First trip plan - suggestions??

[Gregorius]

Hi all... I'm just in the middle of planning my first bike trip to Morocco and would welcome any thoughts or guidance you might feel useful. I hope that I'm not too far from the mark with my planning, but that's where your input comes in!

There are two of us, me on a 950S and Rob who wants an 1150GS unless I can persuade him otherwise! The route map I've been using is the current printing of the 1:800,000 Insight Travel Map. I'm waiting for a set of these Ebay special French Military 1:250,000 maps which might throw more light or even confusion...!

Here's my proposed route:

............

Outbound on the overnight sailing Porstmouth / St. Malo - places us well for the shortest route down the western coast of France:

Day 1 St Malo - Nantes - Bordeaux - Hendaye/Irun B&B close to border

Day 2 Spain - probably as far as Bandajoz

Day 3 Bandajoz - crossing - Fez

Day 4 Fez - Demnate (100k east of Marrakesh)

Day 5 Rest day.

Day 6 Demnate to start of M9 at Taliouine,

Day 7: track west to start of M10 at Igherm
follow M10 to Tata, take road east to left track @ km30. Follow track 30km to join mid-way on M9.

Day 8: 80km on M9 to Foum Zguid.
Follow M8 to Zagora.

Day 9: take track NE to Alnif at the southern end of M4. Follow M4 north to Tinerhir, then M5 south to Nekob.

Day 10: From Nekob take minor road SW to join the N9 south through Vallee du Draa to Zagora. From Zagora take road south to Tagounite then follow M6. Overnight at Hassi Remlia.

Day 11: Continue to Merzouga, then take road north up through the Vallee du Ziz, and take minor road east to Gourama.

Day 12: From Gourama follow M3 south to Boudnib then road to Bouanane.
from Bouanane follow M2 to Bouarfa.

then either north to Ain Benimathar to do M1 east/west, or just aim for best route back north...

We've got a time budget of 19 days... whaddya think? Have I bitten off too much or should I invest in a gel seat for the KTM??

Any suggestions or hints gracefully received!

Greg