Day 8, dirty day!!!

To continue from yesterday's blog, the evening carried on with some pizza, some beer and ian buying some Berber music from a local man, the poor guy only wanted 20 dirhams for the CD ( about £1.80, probably just enough to get his family some food, but unfortunately Ian did not want them to all eat and started negotiating!!

After another good nights sleep, helped by a beer and some local music, and a hearty breakfast I reminded ian to give sam a call, we then set about trying to work out the time again.

So we put our clocks back by 2 hours yesterday, which meant it we were 3 hours behind the uk, didn't it??? but i the realised I had, had a text this morning at about 7.30 local time which meant it must of been 4.30 in the morning in the UK, and Mr Levett would not be up that early, so this is the embarrassing bit, i had to text him and ask him what the time was there, Im sure you can work out the rest, as we are still struggling and questioning the time every day, but we think you are 1 hour ahead?

We set off at around 10am for what was supposed to be an easy 150 km on road before we headed for the trails.

We set of south in about 25 degrees of heat through some beautiful roads, until Justin found a trail, not on the map, not on the plan, I know I'm changing, the trail seemed to go through about 10 Berber encampments all with about 100 sheep each. We obviously slowed down when they were in the track and got some very friendly waves which was reassuring. After about 10 km we cam to a cross roads and had no idea where we were or where we were going( if there was 3 options we could of picked the middle one) but we went right for about another 6 km and found a road. And headed of for petrol after filling up, we sat and contemplated about the trail and as I sat next to my bike i saw what I thought was a very rusty bit on the bike, but as a felt it and pulled it out it turned out to be a 15 inch piece of metal, lucky day today"

After a very friendly family chatted to us about the bikes and life for a bit, we set of for Midelt, that was until ian this time saw another trail that went up the side of a mountain, we were already at over 2000 meters high. So we set off and found probably the most idyllic spot in the world, on top of a mountain surrounded by cedar trees with no sound around. So nothing else for it than to fire up the stove and make a soup, I got the job of syphoning the petrol from the tank!!

I was certainly glad of some off road riding today to confirm I could do it, which might sound a bit strange, but I have not really done any in my life. So I am happy tonight after some 20 km of of road on medium trail going both up and down hills, some nasty ruts and some very wet mud. I had a few hairy moments and had to take a couple of minutes out after nearly binning it, Ian has ridden a fair bit off road and it all came flooding back, the bikes were great and handled it like a dream .......great choice those Teneres .

After a nice break and a Little think about life we packed up and went to head off, as a donkey came running down the hill making the loudest e-or we have ever heard.

We made it all the way to Midelt and are now held up in a 0 star hotel in town with a large window looking in to the bathroom from the bedroom, which does not leave much of our dignity left! The guy did send the boy to buy some beers for us though, although they have to be drunk in the room. our bikes tucked away in a garage somewhere after some maintenance before the big 2/3 day trail tomorrow.

A walk in to the medina tonight for some food and some local ambiance before a early night and a early start, I haven't told ian that bit yet.

Updated...

Ian tried his had at buying stock for the shop, but at £800 a rug, he just decided to put his prices up!

A couple of kebabs in the bus station and home to bed.

The card was on bathroom patrol!

Day 7, The world according to ian after a good nights sleep!!

After waking at 9.00 am after nearly 11 hours sleep the world was a great place agin and everything seemed to be better, apart from my bed and existing stain on the sheet!!

After a great breakfast, all in for about £25, we loaded up with water and headed off, the road and vista was great. We had no idea where we were going to stop so just headed south, it was a nice cool start to the day and the riding was fantastic.

With no navigation issues today we covered 200 km which might not seem a lot but with the fog, goats, cows and sheep on the road it was a decent ride.

We have now arrived in Ifrane, a Moroccan ski resort at 1700 meters above see level, but still hot 25 degrees. And this place looks like a French ski resort, in every sense we are even staying in the Chamonix hotel, which I am sure was 3 stars 30 years ago.

Now for today's parallel universe, we arrived at 3pm, we unloaded the bikes, checked in, chilled out and showered, after chilling out we went out for a couple of beers before diner, but for some reason I checked my phone which showed 3.00pm which it could not be???

Morocco is the same time as Spain, isn't it??? We checked the local pharmacy time and that confirmed the time on my phone??? So we thought a beer was in order to work it out, found a bar with wi-fi and started checking time zones, it still made no sense , so we tried to ask the barman without looking stupid!! And he confirmed that.........

Morocco is 2 hours behind Spain????

So we are stupid!!!!(Thank god we found out today !!)

Still not convinced, so for the records this is being written between 4.07 and 6.07??

The card made it out tonight and is enjoying some skiing!!

Day 6, Very long Day

After no sleep again, due to dogs, a cat and very loud Spanish we we awake by 7 and out by 8.00.

We navigated to the port without issue and even found our way to the terminal building, ian took control and went of with both passports in hand, it was about a 5 minute walk. After second visit to terminal with correct information we thought we were on a Balearics boat to Tangier Med in 1hr!!!
But this was Spain!! Boat delayed by 2hrs!

Great crossing , busy straight of water and easy to obtain passport number on boat (just go to information ,grab a card,fill it in and queue for immigration which luckily we were at front of !
Disembarked easy .........and then the fun bargain!!!

Arrived at customs as advised to get out bikes temporary imported, as parked as instructed, then total carnage!!!!

Approached by officer (you know what we really mean) Justin managed to get his vehicle imported without to much delay, after following an officer round for a bit and confirming I had no guns. Ian told the officer he had not been to morocco before BIG MISTAKE.

