 |
9 Sep 2003
|
|
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
|
|
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: London
Posts: 14
|
|
|
recommendations for 40th Birthday !
It's sad.... but next year I am 40 years old and to celebrate I want to take a motorbike to the desert ! So i've planned 7 weeks leave from work from November 2004. I've travelled a lot, done 18 months of various European trips on a Tenere, learnt to ride it off road in the mountains of the Pyrenees.... so I'm ready.
What I want is a wilderness desert experience that is remote(ish) plenty of off-road but not too scary (I donlt want to feel like I'm going to be kidknapped every day...). Ideally I want to ride from Europe and then fly me and the bike back to London at the edn of the trip... As I'm 40 I'm not skint, but I'm not rolling in it either !
Where should I go and what should I do ?
cheers'
Simon
|
9 Sep 2003
|
 |
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Gent, Belgium
Posts: 523
|
|
|
There're some options.
1. Marokko and Mauritanië (Atar)
2. Aleria. But you should follow-up on the situation closely, and be prepared to change plans when it's not according your liking.
3. Libia
|
9 Sep 2003
|
|
Registered Users
HUBB regular
|
|
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: La Mesa /San Diego,caUSA
Posts: 49
|
|
|
Have you considered Baja California? Cheap and safe. I can help you with it.
------------------
Rocket
__________________
Rocket Ron
|
9 Sep 2003
|
|
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Lincolnshire, England
Posts: 249
|
|
|
I would recommend an extended tour of Morocco. Seven weeks gives you plenty of time for a leisurely ride off the motorway through the roads of France, Spain and Portugal before taking the ferry across to Ceuta.
Huge variety in Morocco (scenery / culture)with various pistes / trails providing varying degrees of difficulty. Seven weeks will enable you to see the best of it (mountains, gorges, desert, palmeries, antiquities, medieval cities etc)without having to clock watch.
Its also very accessible with minimal documentation requirments and its got a lot to offer from challenging pistes to decent roads. Accomodation on offer is also superb from bush camping to five star luxury in old estates / palaces in breathtaking settings.
If you have not done so already I'd read CS's book. Rough guide (or equivalent) will provide you with the rest. 7 weeks lucky man!
|
9 Sep 2003
|
|
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
|
|
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: London
Posts: 14
|
|
|
Hi,
thanks for your replies team.... I've done a little bit in Morocco before in an old Landrover but never been down to Mauritania. Do you reckon seven weeks would be enough time to getg across Morocco and the around Mauritania and say riding on to Dakar and shipping / flying abck frm there ? Is the Atar in Mauri good ?
Baja California is Mexico isn't it ? That sounds like a good bet too. Is really expensive to ship a bike out there from Europe ? What kind of riding is there there ?
thanks for your help everybody,
Simon
|
9 Sep 2003
|
|
Registered Users
HUBB regular
|
|
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: From the middle of Bodmin Moor...
Posts: 55
|
|
7 weeks – following on from Robert’s suggestion, how about what I consider to be the best bits of both of Morocco and Mauritania? If you got your Mauritanian visa in London you could get the Almeria or Malaga ferry (would need to check its still running) to Melilla/Nador in Morocco then drive south to Errachidia and then Erfoud. Follow the routes described in Chris Scots book East to the coast and then drive down to Mauritania through Western Sahara. Get the train from Nouadhibou to Choum (I wouldn’t recommend the piste on a bike on your own) and then Attar and Chinguetti ect before driving to Nouakchott and reversing the Atlantic route back to Morocco or if you can get the bike into Senegal now and fly/ship the bike home from Dakar. In my opinion Morocco and Mauritania are safe and very friendly and the only boring bit of the ride would be Europe and a couple of days down through Western Sahara.
------------------
http://www.saharanexploration.co.uk
|
10 Sep 2003
|
|
Registered Users
HUBB regular
|
|
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: La Mesa /San Diego,caUSA
Posts: 49
|
|
|
Simong,
I have never looked into the cost for shipping. Ensanada is the port you would want to ship to in Baja. (Yes, Baja is part of Mexico.) You could also ship t L.A or Long beach. It is only about a 2 hour ride to the border. San Diego is another port. It is 20 munuts from the border. If you wanted t cross into Tijuna.You may want to cross at Tecate depending on your route or if you fly to the us. Tijuana has an international airport and can be alot cheaper to fly into!
The riding in Baja can be as technical as you want it to be off road. Most of the roads in Baja are dirt roads There is one paved highway to the end of the peninsula you will cross it several time on the way down. It is possible to make it to Cabo San Lucas with out ever using the tarmac if you don't mind using one of the Baja 1000 courses.
