Is Algeria possible these days without a guide?

[Pat Garrod]

Heading across the Sahara for third time 2-up on R100GS. Aiming to leave November 2006. Having ridden Egypt/Sudan route (Cairo to Cape Town 1995) and western Atlantic route (4 yr round-the-world 1998 to 2002) now aching to see the real Sahara - Algeria. Questions++:
Do we HAVE to have a guide?
Can a guide be sorted on Tunisian border?
If so can we get Algerian visas without having pre-sorted a guide here from UK?
Seems to be Catch-22 in that can't get visa without invitation involving group tour/travel agency/expensive (UK organised) guide.
Would be happy to ride to Tunisia and take chances with meeting other travellers with whom to share cost of guide but must leave UK with Algerian visa in hand.
It seems that Libya to Algeria not currently feasible due to closed southern borders?
Anyone any advice??
My wife (pillion) spoke with Toby Savage who suggested this Forum. Are you out there Chris S? Am a huge fan having bought your A4 Desert Biking bible back in 1994 and watched and used its metamorphosis ever since. Thanks for making it all possible.