Morroco

Bonjour again and Saladi cum

I just wanted to say "thanks allot " to the guys in the Royal Regiment of Gibraltar. They gave me food and accommodation for three days. Whilst I waited for the weekly boat.The SSM Carl coming over t wish all the best and have a quick chat. Then a REME lad fixing my rear light. Im all Hexi blocked up. Legends.

Ok. I can't spell in Arabic. Actually, thinking about it, I can't speak it either.

The boat from Gibraltar was an hour late. It was packed with Morrocan workers returning home. There is a big Islamic festival starting Tuesday. Once on the boat I found I was the only non Morrocan. We all had to que up for two hours to get a stamp in our passports. O what joy. I mean, if there's a que in a shop of more than 3 people in the UK, I don't buy whatever it is !!

Upon docking at Tangiers Med. It was bedlam. Over laiden cars, over laiden people and an over laiden Van Van bomb bursting out the back of the boat.

Then it was over to Customs. To import my bike and report to the Police. So they could ask for a bribe. O how we bonded. He had more chance of platting snot.

Then the final phase of the port circus, was bike insurance. More giggles, as I was informed my bike was the same as a car !!!!!! In my best Arabic, I pointed out it had a popcorn machine for an engine. No reclining seats, no aircon, unless the visor was up ........and only two bloody wheels !!!!!

So after he insured my 125, 12 bhp bike as a Lambo, for €92 for a month. ( Which apparently is the same as two weeks).I was finally off into Morocco.

The A1 was...well A1!! Better than any UK road and a direct copy of the French Peage.

I rode till 11 pm local.Getting as far as Asilah. (Probably not spelt that correctly. )

I've spent the day here. Getting local knowledge of what's ahead. Tomorrow its Rabat, about 200 km south. I like "Soooouth." To get my Visa. If I can't it Monday, I will be stuck there for a week. Due to this Islamic festival.

So far the locals have been friendly. One even showing me a sign to stand next to. That says "angry little Welsh men play with dolls"!!! How strange I thought. :))

Some photos below. Im not in many as I cant make the phone balance . Will rent an angry little Welsh man, as soon as I can find the appropriate sign.

The Royal Regiment of Gibraltar

"Hi Folks"

And back to speaking good old English. :)))) That's the French and Spanish sections done with. No GPS..just me and the mighty 125 Van Van, heading South and South West. When ever possible, it's been slow back roads all the way. Going through little villages. It's been great. 

Apart from the first day going head to head with a car doing a 360. The Boer stealing my Ravioli and leaving my passport on a photo copy machine. The past 3, 000 kms, has gone to plan. (Let's be right, if you don't have a destination, how can you ever be lost??)

Well here I am on Gibraltar. I went through the Spanish Customs without any hassle.  Unlike everyone going the other way. Big ques, as Policia do their bit to annoy everyone.

Got to say, had I got stopped and they messed with my Tabasco sauce bottles. I guarantee this challenge would have made the news for all the wrong reasons! !!

Presently staying in Devil Tower barracks  Home of the The Royal Regiment of Gibraltar. They have been just great. Really appreciate the help. QRF room last night, but they are getting me a room tonight.As the ferry doesn't leave till Friday. With what's ahead of me, it just feels right to leave British soil.
( Wonder if any Spanish Custom s read this blog.) Lol.

Well Gibraltar has had a lot of new money pumped into it . Off Shore Banking and Casinos I believe. There is now a great mix of new trendy buildings and the old. The place has so much history and identity. A real strong unique identity which is proud of it's British status .I really like it. Going to go for a mooch tonight in the Town. And I never knew it was Tax Free !!! Fags £2.50 !!! ( Will I am the Idiot who got bored....).

Took a few photos along the way. See what you think. Remember I riding solo and unsupported across Europe and Africa.  On a 125 bike. Going through the Sahara Desert and regions where Al Queda are rife.

I'm doing it so YOU  say " golly gosh", put your hand in your pocket. Get your card out and click the Help for Heroes logo top right. Together we can help wounded servicemen have a life again.

Raised £2, 400 so far, with Gift Aid. Let's smash the £3, 000 barrier and do some good.

Will.

Gibraltar.

