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Morocco, the perfect early spring tour ! (MCT 1801)

Tuesday, May 8, 2018 | Ted Goslinga / Ursula Peter / Pierre Baumgärtner | Africa

A big thank you to a fantastic group and 2 wonderful weeks. Hope to see again

Ted, Ursula and Pierre

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Recap of a wonderful trip , Thanks Lynda...
Greetings from Lissy and Petra. They made this piece of art on the beach in Malaga - because they missed us Thanks you both.

13. Riding Day: Chefchaouen - Malaga

Last riding day already after a great two weeks in this beautiful country. Unfortunately we had to start the day with a little rain leaving Chefchaouen. A little slippery here and there but beautiful scenery and by the time we reache the border the sun came out again.

A swift and smooth bordercrossing thanks to our helpers and a sunny but windy ferry ride across the Strait of Gibraltar brought us back to the European continent

Then the last 130 km took us back to our start hotel in Malaga.

What a grreat two weekes we had with this super group of fantastic riders but above all with kind a positive attitude of everybody!

Hope to see you all on a next Edelweiss tour somehere, sometime!

After dinner a last farewell drink!!
....and back to Europe!
Jörg and Petra
Worldtoruer Heiri!
Leo and Lizzy
Harald
Layla
Where is Fernando??
Joe
Jason and Jodie
Günter
Luc
Jim and Priscilla

12. Riding Day: Fes - Chefchaouen

Goodbye Fes! Everybody takes different experiences home from the vibrant city. We continue constantly north, direction the Rif mountains again. Morocco is green, erverythings is blooming. Volubilis, our stop in the morning, was the south-western most point of the Roman Empire. In the afternoon we reach Chefchaouen again. Feels like coming home!

our Harley riders - Jason and Jodi
Patrick and Lynda
Heiri with the kids? I bet they are wondering why people taking pictures of donkeys
but you know why? Donkeys are not existing in Canada
Beautiful Volibilis! But non of our dear cultural barbarians visited it
this guy showed up in a tour bus. Who knows where this brand of beer is coming from????
No Tajine!! Enjoy your last lunch in Morocco.

11. Restday Fes

Today the entire group decided to spend the day in Fes with our local Tourguide Achmed. We first went to a pottery manufacturer, where we could see all the processes from the Stonewash until the beautiful ceramic poterries and plates and even the mosaic tables and fountains are produced there.... all manual produced... what an experience. Later we went to the first Marrocan Koran school which was build in the 14th century and in prcatice until 1950 ies... Now it is a World Unesco Heritage. Going through the souks we of course also have seen the manufacturing of the Bronce olates and Lights and the first tannery of Fes which is in use since 750 years.  Going thirugh the Medina is an experience at itself with all the shops, and people n there 

raw material
washed......
and formed
Designed..
finished products
the tannery in Fes - not the best place to work
Impressions of the Medina the famous souks

10. Riding Day: Erfoud - Fes

Today is our longest riding day. We say good-bye to the desert of Morocco and continue our adventure along the beautiful Ziz valley. The landscape is like the Grand Canyon. We cross the 7,145 ft. high “Col du Zad” on a wonderful highway through the Middle Atlas.  We reach the Moroccan “St. Moritz” – Ifrane. This beautiful little town reminds us more of Switzerland than of Morocco. Ifrane is a favourite place for many rich Moroccans to escape the heat during the hot summer months. In winter it is a popular base for the nearby ski resorts

 

 

 

Jim and Priscilla in Ifrane......watch the Arabic sign saying: "no sleeping in the grass"
time for a good espresso in the "switzerland of Morocco": Ifrane
Happy hour!
time for a nice and refreshing drink in our beautiful hotel in Fez
our road-kill restaurant in Timahdite. Food was awesome.
love is in the air....!
Jason and Jodi get prepared for the chaotic traffic downtown Fes. With them in the back nothing can happen to the tourguide

9. Riding Day: Erg Chebbi - Erfoud

Everybody was pretty much done after an exiting night in the desert, not only with stars and Berber music but also with bugs and some other living things...

We rode our camels back for 2 hours and we could experience how much you can appreciate just a coffee

The Xaluca Hotel in Erfoud as a perfect stay to cure our hurting everything.

