Good evening readers...

David and the Rock of Gibraltar

 

Nigel resting in the Town of.....

  It is now nearly midnight and the day started at 6am this morning....
we were up early and one the road as said but in addition to arriving at the ferry and it being 4 hours late;  was that by the time they loaded it we were five hours late...

But never the less we did arrive in Morocco... and having missed the touts who must be shopping the Spain at this time...  it was an easy passage through customs etc...

We then motored towards Rabat on the motorway as we were so late...  David had booked us into a Ibis hotel in Meknes but now we were now going to be late and they would not change the booking.... so we motored on until just passed Larache and then turned East to get off the motorway and onto the R410... which we did but then got hopelessly lost in a arse of a place named Souk el Arba du Rharb  which translates into the Place built on top of a rubbish tip.....  and after quite a few recommendations from locals and very friendly police force we got back on the main road.  It is now getting dark and we still have lots of miles still to do....  Lights on and Ride on....   We finally arrived in Meknes and,  more by guess than judgement we found McDonalds and the Ibis Meknes next door.  We dumped the kit in the room and wandered off for a restful meal at the Pizza Hut.....

We should now be checking the maps before tomorrow - one very long day ended....  Note to self - 1st Rule of Motorcycle Travel.... Don't Ride at Night......

In Morocco at last......

Yippee - arrived at Port...

Left the campsite in the drizzle and stopped in the town for a coffee and to get some medication for David - then a quick dash for fuel and the port... Arrived in the nick of time only to find out that the bloody boat has been delayed by 4 hours.

Day 4 - still Spain again

It's early morning and it has rained night again. Over the hedge we have a rooster with insomnia and an animal of some description with a pair of saucepans tied around its neck wandering up and down or some weird collection on bloody wind chimes....

Nearly at Saville....

Day 3 - still Spain but only just

The rain in Spain falls mainly where I is... It rained all night so were forced in the bar to shelter and hydrate.... We order the quick two course but the lack of a English menu mean that I ended up with sea food soup and some very nasty tasting pork. David had pasta and chicken which looked good.
We managed to charge all the devices and cross load the GoPro videos of the ride over the Pico mountains.. The look good. Both with me leading and David leading.. We did visit viewing area at the top but it was low cloud and we could see bugger all.

Today we rode for 520 Kms - which started in the rain but as we approached Saville the sun came out and started to warm up. Once we got to the campsite it clouded over and we are heading to the shelter of the bar - I sense a pattern forming here.....

There were no Garmin problems today but David was leading most of the way - until his battery gave out and I lead through the Saville ring road arrrrgh...

Now a planning meeting ready for AFRICA tomorrow......

Day two - Spain

Not too early a start today but on the road for 9am. Road through the cobbled lanes in the town 😝 which was not planned !!!!
Then we road the fabulous N621 over the Pico mountains with snow at the top. I hope the go-pro film comes out ok. Then down the other side and it started to rain - and stayed like that for most of the day. I only got lost a few times !!!! I could get lost in a carpark😀😀😀😀😀

Finally arrived at the campsite ( las Canada's ) some 470 kms later,
It was pouring with rain so we had no choice but the retire to the bar....

I managed to fix the power issue with Gertie and now just need to short out the charging issues as the camera, phone, and laptop all need charging... I am presently charging in the bar and have unplugged the kids bam I ride !!!!

Day 1 Spain

It was a quiet crossing. After a couple of lemonades to assist sleep I finally woke up at 11.30 and got out of bed only to find out that we had missed the birth of yet another Royal baby......

Finally arrived in Spain. Managed to get off the boat ok but then Gertie Garmin threw a fit and lost all power from the bike. We managed to get to the first camp on the remaining battery but had more than a few u turns on the way.

It was brilliant riding on the N 261 through the Pico Mountains. Sheer walls of rock on either side - fabulous.

At the site by about 9pm - pitch the tents are are now having out first Spanish beer - looking at the route for tomorrow. Nite nite reader.

On holiday

Well at last it has started 😃 the holiday that is - 8 months in the planning. David arrived and we are now on the boat. We got separated on loading and David is in the front of the ship ( the pointed end) and I am parked at the rear (the blunt end). We finally found the Cabin and have now finished the first pint before dinner at 8.30. We Slipped anchor just 60 minutes late and are now powering into the Solent at break neck speed. The boat appears to be full of 4x4 off roaders and their high tech land cruisers and lots of dogs !!!!

Ah well another pint has arrived and it would be rude to refuse.... The forecast for the bay of Biscay is not good. Bugger. Another pint please????

All set and ready to go ........ Morocco here I come....

Nearly sorted...

Well if it's not packed now it ain't going. All appears to have gone in... I need to look around and find that other pile that I should have packed !!!! Photo to follow....

... And still packing....

After painting the bathroom ... It was off to the garage to try and load up.