Ooola

Well, well, well. Victor Meldrew eat your heart out. I left San Javier at lunch. Having had 4 stress free and chilled days with Josh, John ,Chez and top mechanic Jack Taylor. I actually felt a bit sad. What's that all about?? Found myself moaning away in my helmet to myself. :(

So it's 5 Star to boil in the bag.

Heading towards Malaga and finally Gibraltar.  To catch the ferry to Morroco. Ooow I'm buzzing.

I've kept off the motorway. Which isn't easy. And have spent most of the past 6 hrs doing U turns out of tiny Spanish fishing villages. Bloody compass !!

Managed to watch my bike fall over, as I took a photo of the sign I was following. And "no", there wasn't a ' best bit '.Gutted. But no damage.

Pretty uneventful day. Great scenery and proper el scortio.

Just seen that Gibraltar TV wrote about me. Bit embarrassed. But hopefully some ex pat donations might be forthcoming :)))

Found a camp site, but its tarmac. And no tents. Lol. Non the less I found a place near the swings. And im camping. Only at Vera. ..lol and that took 6 hrs. Boy I've been all over the place today. Up dust tracks for miles, only to find a gate. Loved the constant turning around. It was special! !

Going to bang it out tomorrow. Suck it up and go on the AP7. Hoping to end near Malaga. Gibraltar Sunday. And Morroco Monday morning. :))

Just had some Spanish meat balls. ( they probably just call them meat balls.) Life is much better with my new phone and helmet camera charger, fitted to the bike.  Care of top mechanic, Jack Taylor. ( He's still got man boobs though. )

Check out my poor Van Van. Felt like a bad parent.

Onwards and west wards.

Will

Africa here I come.

 Oola ".
I am at present in San Javier,Spain. Having spent the last four days getting the bike all prepared for the next phase of this Challenge. Africa !

I wanted to say a big " thank you " to an old Army mate, Ga Dogget. And the UK.FMX crew, Josh, Chez, Jack and John. Who have all helped me in one way or another, over the past few days.It's been great catching up too. :)

But it's time to get back on the road. Everything has been checked, adjusted and re packed. I now have a means to recharge my phone and new Helmet Cam, from the handle bars. The rear light now works too !! And where possible, all Chinese products have been thrown in the skip ! ( Stick to noodles China.!! )


In the morning I am riding along the coast towards Gibraltar,where I intend to get the ferry to Tangiers, Morocco.A distance of some 600 kms. As always, I will be taking the back roads, when ever possible. The route follows the southern Spanish coast line.So it should be good.I do  plan to try and get this section done as quickly as possible. As I am itching to get into Africa.:)))

I have been e mailing various Tabloid Newspapers. With a view to getting this Challenge into the national papers.Do you like what I am doing and who I am trying to help out ? Well why not become apart of it and help me out.

The more people who e mail the papers, the better the chance we have of  them picking the story up.And with the Challenge in The Sun, The Mirror, Daily Mail or a bike magazine, the more donations we are likely to receive. At present the donations are at £2,300.Which isn't that great, when you think it's cost me personally three times that, in direct costs.And ten times that in lost earnings!

So can you all copy and paste the text below. Included are some e mail address too. Only takes 2 minutes,but times by everyone who reads the blog.And we would hit the papers with 2 or 3 hundred e mails !! You see the plan now ? Please Copy and Paste.


Dear Editor,

An ex soldier is a riding a small 125 cc bike from London to Johannesburg.He is solo, unsupported and using just a map and compass. All to raise awareness and donations for wounded servicemen. Many of whom have lost arms and legs.
Below is his blog / website link.

An Idiot Got Bored. The Slow Way Down.


E mail address.

The Sun : talkback@the-sun

Daily Mail : editorial@dailymailonline.co.uk

The Mirror : scoops@sundaymirror.co.uk

Motorcycle News : AndyCarlton@motorcyclenews.com 

Remember this challenge is to help wounded servicemen. To help them walk again, to help them have a 'normal' life after serving our country. Don't be yet another coach potato reading my blog. Too busy to think of helping, as Coronation Street is on. I have put everything into this challenge.Spend just two minutes helping me out.I'd really appreciate it. So wizz those e mails off :) And that means you Gar Dogget too !!

Will blog on my way to Gibraltar.Some photos below of Josh, John and Spanish "pilot" Nico.Bike getting worked on and the nice apartment I've been put up in.

Back to reality......wild, wild camping :)

Will