End of a great desert night with a super nice group
Pat & Lynda
This one likes the Harley Davids specially
and another birthday - Jim is the happy guy who got invited for a dance

8. Boulmane Dades to Erg Chebbi (desert night)

Today we went of with a pretty strong wind further into the direction east twoards the very southeastern point of Marocco: the Erg Chebbi sanddunes. 

First stop was a visit in the beautiful Gorge of Thodra. This enchanting gorge is always a lovely visit  in the morning light. Coming out of the gorge having our morning coffestop and then further eastbound where we had our second picnic, this time in the desert

A bit cloudy gave us the perfect temeprature for a perfect picnic.!

After finishing the picinic we rode the last stretch via Erfoud to the Erg Chebbi dunes. Wind was by times turning into serious sandstorms and we began to worry about our desert night.

But all together the wind was less strond in the dunes so at around 5 pm we hopped on our camels and headed out to our berber desert camp

Completelly sandblasted we arrived there two hours later for a nice drink and a perfect prepared dinner in the tents. 

Together with another group we enjoyed very much the camp fire and the bongo playing by our camel guys

Great evening with a great group!

Gorges du Thodra
Heiri, our famous world tourer
desert picnic at Melaab
Chef de Cuisine Ursula
Sandstorm coming after us towards the desert camp
TG Ted and Pierre short before the camel ride starts
The Camels are waiting
Jodie high up.
Laya, princess of the desert
Günter having a good time at the chill out tent
Lynda with a berber prince

7. Riding day: Ait Ben hadou to Boumalne Dades

What an excellent evening we had in Ait Ben Hadou: it even included a real Rooftop party with guitarplaying and singing under a full moon! 

This mth under a clear blues sky venice temperatures we took of to the village of

Ouarzazate to pay a visit at the Atlas filmstudio s where we had a nice and interesting guided tour through the film studio complex

Ait Benhaddou in the morning sun
Going along the old caravan Street
Lynda & Pat on the RT
Strong Jason in the Atlas Filmstudio
So is Günter
Luc on his Africa Twin
Happy Heinrich
Some handmade beautiful plates
Jörg ready to go
nice picnic spot in the Dades Gorge
enjoy your lunch
Fernando is sharing some picnic with locals

6. Riding Day: Marrakesch - Ait Benhaddou

The High Atlas, which forms the natural dividing line to the Sahara, is almost uninhabited. We are leaving Marrakech climbing up on the spectacular pass road to the Tizi-n-Tichka. Along our way we have wonderful views of the beautiful valleys with their terrace fields, used for fruit and grain cultivation. Once on the top of the 7414 ft. high Tizi-n-Tichka Pass, we are in the fantastic scenery of the Moroccan mountain world. On the southern side of the Atlas Mountains the vegetation changes and we feel the nearness of the Sahara.

Luc with daughter Layla
Jim and Priscilla at coffeestop just before top of the pass
Lunch at the berber tent in Telouet
At top of the Tizn Tichka

Leyla and Luc nearly on top of Titz-n-Tichka pass

on the way to Telouet
last but not least - sporty Fernando
it is just awesome
uiii, Fernando has to go back, he misses his cellphone.
Atlas Roads at its best....
Lunchstop at a Berner tent
while little Kids are studying all the Destination Edelweiss is riding
Finaly arrival at the Destination of Ait Benhadou. A beaitiful Kashbah..
a terrace party is going on
with a talented singer
The Edelweiss song - known and sang by two Canadians
Tourgiide Ted with the Guitar and we all had a fantastic evening together

5. Rest day : Marrakesh

Achmed. the local tourguide introduces himself
we are on our way into busy Marrakesch
In the Bahia palace - Joe and Henry are listening carefully
in the farmacy - he introduces the Moroccan viagra
Marakesch at Night...

Without any doubt, the largest attraction in Marrakech is the Jemaa el-Fna square, the "Square of the Beheaded". According to legend, the heads of the executed were placed on wooden spears and exhibited until only the bare skulls were left over.

the snake charmers scare me - specially when it gets dark
Delicious grilled schicken, Lamb as well Fisch and very fresh vegetables is served everywhere
Groupdinner at the famous Marketsquare...
Karfreitag und keine Kässpatzen
Fernando is explaining this little girl our Marocco Tour
Marrakesh

4. Riding Day: Rabat - Marrakesch

We had to leave this beauiful hotel

Casablanca is our destination in the morning. Interesting traffic, well-known for Rick`s Cafe - but the main attraction nowadays is the Hassan II Mosque. A fantastic lunch place at the ocean prepared us for the 200 km stretch to Marrakesch, on the foot of the Atlas mountains.

 

Petra doesn`t want to leave

after horrible Casablanca traffic - here it is - Hassan II Mosque

some facts:

Opened in 1993 on the prophet's birthday, after Mekka and Medina it is the third biggest mosque in the world.built right on the cliffs into the Atlantic ocean.It has an Islamic school, a museum about Moroccan history, Hammams, swimming pools, conference rooms and a library which is connected via satellite with the biggest libraries of the world. 20,000 people can pray inside the mosque, 80,000 outside on a special platform. The top of the 656 ft.(200 m) high Minarett carries three golden balls at a total weight of 8,140 lbs (3.700 kg) The biggest has a diameter of 12 ft (3,8 m). In the whole mosque area you find 25,000 columns and 124 fountains. This is the only mosque of the country which can be visited also by non-Muslims.

just to get a comparison of the dimensions of the titanic doors

Waiting for the german Tourgiide in the Hassan II mosque .
Elisabeth is ready for the perfect foto shot

the roof can be slided open. It takes 3 min. 360 loudspeakers are perfectly hidden in the columns and the ceiling, women pray on a separate platform.

and after dinner we had a briefing about tomorrow. But than, there still was this Edelweiss box standing in the middle. The big question was - what`s in it???
erverybody is curios! Maybe it`s a cobra
noooo - it is a t-shirt. Petra got hers first
and at the end all 5 of them had one.
These guys all in all have 30 tours, and one has even 4 Worldtour sections. Guess who?
Congratulation to Heiri, Jörg, Petra, Lynda and Patrick
Heiri and Lynda, two world tourers.....
....and Heiri was obviously the 'man of the day" !!

3. Riding Day: Chefchaouen - Rabat

After our first night in Morocco we left Chefchaouen and continued through the beautiful Rif Mountains. We crossed the “Pont du Loukkos”, the former border between the Spanish protectorate and the French part of Morocco. We rode through fertile fields and thousands of olive trees accompanied us to the west.

morning briefing in Chefchaouen, as seen from the second floor
Fast Food Stop directly at the Atlantic Ocean .-)

Leo in action

Beautiful Mohammed V bridge near Casablanca
Because of Heiris`s birthday, we made a hotel change. 5 stare Amphritite Palace was a fantastic place directly on the Atlantic ocean. One of the King`s residences is next door, so we were well guarded.
Awesome view from our hotel at the Atlantic coast

Happy Birthday, Heiri!! 

Sunset in Rabat

2. Riding Day: Ceuta - Chefchaouen

What a wonderful day this have been! Really leaving the early spring cold of last week behaind us, again we woke up with a amazing view on the rock of Gibraltar but now from the other side. Ready to roll at 8.45 we headed for the Spanish-Moroccon border where are usual 'helpers" were already waiting for us. after a little two hours of running around from boot to boot with all the papers we were ready to enter Morocco.

An astonishing ride along the coast, a relaxed coffestop and a even more relaxed lunch at the seaside, the ride went on through a beautiful green valley (thanks to the rain the weeks before)

Ending up in the blue village of Chefchaouen, we could say that it was a very nice start of this tour with a great group of riders

A flat tyre right on the border - what a start. But with a group like this loading and unloading is done very quickly

perfekt dinner at the beach

"little Achmed" is already waiting for us

Petra und Jörg 

Casa Hassan, a typical Riad in the middle of Chefchaouen
the blue village in the Rif mountains
Achmed and Fatima

1. Riding Day: Malaga - Ceuta

Today we split up the group in two : one is going to visit Gibraltar, the other one is going via Ronda. Beautiful weather,  clear skies, sunny and bright moods.

We have quite an international group: Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Costa Rica, US, Canada, Belgium, Spain and last bu not least: the Netherlands!.

