Morocco trip 9-18 March
After catching the ferry to Ceuta and passing through the Moroccan border, it was a two hour journey to Chefchoen to our camp-site for the night where we had a good nights sleep. I also met a group of guys and gals taking some Honda C90 cub scooters down south to a hospital in Bansang in the Gambia which I thought was a very nice charity you can check them out at http://www.scootersinthesahara.co.uk/ that’s a long way to go on a scooter, sore bums maybe...
Next morning it was up at the crack of dawn a hearty breakfast then hit the road to Boufakrane where I was meeting with some other guys who were travelling down another way. We then made our way to the cedar forest where we camped for the night in freezing cold weather with snow still on the ground but we were snug in the sleeping bags. We woke up the next morning to find we had attracted the attention of the local Barbary apes who thought they would come and have breakfast with us, which was nice.
Then it was off to Midelt where we would pick up a track across the mountains to end up at Lake Tislit where we would camp the night at high altitude, elv 7415ft and it was very cold that night -4C but in the morning as the sun was coming up it was fantastic a mirror image on the lake and you could hear a pin drop it was that quiet.
It was then a breakfast of Moroccan pancakes and orange marmalade and lots of coffee. Then it was a long day on the mountain tracks to get to the Dades Gorge, the scenery was like nothing I have ever seen before it was like being on another planet, well worth the extra mileage, so found a nice little camp-site with wifi so we could get back in touch with people at home, it was much warmer that night.
Next morning it was off to the Todra Gorge what a stunning place that is. Seeing how the river has cut its way through the rocks over millions of years and, of course, you have to buy the present for the loved one at home. Then in the afternoon it was a nice gentle drive down to Mazouga to the Kasbah Le Toureg where we were booked in for two nights. So, for the next two days it was playing in the desert and doing some charity work for the nomads that live in the wilderness it was well worth doing.
So, back on the track after a much needed rest we went down to Zagora to see the date palms in the Draa Vally which is very green and fertile and provides quite a few jobs for the locals. Then in the afternoon it was back over the atlas mountains to Marrakech and a well deserved shower on a great little camp-site, and the best power shower ever.
Finally, it was a long road trip to get back to Ceuta for the 2000hrs fast ferry back to Spain, and home by 2200 hrs.
May
May news update?
It's been a busy couple of months we have been doing something every weekend. We have been laning in the mountains a couple of times and found new routes which haven’t been driven for some time, that was very interesting with washouts and narrow tracks we have also been driving some local lanes that we never new existed but after talking to some local off roaders they are now on my drive once a month list.
Morocco
As can be read below Morocco has been subject to a terrorist attack. So once again security when we go to Morocco has to be at its best we have contacts there and are in constant touch with them and are up to date with the situation over there. On the whole Morocco is still quite safe you just have to be vigilant all the time and know what’s going on; safety of everybody is our prime concern.
MARRAKESH (Reuters) - Morocco was counting the cost to its vital tourism industry on Friday from an explosion at a busy Marrakech café that killed 15 people in an attack described by the government as a terrorist act.
Moroccan officials have not said who was responsible for the Thursday blast. Western security analysts said it was likely to have been carried out by Islamist militants trying to damage the tourism industry on which the country depends.
The Interior Ministry said seven of the 15 dead had been identified and included two French citizens, two Canadians, a Dutch national and two Moroccans.
Israel's foreign ministry said two of the victims, a man and a woman, were Jews living in Shanghai and that the woman apparently had Israeli citizenship.
The attack, in which 23 people were also wounded, is the deadliest Morocco has seen since suicide bombers killed 33 people in coordinated strikes on Casablanca eight years ago. There was no immediate claim of responsibility.
"Preliminary investigation ... suggests that this was a terrorist act caused by an explosive device," the official MAP news agency quoted Interior Minister Taieb Cherkaoui as saying.
He was later reported to have said the bomb was detonated remotely.
"Those who usually resort to this method... are known which leads us to believe that the risk remains present and that we have to stay on watch and be on guard," he said.
Quoting an unnamed security official familiar with the investigation, the Lakome.com news portal said the device was detonated by a suicide bomber who was freed from prison two months ago where he was serving a sentence for rape.
HAVEN OF STABILITY
The attack adds to the challenges facing Morocco's ruler, King Mohammed, at a time when he is trying to prevent uprisings elsewhere in the Arab world from reaching the kingdom, which is usually seen as a haven of stability in a volatile region.
The monarch has promised to reform the constitution to placate protesters. But more protests are planned for Sunday to demand a change of government and more democratic freedoms.
Tourism is Morocco's biggest source of foreign currency and the second biggest employer after agriculture.
Tyre prices
Prices of tyres are rising fast due to several factors the law is changing from 2012 to include a new rating system for tyres so you will get a sticker on the tyre like one you get on a washing machine rated from A-G
so a lot of tyres from China, Bulgaria, Poland wont make the grade and there’s a £5000 fine for anybody selling them so you might pick up tyres cheap now but I was talking to a major distributor this week and by the end of this year tyres will be going up by 40% so get your tyres now.
