and I don't think he went over 2500rpm once ! So if you don't mind a 70mph max pace drop me a pm in july/august and we'll get a plan together.

Mike
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  #8  
Old 1 Apr 2009
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Just spoke with one of our staff in Morocco......based at Meski.

Morning started fine after two days of rain there and south.
Very wet, cold and some snow between Azrou and Midelt.
Atlas cross via Imichill wet and very cold
Rain in Marra and places along coast.

Our own group leaves next Tuesday and I will have a last min "on the ground" report for all areas.......

Notice that some of you are heading towards Malaga area [We/office etc are at Alhaurin El Grande]. If you need camping and donot wish to use coast sites or whatever look up malagamontepark.com

Drop our name [DesertDetours and Trailmasters] and you may get a discount. Campsite is about 20k inland from Malaga and you can cut cross country via Ronda etc too Alegeciras.

If you can get passed the bad-tempered daughter and see "Pilar" [Carlos is in some Bar or wherever] the agent near Lidl is the one to use. Drop our name again and they may let you log onto our "Trade Dicount". But expect cost to have increased over recent months.................

..
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