A very good starting day for this awesome group of riders!

at our first coffeestop near Ronda, Spain
Fernando and Harald at the Puente Nuevo in Ronda
.....and so were Leo and Elisabeth
stunning views into the deep gorge
...and of course the always present Spanish guitar players/singers !
the bull statue near the famous old bull fight arena "Pedro Romero" in Ronda
The late afternoon waiting for the ferry to take us to the African continent
Team Germany/Austria Jörg, Petra, Leo and Lissy

Patrick and Lynda

Last view at the Rock of Gibraltar
Nice late night dinner in the Spanish enclave of Ceuta at the African continent

Guided City Tour Malaga

Priscilla and James up at the Castel

the bull fight arena

James and Priscilla in the Gibralfaro. The orange blossom smell like the production hall of Chanel

El Pimpi - one of the most famous tapas bars in Malaga

its Palm Sunday - they getting prepared for the Semana Santa - the holy week

Semana Santa - these procession going on for the whole week

Transport to Malga

Arrival day , minus 4

Morocco tour 1801 is about to start in 4 days. Tourguides Ted and Pierre are already working on the preparations and has today started to transport the motorbike for the Morocco tour from the winter scenery in the European Alps down to southern europe, where hopefully the temeprature will be way more comfortable then it is now at the headquarters of Edeweiss Bike travel in Mieming, Austria.

Everything ready and loaded on two trailers and in the early morning we went off direction south. First they of transport went pretty smooth. And we are looking very forward towards the upcoming tour. Also tourguide Ursula will join us later at our starthotel in Malaga, south Spain

 

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Elisabeth Potesil
Wednesday, April 11, 2018 at 09:31

Dear Ursula, Ted and Pierre and dear fantastic Marokko-Group.
Thanks for the 2 wonderful weaks in the very green and dusty Marokko. It was a greetings pleasure to know you.Wenn will neuer folgen.
And yesterday it is true:" Das Wildschwein ist schnell, aber Jodie ist schneller". We hope we see you again. Servus Lisi and Leo
Elisabeth Potesil
Wednesday, April 11, 2018 at 09:46

Dear all, sorry my automatic word correction worked too much. Thanks for the 2 wonderful weeks in the very green and dusty Marocco. It was a great pleasure to know you.
And yes it is true:" Das Wildschwein ist schnell, aber Jodie ist schneller". We hope we see you again. Servus Lisi and Leo
Pierre Baumgärtner
Thursday, April 12, 2018 at 11:41

Hallo Elisabeth,
es war super toll mit Euch auf Tour...... ein unvergessliches Erlebnis..... bis irgendwann hoffentlich
Ciao und Gruesse an Leo.....
Ursula Peter
Wednesday, April 11, 2018 at 09:39

Lissyyy,
so good to have you on the trip. I am sure we will meet again - scho wegen de Meldungen von dem Mann
Pass auf auf di
LG Ursula
Jay & Jodie Clarke
Monday, April 9, 2018 at 14:33

Thanks to everyone on the trip! Words alone cannot express the full experience. Meeting new friends (tour-mates and guides) and seeing a gorgeous part of the world on a bike - a recipe for a fabulous 2 weeks! I am now getting ready to prepare some tagine and pastilla for our family at home. Oddly enough.....no one here seems to understand why I keep yelling at them, "as Vilt Schvine ist schnell.....aba ich bin schnella!" (sorry for spelling phonetically). Auf Wiedersehen, Au revoir and Good bye until next time to some amazing people! Thank you all for the experience and stand by for the pictures in a few weeks. We truly hope that we will see all of you again on another Edelweiss tour or when you visit Ontario!
Pierre Baumgärtner
Thursday, April 12, 2018 at 11:46

Hi Jodie and Jay,
I am sure from now on your German is improving daily. It was a real pleaseure riding with you guys through Marocco, and indeed an unforgetable trip.... and do not forget how t use which symbols in which country, you know what I mean

Cheers, Pierre
Ursula Peter
Wednesday, April 11, 2018 at 09:34

Hey Jody, hey Jay,

what would the trip has been without you?? We would have missed soo much laughing. Keep your open heart and your positive attitude (you know, I am German,I know what I am talking about ). I am sure we will see each other.
All the best
Ursula
Patrick & Lynda
Monday, April 9, 2018 at 09:56

Thanks so much to Ursula, Ted & Pierre for a fantastic tour. The riding and scenery was breathtaking. What an awesome group to spend two weeks with. Lots of laughs & memories. A huge thanks to everyone. Hope to see you all again on another Edelweiss tour. Pat & Lynda
Pierre Baumgärtner
Thursday, April 12, 2018 at 11:47

