We're off - well the bike is
 

Left the XT in the care of Jim Wolfe who is the technical support for the trip. Jim Wolfe and Nick Sanders will transport 27 bikes to Lisbon where we will set off for Timbuktu on 5th January alongside the Dakar riders.
Thanks to all who have sponsored the Leukaemia Research project.
Will take some pics and post on return in February. Happy New Year.

All the best for the trip,have a great one
Look forward to your photo's

Dazzer

great photos and nice SM. Hope all goes well on the trip. I watch the TV show of last years and it looked great fun. Hope you have a good time and take plenty of pictures just for us. :laughing11:

just found this.
Just show's you that even in this part of North Africa you still have to be on your guard.

Maybe it's not such a good Idea me going on my own :120:

anyone want to come with me :3some:

http://africa.reuters.com/country/MR...nL2774098.html


Three Mauritanian soldiers killed in desert clash

Thu 27 Dec 2007, 18:44 GMT

[ -] Text [ +]

By Ibrahima Sylla
NOUAKCHOTT (Reuters) - Gunmen travelling in two vehicles killed three Mauritanian soldiers on Thursday in a desert clash in the north of the Saharan country, a military official said.
The identity of the gunmen was not immediately known but the clash took place in the same vast northeastern desert region of Mauritania where Islamic militants allied to al Qaeda killed 15 soldiers in a 2005 raid. The region borders Western Sahara to the west, Algeria to the north and Mali to the east.
On Monday suspected Islamic extremists killed four French tourists and wounded a fifth in southern Mauritania in an attack that raised fears al Qaeda-linked militants who have carried out attacks in Algeria and Morocco may be seeking to extend their operations southwards to Mauritania, Senegal and Mali.
Another security official had earlier reported that four soldiers were killed in Thursday's incident near an army position at El Ghallawiya, some 700 km (440 miles) northeast of the capital Nouakchott.
The Mauritanian military official, who asked not to be named, said a unit from the El Ghallawiya army outpost had tried to intercept two vehicles travelling through the desert area, not far from the huge Guelb er Richat crater.
"The fleeing occupants of the cars turned and opened fire on the army vehicle, killing three soldiers and seizing a weapon," the official said. The army was hunting for the attackers.
The killing of the French tourists and the slaying of the soldiers occurred as Mauritanian authorities were preparing to host the high-profile Lisbon-Dakar rally that will start January 5 and cross through Morocco and Mauritania en route to Senegal.
Traffickers of drugs and arms, Tuareg rebels and armed bandits also roam the huge desert wastes of the southern Sahara that extend across the north of Mauritania, Mali and Niger.
Security forces in Mauritania, Senegal and Mali are hunting for the three killers of the French tourists, two of whom are suspected of links with the Algeria-based Islamic militant group formerly known as the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC), which is accused of attacks in North Africa.
The GSPC has changed its name to al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb after allying itself to mainstream al Qaeda. In September, al Qaeda's second in command urged north African Muslims to "cleanse" their land of Spaniards and French.
Monday's killings shocked the largely desert former French colony that straddles Arab and black Africa. Authorities have been trying to develop a nascent desert tourism industry. (Additional reporting by Diadie Ba; Writing by Pascal Fletcher; Editing by Ibon Villelabeitia)

I noted these recent incidents Dazzer.
I'm told that you're probably OK if you avoid the desert in the NE of Mauritania. Travel in a group if you can link up with others. Only problem in Western Saharan (I think this is the area referred to as 'Islamic Mahgreb' in the Reuters article) close to the Mauritanian border is that the bandits know which route to keep an eye on as it is the only safe way through the minefields laid during the Polisario guerilla war.
Off to Lisbon at 0500.
Cheers.
Tim

Hi Tim
Please Keep us posted with update's.
You by now have heard that party because of this The Dakar as been called off.

Safe trip Mate

Dazzer

Back from Timbuktu
 

Well, that was a 'king long way.

I can report that the XT was excellent throughout. I only had 1 crash at any speed (103 km/h) on piste which caused some minor modifications to the handlebars, brake and clutch pedals. All put back in shape at the roadside without special tools. Touratech large bashplate did its job brilliantly.

Watching big GSs wallowing around and falling over in soft sand justified riding the XT. I have a R1200GS and love riding it on paved roads, but I would have smashed it to pieces with my riding 'style' :laughing7: which relies more on luck than skill. The (15 or 16?) large GSs had accumulated, according to a bike dealer riding on the trip, about �25000 of collective damage.

Other bikes which fared well were 2 Suzuki VStroms, a couple of KTM Adventures and 4 BMW F650GS Dakars. Of these, the Dakars were the best all round - after the XTs. Not bad when you consider the difference in purchase price between a prepared XT and a prepared BMW Dakar is about �6000!

Overall impressions:
Morocco: paradise for XTR or XTX riders. Roads are paved well and in excellent condition until you get far south into Western Sahara. The best is in the Atlas ranges where the roads are alpine style, weather is reliable, cheap hotels and you can still buy a beer at the end of the day. I wouldn't bother going further south than the Anti-Atlas again. Marrakech worth a visit for the main square alone, but don't get shafted by the dodgy food sellers. Find a stall where the locals are easting and agree the price beforehand - avoid stall 15 :thefinger:. Hotel Foucauld is in the city centre and has secure parking for bikes. Volubilis is interesting and the Hotel Volubilis is excellent. The Hotel Col du Kerdus is perched on a mountain top in the Anti-Atlas. Worth the trip. They take Euros everywhere and don't mind if you struggle by in bad French. The people are friendly generally and want to encourage tourism. The police greet you with a smile and are helpful, providing you are polite and have correct insurance and documentation on request.

Mauritania: not worth the effort. No beer. Miles and miles and miles of roads which are straight, uneventful and flat. You have to avoid the odd comedy camel, stupid goat, sand drift and land mine (not on the roads) but that is all. Sandstorms are frequent and are not fun to ride through. The 70 mph crosswind blown sand strips paint off your bike engine, leaves your mouth dry (Did I mention there's no beer?) eyes gummed up and your lungs so full of dust that you cough for days after. Being born in Mauritania must be one of the worst deals ever. No wonder thousands of Mauritanians set out into the Atlantic, hoping to make it to the Canary Islands in small boats.

Mali: pleasant around the Niger as the people have irrigation and a better life as a result. Segou is on the Niger and is a lively town with several decent hotels. The capital Bamako is chaotic and like riding in a video game, but the people are quite laid-back and friendly. Timbuktu is the exception. It is a dusty sh**hole where the local police chief impounded our passports and bike keys then came up with a 'tourist charge' which had to be paid before we could leave town. Photoshop a picture of you and your bike standing in front of the Timbuktu landmark and save yourself the grief.

I have Google Earth kml files, and Garmin gpx files of the entire route, if anyone uses Mapsource. I can't upload these here as they break the attachment protocol, so drop me a PM with your email address.

Pictures to follow. My (Canon Powershot) camera packed up - silicon dust knackers everything - after a week riding in the desert, so pics are a bit limited. The autofocus jammed up with dust after a couple of days, so several pics are blurred.

You're making us all proud son! Keep up the good work and remember...:needpics[1]:

PM sent for the .gpx files. All this adventure stuff is getting me hooked. I might even give it a go myself one day.

Try packing them in a zip file

Can't wait to see the pics :toothy10: