Planning to head to Morocco in April. Anyone else going that way around then? Would be great to ride with some others.

Hi Roameo:

My friend and I are planning to go to Morocco at about the same time you are. We are both experienced riders and travelers, but we would like another person to ride with. We plan to meet up in Portugal and ride down to Morocco and back up through Spain. When are you leaving? I could go at any time, but my friend can't leave until mid-April. and the first of May would be better. Is that too late for you?

Hi Ron,

I know May is late for me. Mid April might work but when you say that do you mean you will be ready to cross over into Morocco then or you guys would just be leaving towards Morocco then.

Myself i will be coming through Spain and then hitting Portugal after Morocco. Kinda of reverse of yourself. Just as an FYI Ramadan starts at the beginning of June so you want to be out before then.

I was planning on crossing with the ferry into Tangier Med as it seems to be the most recommended port on here.

lets keep in touch and see what we can work out

Hi again Roameo.

I am pretty sure my friend has to work until Mid-April, but I will check again and let you know.

Ron

Hi,

I'm very interested in joining you guys on this trip.

I'm Micky, based out of Hastings UK, R1200GS kitted for touring.
I have experience in europe, 7 countries last year and Millau (my accident) this year.
Raring to get out there again and gagging to get into Africa.
Happy to help with any organising too and to get involved.

Regards
Micky

I also speak Spanish pretty well after living in Spain for 6 years so this is also a winner for me as I am gagging to get back into Spain for the coffee

Regards
Micky

Sounds good Mickey.......lets see what we hear back from Ron and when he can go based on his friends schedule. Morocco will be different for you for sure if you have only travelled Europe. As for planning you can start to look for popular routes/places to visit. Morocco is easy in the fact that you can do a big loop starting in the north and doing a clockwise route finishing in the north again. This allows you to hit the mountains, desert and coast.

I myself am somewhat flexible in my dates. Just want to get out before it is too hot.

I am an American. but I keep my VStrom 650 in Germany. I have been exploring Europe on it each of the past three summers. If interested, you can read about me at Ron's Retirement Adventure

My platonic friend, Emy, (we are not in a "relationship") lives in London. Last summer she rode her Honda 650 on a solo trip to eastern Turkey and back. You can read about her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/emy.manby

We could go down through Spain, but it would be better for Emy if she could take a ferry from England to Portugal and meet us there. I myself, being retired, am totally flexible on time and route. Emy tells me that she can be flexible on time and route too as long as she knows in advance when and where to meet us.

I have never been to Spain, Morocco or Portugal, and I would prefer not to rush through any if those countries. In other words, I would like to explore each country and not make a "hammer run" down to Morocco and back. Emy says she also prefers a somewhat leisurely pace.

We are definitely interested in putting together a trip with you two, Roameo and MickyDrew. I hope we can work something out. Lets keep the dialogue going.

Seems that Roameo is going up at pace and Ron down at leisure.
Am i seeing that right?

Roameo, where are you coming from to get to Moroc? Are you out touring now?

I have seen a video or two that Morocco can be a bit of a challenge, is that also right Roameo?
If so i'd prefer to have someone along who has done it as i'm not a veteran at off road yet.
I've ridden through Spain and also Northern Portugal last year but no deserts in sight.
Time is a slight concern as i'm still working, so 3 weeks is probably going to me my max at this point, so this may be an issue for you guys.

In 2015 early May, I and a friend were prepared to go to Morocco starting from Seville. Created accommodation plan, gps tracks and everything. We had everything arranged. Shipped the bikes to Spain. Then my friend had an accident in Spain so that he had to go back to home. Since I was alone there in Spain I decided to change my route to Girona instead of going to Morocco. I also enjoyed in southern Spain which was 2k route. But I would pretty much like to finish my incomplete Morocco tour in 2016.

I am also a r1200 GSA rider and if the conditions allow me to do it next year, I would pretty much love to join if it is not going to be too much in the group.

