Ok - October is going to be here before I know it, I'm driving down to Ouazazarte with two bikes in the van for a 2 week loop of some of Chris Scott's routes - yeah I know my original trip plan was a lot optimistic, but hey I've never done it before and there's always next year eh?

So - the questions.

1) I'm hiring a box trailer for the bikes and the owner has asked me to get specific insurance for it - any ideas?

2) Currency - is it better to take Good Old Sterling, USD or Euros, and what are the protocols for exchange?

3) how much cash do you think I should take?? We'll be doing a few nights under canvas, some in hotels (when we stink!) and we enjoy decent food and wine. I've no idea what food or meals are likely to cost

4) I think our trip coincides with Ramadan. Is this likely to have an impact on what we can do ..? Do we out of courtesy refrain from eating until the locals do? Is Ramadan observed by people outside of towns?

5) I've just spent bloody hours cleaning and fitting a s/h Scottoiler to the Katoom - will it be better to turn it off whilst in such a dry climate or sandy environment?

As usual, any and all feedback is appreciated..

Greg

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I wish my wheelies were intentional...

Scott Oiler and Sand make......Grinding Paste!! Thats Bad!

Either dont lube at all, or use dry silicon based lube to keep your 'o' rings moist...Oooh Errr! ;-)

Dave

Hi Greg,


first of all - leave the Scott-oiler at home as Dave montioned.

Don´t worry about currancy. You can change everything. In the big cities you can also pay with Euros or Dollars.
For accomodation you´ve to caclculate about 10 to 30 Euros for a good hotel, less for small hostels. Food is cheap.
Your first contact with the water will give you a diarrhoea. That´s normal for all first time visitors. (Or you have every morning and evening one drink.)After one day you´re fit again for biking.
I´ve been twice to northern africa during Ramadan time and we had no problems at all.

Good luck!

Winterbiker

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http://www.project-yesterdays.de

Hoorah - some replies!! Many thanks to both !

I'd just about figured out the disadvantage of the Scottoiler - I'll take a tin of WD40 instead!

Sorry to ask such DAQ's but it's my first go at Morocco and - well, we all need at least one adventure in life don;t we?

I'm going to ask one last one about crossing into Maroc ... might leave it a few days though lolol...

Cheers


Greg.

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I wish my wheelies were intentional...

1) I'm hiring a box trailer for the bikes and the owner has asked me to get specific insurance for it - any ideas?
So the bike is not in your name, right? Do you know that you need a written (in French), signed by the owner and stamped paper that he allows you to take it to Morocco?
2) Currency - is it better to take Good Old Sterling, USD or Euros, and what are the protocols for exchange?

You take your EC-card and slip it into a ATM-Machine.

3) how much cash do you think I should take?? We'll be doing a few nights under canvas, some in hotels (when we stink!) and we enjoy decent food and wine. I've no idea what food or meals are likely to cost.

The EC card and maybe 300 Euro (if banks are closed and ATMs empty) is enough. A meal in a nice restaurant serving alcohol might be around 150 DH, wine included.

4) I think our trip coincides with Ramadan. Is this likely to have an impact on what we can do ..? Do we out of courtesy refrain from eating until the locals do? Is Ramadan observed by people outside of towns?
They will not object if you eat, but out of courtesy you should not do it on the street. A restaurant where they serve during the day will be fine.

If you need any help in Ouarzazate for bike here is the right address:
The Bikershome Off-Roadcentre, Route du Zagora (N30º53.864, W06º54.083), Tel. Mobil 070 - 78 56 40, www.derek-jan.nl/marokko/, pbuitelaar@zonnet.nl.

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Have a safe trip
Edith
Morocco

There is an ATM across the street from hotel Belare in ouarzazate and one near the big square in the centre.. a double room at hotel Belare (sp?) runs about € 70 i think.. they got and a pool !! And also the moto aventure outfit use that hotel as a base of operations.
In case the katooms give you grief i am sure the concierge will contact Hussain the katoom doctor ( with moto aventure) for you
Have fun and be sure to visit the dunes at erg chebbi

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Laromo \ '02 KTM 300 EXC "Jake"
'05 KTM 640 ADV "Fatman"

Thanks to the last posters -

I had already spoken to the Moroccan Embassy in London who advised that written authorities were required, as well as copies of the air ticket - I figured that as long as we had copies of almost every related document we'd be ok!

Thanks for the tip about BikersHome - I booked it with Pete earlier today!!

Won't be long now .... *excited*!!

Greg

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I wish my wheelies were intentional...