Sahara or not

[Jofang]

We are heading south down the coast of Morocco. My wife has expressed interest in seeing the start of the Sahara, but I have great trepidations of finding horrible roads and no filling stations, apart from getting stuck somewhere. Does anyone know how far south it's sensible to go before we need to turn back?

 

[ChrisL]

The Desert is great until you have to work in it, we did 10 hr shifts 6 days a week with three half hour breaks in a container with a/c for a break room, on the day of this photo it was over 40C my "assistant " bless him was trying to keep the direct sun off me whilst I was prepping a pipe, as you can see there was no health and safety guys in attendance

 

[Orion]

Remember this was in the days before GPS, there was a radio navigation system (loran), but you couldn't rely on it, so real navigation had to be done, luckily one of the group was ex army, who had also been a navigation instructor for the Saudi Militry, so we had good experties.

One of the pre-eminent desert navigators, Mike Sadler of LRDG/SAS fame, has recently passed aged 103.

Last member of wartime SAS 'originals' Major Mike Sadler dies aged 103

The last remaining member of the elite World War Two SAS 'originals' regiment has died aged 103.

www.lbc.co.uk

Well worth a read of Ben Macintyre’s ‘SAS Rogue Hero’s’ to appreciate his achievements.

 

[nicholsong]

One of the pre-eminent desert navigators, Mike Sadler of LRDG/SAS fame, has recently passed aged 103.

Last member of wartime SAS 'originals' Major Mike Sadler dies aged 103

The last remaining member of the elite World War Two SAS 'originals' regiment has died aged 103.

www.lbc.co.uk

Well worth a read of Ben Macintyre’s ‘SAS Rogue Hero’s’ to appreciate his achievements.

'The Times' Obituary also gave a good insight into his career for anyone who has a subscription, or hard copy.

He was not actually an original SAS member but was recruited by David Stirling early in SAS's existence and was so well respected for his desert navigation skills that he was awarded honorary 'original' status.

A very fine man in all respects. I salute your passing Sir.
'

 

[Jofang]

The Desert is great until you have to work in it, we did 10 hr shifts 6 days a week with three half hour breaks in a container with a/c for a break room, on the day of this photo it was over 40C my "assistant " bless him was trying to keep the direct sun off me whilst I was prepping a pipe, as you can see there was no health and safety guys in attendance

View attachment 852297

Well done, I was in Dammam for a short while, also hot. I assume you did a risk assessment and method statement before you picked up the angle grinder with no guard on it.

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[ChrisL]

Well done, I was in Dammam for a short while, also hot. I assume you did a risk assessment and method statement before you picked up the angle grinder with no guard on it.

Just for info, there is a reason there is no guard on the grinder, it's to do with getting a flat face on the weld champher for the welders, it makes life easier for them to get good penetration without over penetration in places.

 

[Jofang]

Just for info, there is a reason there is no guard on the grinder, it's to do with getting a flat face on the weld champher for the welders, it makes life easier for them to get good penetration without over penetration in places.

Nothing better than good prþenetration.

 

[Tony50]

Nothing better than good prþenetration.

Flew over Sahara desert to Abu Simnel, never seen do much sand, foreboding place this desert is I thought, not a place to get lost .

 

[Crazylegs]

Flew over Sahara desert to Abu Simnel, never seen do much sand, foreboding place this desert is I thought, not a place to get lost .

Whilst crossing the Sahara on our bikes we would routinely stop for a rest and take on liquids. Usually even in the remotest of spots folk who live there and had heard the bikes would appear within minutes to see us. In our group we had a lad who had many languages, so we were able to communicate.
Then there are sand ploughs, large diggers that keep the roads open when the wind is blowing.

 

[Mad dog]

Whilst crossing the Sahara on our bikes we would routinely stop for a rest and take on liquids. Usually even in the remotest of spots folk who live there and had heard the bikes would appear within minutes to see us. In our group we had a lad who had many languages, so we were able to communicate.
Then there are sand ploughs, large diggers that keep the roads open when the wind is blowing.View attachment 854966

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[Mad dog]

Back in 2016 in Morocco with a friend, mostly down the Algerian border. Happy says.

 

[jongood]

We are heading south down the coast of Morocco. My wife has expressed interest in seeing the start of the Sahara, but I have great trepidations of finding horrible roads and no filling stations, apart from getting stuck somewhere. Does anyone know how far south it's sensible to go before we need to turn back?

I would go south as far as Sidi Ifni, then turn up via Tiznit for Tafraoute, have a few days up there then go east ( because thats where the sahara is) go via tat to zagora, up to ouazarzate then go further east for gorges then erg chebbi , have a couple of nights at a desert auberge ( across the pistes) then back over the Rif mountains.

That would be my rough itinerary to get a good feel for Morocco and not a recommended route for speed.

 

[Mad dog]

I would go south as far as Sidi Ifni, then turn up via Tiznit for Tafraoute, have a few days up there then go east ( because thats where the sahara is) go via tat to zagora, up to ouazarzate then go further east for gorges then erg chebbi , have a couple of nights at a desert auberge ( across the pistes) then back over the Rif mountains.

That would be my rough itinerary to get a good feel for Morocco and not a recommended route for speed.

The only bit I didn't like in Morocco was heading back over the Rif mountains, we were flashed constantly & people trying to flag us down to buy drugs. A big drug growing area, to be fair the weather was horrendous that day & I literally got blown sideways off my motorbike! Just be aware there are some dodgy/high people about, apart from that the landscape was probably amazing except we couldn't see further than about 20 yards in front of us!!

 

[jongood]

Good point, you do need to keep an eye on the weather Jofang either Rif or Atlas can become impassable with Snow well into Feb.