If you need tyres I will always give you my best price please look at the tyres in the parts section there are a lot more sizes not listed please call for up to date sizes and prices.
This is the bad boy with his new 33x12.5x16 MT boots
Morocco Trip
There was lots going on in February mainly we went to Morocco on our trip for nine days.
We went from Algecerias to the new port at Tangers then hit the motorway down to Casablanca, hooked a left then onto Khouribga then made our way into the Atlas mountains, where we had three days driving the pistes and visiting the small communities. It was very interesting not doing the tourist thing and visiting the so called tourist attractions, we actually got to see the REAL Morocco and its people...
We were wild camping in the forests for 3 nights waking up to a different sights and sounds each morning then driving onto our next location not knowing where we would sleep the next night.
We used an auberge for the one night when it became very wet and windy and started to snow, yes snow! we then headed back up to Fes for a quick look around before heading up to a camp site at Chefchaouen, where we took in the sights and sounds of this quaint little town, buying some souvenirs before heading back to Tangiers for a night in the Ibis Tangiers hotel for a much needed soft bed and a meal before catching the 10am ferry back to Algercerias.
The vehicles performed excellently as they were all serviced and maintained before we went and were checked every morning before commencing the journey we were efficient with the equipment we took so that kept the weight down and consequently fuel economy was very good.
So... the next trip is down to Erg Chebbi which is the dessert as we never made it this time round, but this is the essence of our trips if we don’t make it we will come back again because once you have the bug you just have to keep coming back. And we will...
Spring Beach Meet
Ok we are having a SPRING BEACH MEET on Sunday 20th March at the ruins on Alcadesa beach starting at 2pm we shall be doing some off roading and winch recovery then have a BBQ when everybody is done playing which should be good fun. Everybody is welcome and as the weather is much improving it should be nice.
Additional Prices
Ok new prices on tyres have just gone up, not much I can do on that but I will still give you the best price I can. Also I have published parts prices so you can see how much you are going to spend.
Roof tents, you will need one if you’re doing Morocco or just camping out this summer so get in touch if you want one see tent section.
STOP PRESS.
MOROCCO RAID PRICES HAVE BEEN REDUCED SO CHECK OUT EVENTS PAGE
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Hello and welcome to February’s news update.
Dakar Rally
The Dakar finished mid January and congratulations to the winners as follow
| Bikes | Mark Como [ESP] | KTM |  |
| Cars | Al-Attiyah [QAT] | VOLKSWAGEN TOUREG |  |
| Trucks | Chagin [RUS] |  |
Here’s Looking forward to next years rally
Land Rover update
It has been confirmed by Land Rovers parent company TATA that it has plans to start production in China and India later this year, and the China plant will be producing over 50,000 units a year. Car sales in China and India are growing faster than anywhere else in the world so will production in the UK slow down? who knows...
This is the mock up of the new racing Range Rover Evoque as shown on the rally raid web site its not released yet but when it is, competition had better watch out
Click here to check out their website... off road porn
I would like to see what Land Rover and Bowler do with it when they get there hands on it...
January - Lots going on this month
Hi all you Land Rover owners, overland travellers and anybody else who’s looking in.
I hope you had a great Christmas and New Year. Now it’s all over we have to look forward to lots of great off-roading and travelling across the world, seeing exciting places and crossing great terrains.
Ok what’s happening this month? Well don’t forget the Dakar Rally started on 1st January and runs to the 16th and can be seen on EuroSport every night where you can catch up on the highlights and results. And if you miss that you can check up on their website . This is good viewing and not to be missed!
And there’s another rally going on just now - it’s the Africa eco rally you can catch up with all the results, videos and much more at their website. This is the rally that took over from the Dakar when it went to South America in 2008, and all the drivers who thought it wasn’t a good idea said "Sod it..." and started their own rally. Good for them is what I say its in their 3rd year, so next year I am going to do a trip to see the rally. Watch out for dates and prices - now that will be fun for any off-road enthusiast!
Well what else is going on this month? We have laning in the Andalusian Mountains on the 29th of December and Sunday 16th January with the 4x4 Club of Gibraltar. I will start putting pictures up as soon as they are available.
Ok we went laning on the 29th December and here are a few pictures, It was a fantastic day up in the mountains above all the clouds.
There’s a new off road forum that any over Lander will be interested in giving lots of advice on everything to do with travel and over landing. It's an excellent forum - check it out at http://www.4x4overlandtravel.com/
We are also getting our vehicles prepared for our trip to Morocco leaving on the 12th of February. This is a recce trip. We are going to find new sights, new pistes and just go exploring. It’s going to be exciting so if you want to come then get in touch as it’s still not too late to book. There isn’t a set itinerary on this trip and there will be lots of wild camping so it should be great fun.
The weather has changed in the last few weeks. It has got a lot colder and wetter and this makes the lanes a lot more challenging. Anybody going on the lanes should make sure vehicles are well serviced and tyres are good. I have just put some Kumho KL 71s on my truck and they are doing the job nicely. If you need tyres or service kits please call me and I can sort you out.
Ok, till next month enjoy your off-roading!
Oh and check out the world clock with a difference on the links page. It’s pretty cool. Tug.