On the other hand I also plan another trip to Turkey in 2016 July-August which obviously will take some time. Therefore the Morocco trip should not take too much time. In that case I would like to ask how many days you guys plan to stay in Morocco? Maybe I can join only for the Morocco part and head back to home after we are done in Morocco.

Thanks
Murat

Hi Murat,

I am also looking at Turkey in July/August so possibly we could join and do the small amount of time on the Moroc section and longer on the Turkey trip.
I think it would be good for us to get to know each other for a longer more demanding GS tour.

Guys, i hope you wouldnt mind if myself and did this as this is your trip and thread?

Micky

I hope your friend is ok and the accident wasn't bad - i sympathise as I too had an accident in France this year.

I had not considered the possibility of rushing on down to Morocco, exploring there, and then taking a more leisurely return route, zig-zagging back and forth to explore Portugal and Spain. That might work, especially if it is in the best interest and plans of the group. However, I will need to coordinate with Emy about this. I do think my first responsibility is to her. I think she might not want to do a hard hammer run down to Morocco. Maybe it is possible that she could leave a few days early and do a more leisurely ride down to meet at the ferry to Morocco.

Roameo, I think you are Canadian. Is that correct? If so, where do you keep your bike in Europe? Micky, I assume you will be taking the ferry over from England to France. I keep my own bike in Heidelberg, Germany. I am wondering about these things because I am trying to picture in my mind a possible route and/or meeting place.

What time frame are you two thinking of in riding down through Spain to Morocco? Two or three days? I think you have both pretty well explored the heck out of Spain already and have little interest in taking your time going down. In other words, Morocco is the primary reason for this trip for you both. Is that correct? As for me, exploring the Iberian Peninsula is as important as Morocco. It will be my first time there and I probably will never go back in this lifetime. Be that as it may, I am eager to have someone who knows the country well to ride with in Morocco.

Do any of you know if there are passes open through the Pyrenees in April other than through Andorra or the Western end of the mountain chain by the Bay?

Ron,

Yes i will be taking the ferry from uk to france and then riding down to spain, unless i can get a cheap deal on the ferry from poole to bilbao/santander since the other ship company stopped their service which i was on in 2014.

Yes the main idea is Morocco as i've done Spain before but dont blame you for taking your time to enjoy it and please do as its great and i could happily spend weeks riding around spain.

I would prefer to have someone in the group who is familiar with Morocco or similar as i dont want to start outside of Europe learning the hard way.

As i said previously i do have europe experience in groups and solo inc spain and portugal (solo) so am not a newbie but still learning about the outside europe stuff.

For me being with a group of likeminded riders is all about the same goal and also support both ways as that then relaxes the mind.

I've got a big heavy bike (sort of) and it will go down sooner or later, so having some help is nice and on the other hand i am a competent mechanic for assistance with issues of buddy's in a bit of trouble. Also carry tools and gear onboard the GS.

I'm just finishing the total rebuild of my R1200GS from the frame up after my accident and have also completely refurbished a Honda Pan European so am pretty good with a spanner and a cable tie and can also change tyres.
Please bring plenty of hand wipes so i dont have greasy hands for 2 weeks

I have just spent months during my accident recovery working on a project to fit and carry everything for a round the world tour that is the lightest, most durable and needed that you could get and if i couldn't get it, i made it or customised it.

For example, my GS is completely electrically self sufficient and i do not need a power socket for anything, so i am on hand to assist in charging group devices that have gone flat just when you need them.

Also full BMW Sat Nav (backup TomTom), maps and Comms for others with ScalaRiders fitted to their helmets.

So I have just about everything onboard the GS but you'd never know i was carrying it all - still trying to find a spot for the kitchen sink!

I'll bring all this to the group table and what i am looking from the group is out f europe experience so i can learn and practice for my long term project.

I hope that explains to all about me and helps with working out how to plan this.

Micky

Forgot to ask:

Are we camping out or hotels all the way or a combination?