|
3 Feb 2004
|
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Luz, Haute Pyrenees
Posts: 112
|
|
Desert Festival 2005
Hi,
I'm planning a round trip to Mali and back to visit the 2005 Desert Festival that is heald around eth 4th Jan each year. I'm looking for people on bikes who fancy making up a group of say maybe 6 people in total.
The planned route is designed to take in a fair bit of off roading on the way down: along the spine of the Middle Atlas, the High Atlas, hen dwon through the 'desert routes' of Southern Morocco.... along eth Atlantic route, around eth Atar and to Mali....
Leaving from UK about the 1st November 2004.
The return route will be by the main roads (ho ho ho) up along the Atlantic back to Spain.
Let me know if you are interested in joining up and I'll email you details of my plans. For info on the desert festival see http://www.festival-au-desert.org
(I think)...
Simon
|
29 May 2004
|
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Edinburgh
Posts: 762
|
|
Hi,
I might be up for this. I'm planning starting a RTW trip just after Christmas, but might go early as I've been reading about this festival and am interested.
What bike are you on and how quickly do you plan to travel off-road?
I want to spend some time in Morocco, so if I can get things sorted out to leave a month earlier I'd be heading back up to the Maroc coast.
Just looked at your post date...Feb 04. Are you still going??? Erm, you're not Simon of LAM by any chance?
cheers,
Doug
|
2 Jul 2004
|
Registered Users
HUBB regular
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: london UK
Posts: 22
|
|
Been trying to get to Morocco for ages now, but work, money and knocking big ends have delayed me! Sounds a great trip, I want to spend about 6 weeks in Morocco and your departure dates seem good. How long you plan to go for? What bike?
[This message has been edited by patchlewis (edited 07 July 2004).]
|
2 Jul 2004
|
|
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Birmingham on Sea - England
Posts: 208
|
|
been planning a trip down to that area for october but this sounds too good to miss as long as other festive family commitments alow it
__________________
have fun with your helmet!
|
2 Jul 2004
|
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Edinburgh
Posts: 762
|
|
I'm on an Africa Twin. No real plans, other than to finish my job around Oct/Nov and head south. Should be away for a year or two depending on how long the money lasts.
Heading to the festival seems to be a good thing to do, and should be a great experience.
Went to Morroco a few weeks back and it was fantastic.
|
3 Jul 2004
|
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Luz, Haute Pyrenees
Posts: 112
|
|
Hi Guys,
sorry not to have got back to you all .... I've been off from life with flu... now I'm on the road to the South of France.
the desertv festival trip is on. So far it's me and my friend Susan, both of KTM 640 Adventurers with enough fuel to do about 500 miles between fuel stops.
I'm going to write up the plan and email it to you all when I get to the Pyrenees (which is where I'm staying for a couple of weeks)... watch this space.
Check out the desert festival on
http://www.festival-au-desert.org
More later,
all the best, Simon
|
24 Jul 2004
|
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Luz, Haute Pyrenees
Posts: 112
|
|
i guys,
Well, fininshed my trip around the Pyrenees so have finally cracked on getting down to some proper planning for the trip to the Desert Festival.
We're (Susan and I) leaving on the 1st or 2nd of December, riding down through Morocoo (with stops in Fes, a trip through the middle and anti atlas, along the Mergouza pistes etc) then down the Western Sahara into Mauritania (a diversion along to the Atar region and then down the pistes to Tichit) and finally over to Mali for Timbuctou and then Essakane. That gives us about 5 weeks of travelling time to do the trip.
After the festival I have to gte back to London pretty quick so the idea is to ride to Dakar and ship the bikes back and fly home to London.
Do any of you fancy meeting up in London for a chat about all this ? See if we all want to meet up for some of the ride ?
cheers,
Simon
|
9 Sep 2004
|
Registered Users
HUBB regular
|
|
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 23
|
|
HI,
Is the trip still on?? I plan to be moving to Southern Spain in November once my house is sold and this might tie in nicely with moving my LC4 Adventure to Spain.
|
13 Sep 2004
|
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Edinburgh
Posts: 762
|
|
I'm planning to leave around mid-November. Not sure what I'll be doing, but it would be good to meet up and see which bits of our routes tie up.
cheers,
Doug
|
22 Sep 2004
|
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Luz, Haute Pyrenees
Posts: 112
|
|
UPDATE
Thanks to everybody who's helped with info on this proejct ! I've almost finished all the planning now and am heading off on the 1st / 2nd December. I've written the planned route up as a word.doc if anybody wants a copy and I have all the GPS waypoints plotted (thanks to a variety of sources like www.voyages4x4.com etc).
If anybody else is travelling to the festival overland around the same time drop me a line and we can swap notes... and maybe meet on the road too.
cheers,
Simon
ps. Doug... I'm very sorry to hear about your bike being nicked ! hope you get another one sorted soon
|
22 Sep 2004
|
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Edinburgh
Posts: 762
|
|
maybe see you there on my Enfield
good luck.
|
12 Nov 2004
|
Registered Users
HUBB regular
|
|
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Singapore
Posts: 73
|
|
Hi Simon,
if its possible, id be interested to look at your plans. I will be in Spain in a few weeks time, and interested to check out the desert festival, in mali. Simon Mccarthy first mentioned this to me a few weeks back, and it seems like good fun.
Im riding a Dommie (UK Reg) and never been to Africa before, so quite excited about the prospect.
Dalbir
Now in Germany, heading south.
|
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
|
|
|
|
Next HU Events
ALL Dates subject to change.
2025 Confirmed Events:
- Virginia: April 24-27 2025
- Queensland is back! May 2-4 2025
- Germany Summer: May 29-June 1 2025
- CanWest: July 10-13 2025
- Switzerland: Date TBC
- Ecuador: Date TBC
- Romania: Date TBC
- Austria: Sept. 11-15
- California: September 18-21
- France: September 19-21 2025
- Germany Autumn: Oct 30-Nov 2 2025
Add yourself to the Updates List for each event!
Questions about an event? Ask here
See all event details
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.
|
|
|