Hard panniers have been chosen... But still too much kit to pack... I just have to reduce it all by 33%.... Now which is the 33% to leave behind......    Gas or Petrol stove....  Top box or soft bag,  boots or Altbergs.... .... Bugger and I leave on Friday....

Nigel in the sun

Bloody freezing ... In preparation for Morocco !!!

More preparation......

Just in case anyone reads this blog - for the next trip; which is Morocco, you can hopefully follow my location by logging into the following web site:

https://share.delorme.com/nigelgrace    and the password is Madiba

The tracking started last Sunday so it should cover the next short trip to Wales next Weekend...
I have a Delorme InReach SpotNav device mounted on the bike... if I remember to turn it on....

Yet more planning... 2 May 15

…Planning gets on apace now…  Ferry booked from Portsmouth to Spain, from Spain to Morocco and my return trip Bilbao and then via the Chunnel once I having ridden from Morocco to Calais.

I have sorted out most of the kit and have, for the moment abandoned the hard luggage – mainly because the tins I have a quite wide and therefore they just look too wide on the back.  Also the racks I have are the Givi ones and are not as stable or as firm as I would like.   I am therefore planning to use the Adventure Spec Magadan soft panniers…  Still too much kit in the pile…

Documents are now sorted and copied, Dollars and Euro obtained.   I still need to check to see if the tyres will make the trip.  A service for the bike is lined up for the 27^th..

A Day at the Ace Cafe - Adventure Bike Day

 

And even a video from Iain Harper..

Adventure Bike Day at the Ace Cafe 2015

And the Planning goes on....

... The latest on the next long(ish) trip is basically 3 weeks away on the bikes. David on his taking new Triumph Tiger XCX and me on the elderly XRV 750 Africa Twin

We are going to get the boat from Portsmouth to Santander - ride South until we hit the port - get the boat across to Morocco.  Then we spend two weeks riding down to Marrakesh and exploring the Atlas Mountains and passes.

After making our way back to the port and crossing back into Spain - David will then ride in quick time back to Bilbao and the ferry home as he has to get home and go to work in somewhere remote..  I will however take a little longer to get home - ride north and back over the Picos Mountains, then along the cost and over the Pyrenees' into France and then up the left hand side of France to visit some old friends in Brittany before riding along the North Coast of France to the Chunnel and then home...

I must remember to have many Kodak moments and spend at least two nights in one place....




I am not sure where the photo came from but I intend to take more at the very spot......

Now:
Hard or Soft Luggage ! 
Petrol or Gas Stove ! 
iPad or Net Book !
Which tent!
Top Box or Soft Ortlieb!
Satnav or Map! etc etc


Bugger.......

Mick, Austin and David at the Adventure Travel Show in London

Adventure Travel Show

Here at the show with Mick O'Malley and the even younger Austin Vince - sorry about the beard!!!

Update Jan 2015

Just in case anyone is looking in .....
Planning in under way for this years trip - Morocco in May.

Good for everything except riding !!!!

Excellent

27 Sep 14

27 Sep 14

Sitting in a field with hundreds of 4x4 vehicles of all shape and sizes -pictures later - and quite a few motorcycles too. It's the annual Adventure Overland show at Stratford-upon-Avon racecourse.


I arrived last evening and cooked supper then met up the some bikers for a drink in the beer tent... There was some great music but by 10pm I had had enough and it was getting cold. Had a good nights sleep but the air mat deflated in the night so I will have to see if it has another puncture.

Yesterday evening we watched a Hugh hot air ballon lift off from the field next door and yet another one went off this morning.....

Breakfast done and now time to check the air bed.... I opened the top box and the petrol stove had leaked so everything in there smells of petrol ..... Oh F*******ing joy.....

 

It's too early to start wandering around the site but I will let the world wake up first...

A good night at the White Horse Edwardstone.......

Graham Field aka Flid http://grahamfield.co.uk/

                          Nathan Millward aka the Postman  http://www.thepostman.org.uk/

...an excellent night

After the stop at South Mimms, Mugabe and I continued on until leaving the M25 and riding through Epping Forrest and all minor roads... Then it struck me ..... Did I pack the wash kit !!!!! Bugger I did not... So I stopped off at Braintree to resolve the issue ..... Into the pound shop sorted the toothpaste and brush .... Now for the towel.... Have you ever tried to purchase a towel in Essex at 4 in the afternoon... I will resist the temptation to discuss the washing habits of the locals... But it was not easy... But finally the Sue Ryder shop came to my rescue.. £1.50 and I'm sorted with a bright pink towel ?????

We found the camp site at the White Horse pub and after putting up the tent .... Off the the bar where I met with Graham Field and Nathan Millward and a few others for a beer or two... What a good crowd of people... Great fun....

The time now is 10 ish and it is time for bed..... Hopefully a good nights' sleep.....

.... South Mimms !!!!!

Sitting at South Mimms Services having a tea break..... En route to the Adventure Bike Shop open day tomorrow. Camping nearby tonight.....


Adventure before Dementia !

Happy Birthday Nigel.....