The Scenery can be some of the most spectacular anywhere! The geography is is always changing from costal desert to rugged a landscape. Lava formatons, the ground is constantly changing colors. You can even find indian paintings on the rocks if you know where to look.
Somthing for you to think about. If you want to contact me for more info you can e-mail me.
------------------
Rocket
__________________
Rocket Ron
|
10 Sep 2003
|
|
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Lincolnshire, England
Posts: 249
|
|
|
Another idea. if you are feeling more adventurous, is to ship your bike to West africa and either accompany it or fly out and join it. Having cleared customs you will then have dealt with potentially the most difficult bureaucratic piece of your trip, which if you ended up in West Africa may tarnish the end of your trip were you to confront this with time running out on you.
You can then go choose you're way North -personally I rate Mali highly and Mauritania is fantastic especially round Atar.
The difficulty you face for your trip North (as already mentioned by others) is lack of support. It would really be a lot easier if you teamed up with some others.
[This message has been edited by ctc (edited 09 September 2003).]
|
10 Sep 2003
|
|
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
|
|
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: London
Posts: 14
|
|
|
Dwair and co,
this is great. What a lot of advice !
Is it a problem getting in to Senegal from Mauritania then ? I guess riding back north is an option but I knid of fancied really taking my time heading south and then just zipping home by plane.... but I could ride back.
As for support, yes I think I will try and find others to ride with. What I want to do is planned an itinerary and try to get some others (from the HUBB I guess) to come along too....
Baja sounds good though. I hadn;t thought of a place like that but I just got a quote of $4500 to fly my bike to LA. Not sure what i think about that. Sounds like a lot ! BUT I don't really know about Baja so I'[m going to go and look it up on a map NOW !
cheers guys,
Simon
|
11 Sep 2003
|
|
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Somerset, Great Britain
Posts: 471
|
|
I shall be going round the States sooner or later, and thought about shipping my bike, but when you look at the cost of shipping, would you lose as much if you bought a s/h bike over there and sold it when you've finished? Might be a bit of hassle, but then shipping must be as well. Plus of course there's no wear and tear on your own.
Having said that, I'm sure there's everything you could wish for in Morocco and further south. And it is _almost_ on our doorstep!
------------------
ichapp.users.btopenworld.com
|
11 Sep 2003
|
|
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
|
|
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: London
Posts: 14
|
|
|
Yes, I thought about that too. For $4500 it must be possible to buy or rent a bike. But could you rent the kind of machine you'd need to somewhere ilke Baja California which looks pretty wild really (now I even know where it is !).
I guess it would be more practical to ship the bike if one was going for a six month trip or something though. I've got about 7 weeks. Maybe I could do Baja and something else in seven weeks ?
Simon
|
12 Sep 2003
|
|
Registered Users
HUBB regular
|
|
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: La Mesa /San Diego,caUSA
Posts: 49
|
|
|
You might try shipping to Tiajuna or Ensanada and flying into Tiajuna. Many times it is cheaper to fly from Tiajuna then San Diego or LA. If want to look int buying a bike in the us you might try cycle trader.com
------------------
Rocket
__________________
Rocket Ron
|
12 Sep 2003
|
|
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Porto, Portugal
Posts: 258
|
|
|
Hi Simong,
I'm going to Mauritania in November for a 30 day trip with 2 4WD cars.
Maybe we can be of some assistance.
E-mail me directly (see profile).
Cheers,
José
|
12 Sep 2003
|
|
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
|
|
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: London
Posts: 14
|
|
|
Hi Jose,
thanks for your posting on the HUBB.... are you planning on going to Mauri this November 2003 ? I'm planning trip way way way in advance fro Octoebr 2004 (mad but true..).... if that's what you;re doing to it would great to plan together.... Let me know.
If you're going in November 2003 though I'd love to hear how you get on and what you found , what routes you did etc.
cheers,
Simon
|
12 Sep 2003
|
|
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Porto, Portugal
Posts: 258
|
|
|
Yeap, its November 2003.
I'll drop a line after returning.
Cheers,
José
|
|
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 Registered Users and/or Members and 1 guests)
|
|
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
Check the RAW segments; Grant, your HU host is on every month!
Episodes below to listen to while you, err, pretend to do something or other...
2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.