He was told by the officer to use his legs and walk to a building 10 minutes away gare maritime (police) this involved leaving the bike walking past customs clutching all his paperwork and tank bag. What ian arrived in the very posh building, he had no idea where to go or who to see, eventually he spotted a police sign upstairs and proceeded to the area, it was a secured area with no body around, he then goes back down and asked a cleaner who directed him back up the stairs so ian hangs for a bit!! Eventually a waiter carrying 4 coffees and doughnuts arrives and unlocks the security door so ian follows in to a corridor and trapped, no one to be found. Eventually another cleaner appears and says police? And ian says yes getting very frustrated the cleaner (male) knocks hard on a glass door and opens it at and instructs ian to walk in!!

At this point Justin was enjoying a couple of cigarettes with the locals in the restricted customs area.

Meanwhile back in the glass corridor ian has been told by 10 police officers to leave immediately, to which ian being ian said no!!! I have been told to come here, a young officer grabbed Ian's passport and pushed him out the door after 3 minutes ish, the officer opens the glass door and tells ian to go, not where to go or how to ho just to go. And then.............


Meanwhile Justin is enjoying a few more cigarettes with some different locals in the secure customs area.

.........ian attempts to depart the police office glass corridor, whoever you need a coDe and hand recognition (and ian is not mocking) he now has 2 choices,

1. To walk back to the room full of officers and tap on the door

Or

2. To try and force exit!!

Option one was never in consideration, but option 2 was attempted, unsuccessfully so ian stood there, like a tourist, until another cleaner appeared who entered the code completed the hand recognition and opened the door at which point ian could be seen running like the road runner all the way back to the friendly ( not) officer whoever....

He was thwarted i his tracks by a customs officer in charge of people leaving morocco, ian had'nt even entered yet!! He was asked some questions in French and produce his tank bag which was duly searched and when he relished ian was English and still trying to enter morocco he sent him on his way

25 minutes later ian arrived back to a tanned Justin smoking and spitting like a local, he then followed the officer round the secured area for a further 10 minutes like a lost sheet before he was released in to morocco, but only once he had confirmed he had no fire arms which was a good thing as he may of shot the officer dead.

We the proceeded without fuss to money exchange and insurance, and after ian showing his pass port for the 67 time we were released.

We had planned to take a short trip to the coast and find a nice little riad to settle in for the night, unfortunately neither of us wanted to buy the sat nav for morocco as it would be more real with maps, and it was.

Instead of ending up on the coast we ended up in chefchaouen, the canibis growing capital of morocco, we searched high and low for hotels, and refused all of them. Although we had seen an apartment to rent for the night when we first entered so went back, by this time we were very hot and Justin had already had a collision with a taxi, he thought it was narrower than it was!!! On arrival back T the apartment we claimed 3 flights of stairs too in full bike clothes to be then told he wanted 750 dirham for the night, we then walked back down the stairs and got back on our bikes.

After another 2 hours riding, 8pm we have ended up at a no star motel for the night in the Rif valley, but we are here and drinking beer while we type.

The card has made it for another night although not happy there is no spar!!!

Here's to more trails or tails tomorrow...............

Photos to follow when we find civilisation!

Day 5, feel the heat!!!

Cold nights sleep with the door open, temperature dropped to 4 degrees in the night, alarm went off at 7.30 and we managed to get up by 8.00. Quick breakfast and on the road all fairly dull as more motorway crunching all the way down to Algeciras for our final night in Europe.

Temperature was 7 degrees when we left and 28 degrees when we arrived and instead of shedding bits of bike today we shed clothing as as we went. Like good boys we also applied sun cream, must thank my wife for my sun team with shimmer effect, made me look really butch, I now glisten as I walk!!!

All tucked up on the outskirts of Algeciras with the biked parked as close into reception as we were allowed to take them. Security is very much on our minds now with all locks being secured and all luggage removed. We have also cable tied all our bags shut for the boat as things sometime are taken by the boat fairy!!!

There was a lot of chat between us as we got close as to whether to make the crossing tonight, we decided not to and glad we did as I have completely filled out Ian's vehicle import form wrong!!!

We have completed our chores tonight and I have washed our socks and t-shirt (which have been on since Tuesday) and re-packed our bags ready for the heat and desert!!

The card is now making it last appearance in Europe for a few weeks! Although is a little disappointed by the lack of balcony.

A little excited and a little nervous about tomorrow, but Africa here we come!!!!!!!!!!!

And the last picture is for my busines partner who gave me no grief for my trip, they even have Adams in Spain!!!

Day 4, mile cruncher

Having had a great nights sleep, we awoke at 7.30 for a bit of maintenance and some breakfast, on the road by 9.30' (getting better) it was dry but cold 7 degrees.

Today was about going as far south as we could, without killing ourselves, we managed 528 km mostly dual carriage way and are now held up in a little 2 star hotel in a town called Merida (which we can vouch for the one way system, 4 times) about 120 km north of Seville. As the journey progressed the temperature continued to rise reaching a lovely 18 degrees on arrival.

And what a great town and busy, full of family's taking time out and enjoying a drink, we managed a nice Spanish meal in a local cafe and a couple of beers. 26 euros for both, 3 courses and a bottle of wine might stay here!!!

Now on this trip I was expecting to learn stuff about biking,off roading and maybe even myself, but to learn so early in the journey shocked me!!!, last night in the bathroom I discovered some hair volumising mouse next to Ian's wash bag??? I then spent the next 500 km trying to work out why he would have it? Answers on a post card please.

We have now managed to lose 2 items on the bike, I have lost my compass which was expertly fitted by myself, or possibly not, it i believe is somewhere on a Spanish road?? And ian has lost one of his stickers, which we don't think even made out of England?

Tomorrow is hopefully down to the port and then into morocco on Sunday, we will keep you updated.

The card tonight is catching some rays on our balcony!