EPILOGUE - THOUGHTS, CONCLUSIONS AND REFLECTIONS. TOTAL DISTANCE COVERED 3,450 MILES APPROX.

Wow! Just added up my total mileage, didn't realise it was that far!
I'm not quite sure where to start this bit, but I just wanted to say a few words which I hope are entertaining and of interest to anyone thinking of doing anything similar in the future.
CLOTHING
Let's start with clothing, underclothing! I took just 3 pairs of pants and socks and yes I did turn my pants inside out after a couple of days and wore them for a couple more! As soon as I knew I was stopping more than just overnight I'd do a wash straight away so the washed item would be more or less dry the following day. Although I didn't wear them much, I did take compression long johns and long-sleeved vest (bought from Aldi). They pack so small, they wick sweat really well and when washed dry really quick. I also took a set of thermal long-johns and vest made by a company called Parallel Technical Wear. Again when washed they to dry really quickly. A Tog 24 fleece with plenty of zipped pockets for security which could be worn under my leathers when chilly, but was great when out in the evening when the temperature did fall especially when I was up in the mountains! Talking of leathers, I wore my old faithful Dianese leathers which were great for keeping out the drafts and gave that extra feeling of personal safety should the worst happen. However had Morocco been any hotter then these definitely would have been the wrong choice! Alpine Stars Gortex lined boots. These to are getting old but on the first couple of days the heavy rain was kept out with the help of my Sprayway Gortex walking overtrousers! My top half was kept dry with the combined help of a Frank Thomas Gortex jacket and an extra large Peter Storm shell outer jacket. My hands didn't fare so well in the storms as they were just covered with unlined leather summer Akito gloves. In the dry they were fine. Helmet wise common sense would normally suggest that a full face would be the best option, safer and quieter, but I opted for my open-faced lid mainly as I wanted any locals I may have to approach in Morocco to see a friendly smiling face and not the anonymous almost aggressive look of the full-face. Also I love the union jack design and the funky bubble visor!
My evening attire would usually consist of my camouflaged army style light poly cotton trousers which compacted really well and didn't show the creases and a merino wool long sleeved tee shirt which was amazing, as I'd heard that they could be worn for ages and they wouldn't get that horrible B.O. smell. I didn't believe it, but somehow it works! I wore it everyday and washed it just once on my whole trip! Footwear consisted of a really light pair of Aldi trainers, comfy, good for doing a bit of fitness and running and again can be squashed in order to get your pack zipped up! To keep the elements out of the kit I was carrying on the bike, I simply used heavy duty bin liners of various sizes and took a couple of spares in case.
TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT
I'd taken quite a few tools and other spare bits and bobs, just in case, but having seen how little the old boy on the little Honda 125 was carrying I will definitely take less next time and then rely on my limited ingenuity and big dollops of help from the locals to get the problem sorted. For instance I had 5 litres of fuel strapped to my rack for my whole time in Morocco. Didn't need it once, despite my fuel leak!
SEATING AND COMFORT
And if there is to be a next time I must get the seating department sorted and at the moment I'm liking the sound of the 'Sweetcheeks' seat cover option as it not only broadens the seat, which is what I feel I need to support the back of my right thigh, but also doubles up as extra storage for bottles of fuel and/or water!
DRZ AS AN ADVENTURE BIKE
Once I'd sorted the chain, oil and fuel leak problems I began to love the bike, more and more. It has a lovely gentle thumpy tickover, but don't let this fool you, she'll still accelerate with more than enough gusto to leave normal traffic standing at the lights and she's good for a crisp overtake when the car in front is doing a steady sixty. The speedo is wildly out, registering between 5 and 6 mph faster than your genuine speed. I found an indicated 70 on the speedo was quite a nice cruising speed. Also another tick in the box for the DRZ was vibration, or lack of it! Don't get me wrong it wasn't perfect but compared to singles I've ridden in the past she's pretty good. There is something strange going on with the trip meter, which I set to zero, when I set off from Reading but I knew something was wrong when at Portsmouth as it was only registering 40 miles whereas I know the distance is nearly 55 miles. Then you think someone in the past has changed the chain sprocket ratios but when I compared with both the sat nav and the bikes normal odometer it was indeed well out. I only started doing fuel consumption calculations over the last 350 miles of my journey and it came out at a whopping 73mpg, however I have to confess about 80 miles of this was spent behind a great big spanish coach toodling along the motorway at about 65mph. So I reckon about 55-60mpg is more accurate! With the town and country tyres the bike could still be slung around the tarmac corners with a reasonable amount of confidence and on the relatively easy loose stuff that I encountered they coped well.
FINAL THOUGHTS
The blog has been a double edged sword. It has at times been quite onerous as you start to get stressed when you get behind with it and also the uploading issues I had didn't help. But on the plus it's been rewarding as the reactions, support, comments and advice I've received have been fantastic!
Would I have changed anything or done anything differently? I would recommend that any slight issues or problems, you have with your bike prior to leaving, no matter how minor they seem at the time, you get sorted. Having said that if you want an adventure that takes you out of your comfort zone and challenges you then 'wing it' because when things do go wrong that's when you have to think and you have to engage with local people to get the help you need. So even though I was cursing my problems at the time wishing I'd sorted them before the trip, now I look back I'm glad they happened as I will probably remember those bits for the rest of my life!
The big question I guess is 'Would I do it again?' At the moment I would say probably not for the simple reason of 'been there done that' type of thing and I feel I've got it out of my system. However ask me again in 6 months time when summer is round the corner and I may give you a different answer!
So this is DRZ Dave signing off for the last time!

MOUNTAIN DIRT ROAD SOLITUDE - DOES IT GET ANY BETTER?

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Smudger
Thanks for writing this blog so well. I have limited long distance riding experience and have planned the same trip as you have done. I decided to leave it until 2017 and do a long ride through Europe first. Having read your blog I am so inspired to get out there and do it. It has been so informative and educational for me I cannot wait to get out there.
Keep on writing when you go away as I am very definitely a fan.
Have happy Miles. Ben

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To judge a man by his lowest ebb or deed is to judge the ocean by just one wave

I've loved following your journey, it's getting me excited for my trip in April, still 5 months away!

Hi Ben,
Thank you so much for your compliments, it makes the effort I went to, to write it, all worthwhile! Good luck with your adventure to Morocco. You won't regret it!
Dave
PS If you have any questions or queries feel free to e mail me:
smg397@virginmedia.com

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Hi Nick
Glad you've enjoyed it as well.
Don't leave it any later than April to go to Morocco, it just gets too hot apparently!!

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