"Ultimate global guide for red-blooded bikers planning overseas exploration. Covers choice & preparation of best bike, shipping overseas, baggage design, riding techniques, travel health, visas, documentation, safety and useful addresses." Recommended. (Grant)
Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance™ combines into a single integrated program the best evacuation and rescue with the premier travel insurance coverages designed for adventurers.
Led by special operations veterans, Stanford Medicine affiliated physicians, paramedics and other travel experts, Ripcord is perfect for adventure seekers, climbers, skiers, sports enthusiasts, hunters, international travelers, humanitarian efforts, expeditions and more.
Ripcord travel protection is now available for ALL nationalities, and travel is covered on motorcycles of all sizes!
What others say about HU...
"This site is the BIBLE for international bike travelers." Greg, Australia
"Thank you! The web site, The travels, The insight, The inspiration, Everything, just thanks." Colin, UK
"My friend and I are planning a trip from Singapore to England... We found (the HU) site invaluable as an aid to planning and have based a lot of our purchases (bikes, riding gear, etc.) on what we have learned from this site." Phil, Australia
"I for one always had an adventurous spirit, but you and Susan lit the fire for my trip and I'll be forever grateful for what you two do to inspire others to just do it." Brent, USA
"Your website is a mecca of valuable information and the (video) series is informative, entertaining, and inspiring!" Jennifer, Canada
"Your worldwide organisation and events are the Go To places to for all serious touring and aspiring touring bikers." Trevor, South Africa
"This is the answer to all my questions." Haydn, Australia
"Keep going the excellent work you are doing for Horizons Unlimited - I love it!" Thomas, Germany
Lots more comments here!
Diaries of a compulsive traveller
by Graham Field
Book, eBook, Audiobook
"A compelling, honest, inspiring and entertaining writing style with a built-in feel-good factor" Get them NOW from the authors' website and Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk.
Back Road Map Books and Backroad GPS Maps for all of Canada - a must have!
New to Horizons Unlimited?
New to motorcycle travelling? New to the HU site? Confused? Too many options? It's really very simple - just 4 easy steps!
Horizons Unlimited was founded in 1997 by Grant and Susan Johnson following their journey around the world on a BMW R80G/S.
Read more about Grant & Susan's story
Membership - help keep us going!
Horizons Unlimited is not a big multi-national company, just two people who love motorcycle travel and have grown what started as a hobby in 1997 into a full time job (usually 8-10 hours per day and 7 days a week) and a labour of love. To keep it going and a roof over our heads, we run events all over the world with the help of volunteers; we sell inspirational and informative DVDs; we have a few selected advertisers; and we make a small amount from memberships.
You don't have to be a Member to come to an HU meeting, access the website, or ask questions on the HUBB. What you get for your membership contribution is our sincere gratitude, good karma and knowing that you're helping to keep the motorcycle travel dream alive. Contributing Members and Gold Members do get additional features on the HUBB. Here's a list of all the Member benefits on the HUBB.
|
|
|
helps answer the question - Why Go? Inspirational stories by veteran travellers Greg Frazier (5 times RTW), Peter and Kay Forwood (193 countries), Tiffany Coates (Mongolia Mayhem) and Rene Cormier (University of Gravel Roads).
Get Ready! covers planning, paperwork, medical and many other topics! "Inspirational and Awesome!" See the trailer here!
What stuff do I need - riding gear, clothing, camping gear, first aid kit, tires, maps and GPS? What don't I need? How do I pack it all in? Lots of opinions from over 150 travellers!
break down language barriers, overcome culture shock, ship the bike and deal with breakdowns and emergencies."Just makes me want to pack up and go!" See the trailer here!
Grant demystifies the black art of Tire Changing and Repair to help you STAY on the road! "Very informative and practical." See the trailer here!
Ladies on the Loose! For the first time ever, a motorcycle travel DVD made for women, by women! These intrepid women share their tips to help you plan your own motorcycle adventure. They also answer the women-only questions, and entertain you with amazing tales from the road! Presented by Lois Pryce, veteran solo traveller through South America and Africa and author of 'Lois on the Loose', and 'Red Tape and White Knuckles.'
Cotton or synth sweat-wicking t-shirts with the cool Horizons Unlimited graphic on the front and a snappy slogan (changing every year) on the back.
Show your route on your panniers. Great conversation starter when you meet people on the road!
Motorcycle and travel books to inspire and inform you!
The definitive guide to planning your motorcycle adventure! This insanely ambitious 2-year project has produced an informative and entertaining 5-part, 18 hour video series. "The ultimate round the world rider's how-to!" MCN UK.
Linear Mode
