In Agadir waiting for Monday tomorrow to buy new rear tire to head south to Mauritany.
Have a lot of doubts about offroad tire or not because I m planning on going to Atar if possible but the tire will not last long in asphalt.
See what I find tomorrow.
Anyone heading for Laayoune at the moment?

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Whatever you are criticized for, do it, because that is what you are!

I can't help you as I've never been to Mauritania, but a senegalese couple I met in the ferry were travelling home and they said that is all tarmac and the rroads are in good condition. AAlldepends on your plans, and I'm sure there are more experienced people in the hubb that can help you.

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The road is completely empty at this time, even so every inch of the 13Km between San Roque and Algeciras is a real fight against these tyres. It feels like ice skating... without skates.

I leave A Capitana in the parking lot and rush to buy the ticket. Too late for the ferry of 8:00, the next option is Balearia at 10:00, not so bad. I am going one day later anyway, after the unexpected rain the day before and my lack of confidence in the Mitas C02, I decided that would be wise to delay the trip just one day.
It's not raining today and here I am, buying a ticket for the 10:00 ferry which "will depart at 11:00, we are late". And to make it even better, back to the bike I realize that the plate number is wrong on the ticket. The Balearia's clerk assures me that it's not a problem at all, the police will only check the registration papers. He looks very convinced, so I believe him. But, if nobody checks that, why bother to put it?

I am one of the firsts in the queue and this already starts to feel a little bit Moroccan, a "fixer" approach me offering -in exchange of a little tip- the form to fill out to enter in Morocco. Paper which, of course, I'll get in the ferry for free.
I don't understand how works this thing of different transport companies, but for some mysterious reason the people queueing for the Acciona's ferry at 11:30 is advancing while we are still waiting (with departure at 10:00/11:00). Finally the girl at Balearia's desk was wrong and we're not departing at 11... but at 12.







At the boat the party continues. The people started to create a queue while writing down their details in the form. Half an hour later an agent of the Royal Moroccan Gendarmerie arrives and he decides to sit in a different place: Races, chaos and people getting angry just in a moment.
I finished with the procedures and now I'm feeling really tired, it's more than noon and I woke up at 5:30 this morning. It's lunch time, happily Deli anticipated this and she prepared a sandwich and some fruit . I'll miss her in this adventure.
"A Capitana" is the only bike in the ferry, so I'll be the first getting out of the boat. The same bureaucracy of two years ago: Show the passport more times than would be needed with just a bit of common sense and organization, walk down and up to get the famous "green paper" (temporary vehicle importation), document to be showed just 100 metres ahead from the place where is obtained. Ridiculous.
But all this is secondary, I am now officially in Morocco.

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I was putting together all the photos and videos from the trip and just realized how little footage I have, next time I'll film more (and better!). But I managed to make this video, not very good but I hope you enjoy it guys.

http://www.youtube.com/v/g6cJWjdXVdc

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Not many people get as close to the Algerian border as you, well done.

It's good to see you have a sense of humour and I had to laugh at the several clips of you trying to lift the bike.

A tip: firstly if possible take off the panniers and other luggage, then stand with your back to the bike, grip the pannier rail in your left hand, the handlebar in your right, and use the power of your legs to raise the bike, all the while keeping your back straight so you don't injure yourself.

Without pannier rails it's practically impossible to lift the Tenere single handed.

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"For sheer delight there is nothing like altitude; it gives one the thrill of adventure
and enlarges the world in which you live," Irving Mather (1892-1966)

Thanks Tim!

I thought that would be easier to found the border, it was a bit hidden but with the GPS I managed to found it in Ahfir.

I know the theory to lift the bike, but in the practice it didn't work. My first mistake was to not carry some tools in the tankbag, I secured the panniers with zipties to alleviate the vibrations and all the tools were... in the left pannier.

And laughing at ourselves is quite healthy, isn't it?

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http://www.wanderclan.com

Hi Choutos,
I'm enjoying your trip story, keep it coming.