Hi Lynda and Pat,
a super trip and a rich experience riding with you and thanks for all the beautiful pictures you made. Have fun in Madeira and hopefully see you son again.
Chees, Pierre
Ursula Peter
Wednesday, April 11, 2018 at 09:29

Hi Pat, hi Lynda,

it was a pleasure. With guests like you nothing can go wrong.
Hopefully seeing you again.
I am scouting the St. James Way to Santiago and got stuck in snow yesterday
All the best
Ursula
Ted Goslinga
Monday, April 9, 2018 at 10:01

Thanks Pat & Lynda!
With customers like you we can travel the world! Have a safe flight back and hope to see you on another tour !
Doris Waldegger
Wednesday, April 4, 2018 at 08:35

Happy Birthday - dear James
Wishing you and the group a great tour.
Liebe Grüße an alle von
Doris
Pablo Piferrer
Sunday, April 1, 2018 at 18:49

Alles Gute zum Geburtstag Heiri!!

Two years ago we were in central America celebrating in Mexico!
Tom Friden
Sunday, April 1, 2018 at 18:19

Looks like there some guys following our paths...
Doris Waldegger
Thursday, March 29, 2018 at 08:50

Happy Birthday - lieber Heiri
Wishing you and the group a great and safe tour
Doris
von Waldburg Gabriele
Tuesday, March 27, 2018 at 11:49

Hoi Heiri
Ich glaubs ja nicht ... schon wieder auf Tour ? und so schönes Wetter Hier ist es grusig Regen u. Schnee . Bin sehr neidisch ! Wünsch Dir ganz viel Spass und grüess mir die Ursi.
Liebi Grüess
Gaby
Ursula Peter
Wednesday, March 28, 2018 at 19:20

Hi Gaby,
hab dem Heiri schon gesagt, dass er Frauenpost hat. Ja super schönes Wetter und eine tolle Gruppe.
Heute werden wir noch ein bisschen feiern.
LG Ursel
Viktoria Neuner
Tuesday, March 27, 2018 at 10:36

Fernando Fernando Fernando
Fernando Gurdián Astúa
Wednesday, March 28, 2018 at 22:32

Hy Viky! How are you doing? Nice 2 know something about u! Jope everithing is going ok! Best off all things 4 u. Take care!
Ursula Peter
Wednesday, March 28, 2018 at 19:19

Ja und was is mit mir?
Dieter Arnoth
Monday, March 26, 2018 at 14:31

Hello Ursel, Pierre and Ted,

wish you all the best for the tour - will follow your blog on daily base - have fun and enjoy the rides - Dieter
Pierre Baumgärtner
Friday, March 30, 2018 at 22:38

Hi Dieter, many thanks. Amazing Trip so far... hardly zo express all Impressions in a couple oder sentences. CU sono, Cheers
Ursula Peter
Wednesday, March 28, 2018 at 19:18

Thanks Dieter
Ted Goslinga
Monday, March 26, 2018 at 23:05

Thanks Dieter!
Claudia Wenhart
Monday, March 26, 2018 at 09:55

Hallo Ihr drei und hallo lieber Heiri,
ich wünsche Euch eine tolle Tour, mit super Wetter, tollen Strecken und jeder Menge Spaß, Schnee habt Ihr jetzt bestimmt keinen mehr
LG Claudia
Pierre Baumgärtner
Friday, March 30, 2018 at 22:44

Danke Claudia
Ursula Peter
Wednesday, March 28, 2018 at 19:21

Hi Cara,
danke für die Wünsche. Ja tolles Wetter und eine nette Truppe. Bis bald in Malaga
LG Ursula
Ted Goslinga
Monday, March 26, 2018 at 23:12

...and greetings from Heiri!
Ted Goslinga
Monday, March 26, 2018 at 23:06

Hey Claudi, thanks for your comments! We had super nice weather on our first riding day, finally spring is coming in!
yichen Qin
Wednesday, March 21, 2018 at 21:47

Hello Pierre,wish you have fun and safe trip.Tajin is waiting
Pierre Baumgärtner
Friday, March 30, 2018 at 22:51

Hi Quim, thanks, having a blast time here, and I am thinking with every Tajine in you.

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