Return to N.E. Morocco 2015...

We are taking a dutch oven with us can't wait till we get going still finding lots to get ready on the motor

James, Garry, John,
Quote from a member on wild camping forum

The news today here in the sunny NE England was saying there were Brits stranded in deep snow around Santander. So maybe best to avoid that area at present..

If it lasts you can have fun in the snow, and then fun in the sand later

Kevin if your going down through Eastern France at some point your have to cross either the alps or Midi Pyrenees I expect your probably see more snow than us

You and SWMBO will need these ... proper 'is and 'ers snow shows !

Thanks Tom been looking for new boots please post them ASAP,

Hi guys,
i just thought I would update you on my travel plans to tarifa. I have decided to ferry to Spain rather than drive through france and Spain. After looking at the areas I would like to visit I feel it would be to rushed so I am planning another trip to look at these areas at a latter date.
If it's still ok I would like to get the ferry with James and Jon? What are your travel plans? You mentioned that you are going to travel through Portugal. What areas are you planning on visiting?

James & Jon can you give me the dates and ferry details so I can book the same ferries. I can't believe how fast aproching the trip is. I'm really excited and cant Wait. I am just trying to finish off all the little jobs on truck electrics and service etc....

See you all soon

Sounds like you now have a plan, it comes up quickly we still have some things to do,

Yep same here still loads to do, at least I have now resized the maps and sat images ready for printing about 90 images in total its taken me a week off and on so glad to pass them over for printing.

Next job replace all brake pads and discs, then cam belt, full service including diffs and gearbox oils.
Fast running out of time

Steve, great news. Glad to have you along with us! We are on:

Outbound:

Portsmouth to Santander, Tues 31 March, depart 17:15, ship is Pont Aven

Return:

Bilboa to Portsmouth, Thurs 30 April, depart 15:30, ship is Cap Finistere

I am sharing a cabin with my son but John may want to double up.

Getting closer.....

Great news Steve, I will meet you guys on the evening of the 1st at the campsite in Santander

Gents (and Ladies)...

In getting Tembo sorted for the trip, I ordered some collapsible 3-ton jack stands. I like to have a pair handy in case of repairs and the normal ones I carried last year took up too much room. But when I ordered 'two' I ended up with two pairs...so have an extra set if anyone would like them. Just let me know and I will bring them along. I think they were £13 for the pair, so for a couple of beers in Tarifa, they are yours!

Tembo wrote:

Gents (and Ladies)...

In getting Tembo sorted for the trip, I ordered some collapsible 3-ton jack stands. I like to have a pair handy in case of repairs and the normal ones I carried last year took up too much room. But when I ordered 'two' I ended up with two pairs...so have an extra set if anyone would like them. Just let me know and I will bring them along. I think they were £13 for the pair, so for a couple of beers in Tarifa, they are yours!

I will have them please James euros or beer no problem !!

I think CB radios hate me.

After the three-day wonder deal I got at AO13 packed up on me three days into the last trip, I decided to buy a good quality CB this time around. So, have a brand new Midland all set up in Tembo. Looks good. Drove out to a clear area away from trees, buildings and cars to set my SWR. Got some very high readings with my short springer antenna (2.5-2. and better readings with the long springer antenna (2.1 to 2.4). Better, but still not great. So, shut it down, drove home and thought I would check the ground first before shortening my antenna. Did that, drove back out to test again....nothing. My brand new SWR meter shows no reading at all, on any channel. Checked all the connections several times, checked my antenna cable, rechecked the ground....nada. My CB radio display shows I am transmitting, I can hear myself breaking air on my speaker and pick up occasional chatter on various channels....but zip on the SWR.

So, either my only-used-once SWR meter is N/S, one of my cables is shot....or CB radios just hate me.

wideformat4x4 wrote:

Tembo wrote:

Gents (and Ladies)...

In getting Tembo sorted for the trip, I ordered some collapsible 3-ton jack stands. I like to have a pair handy in case of repairs and the normal ones I carried last year took up too much room. But when I ordered 'two' I ended up with two pairs...so have an extra set if anyone would like them. Just let me know and I will bring them along. I think they were £13 for the pair, so for a couple of beers in Tarifa, they are yours!

I will have them please James euros or beer no problem !!

Then they are yours!

I had a similar problem with my cb when I changed the mount on my Disco found out it was the fitting one side of the coaxial cable has to connect to the ground side of the mount and the other has to be isolated.

I put a large rubber washer between the antenna and the mounting bracket and it works ok now.
The only problem I seem to have is I can get the  swr reading down to 1.5 on the UK setting but on the euro setting I can't get it below about 2.5

I thought the springer type antennas were supposed to be Pre trimmed to the correct length and didn't need fetterling.

These things are sent to try us

Well, CB is sorted. After re-checking everything I found my new springer antenna was slightly loose in its spring socket. Was getting no signal to the whip. Tightened this up and and I am good to go. My UK band ranges from 1.4 to 1.7 but my EU bands are all under 1.5....so good to go I think.

Still waiting for my Matt Savage sand channels to come. Once I have these delivered and I decide how I will carry them, Tembo is about ready to go.

24 days to go until d-day....

Been getting some bords for a small platform on roof, will be putting CB radio in tomorrow hope it all goes to plan,

The more I do the longer the list gets but should be ready to go in a week or so

Too many forum posts and emails to wade through, far easier just asking you direct. For us left behind  so we can follow progress ...

Am I right in saying you will all be in Morocco by about 4th April, some like Gary are heading off now?

Also, will you all be returning to Spain on the same ferry, if so when?

Should be into Morocco sometime around the 4th Tom and coming out again around the 27th.

I'm leaving within the hour just the last few things to load up then I'm away.

Not sailing till 23.00 but I'd rather be at the port 3hours early than be on the M25 panicking I'm not going to make it as I haven't moved for an hour.

See you all in Spain !!

Bon voyage !!

Have a good un mate!

... and cheers James.

Only a couple of days left at Forest view then off south through France to Spain.

After 2weeks in Normandy with a couple of afternoons of rain today it hasn't stopped.
Hope the weather warms up traveling south.

Well, the weather in Taza is sunny for the next 7 days and about 24c. Bouarfa the same and Merzouga is sunny and 29c with no rain in sight. Bring it on.

Tembo wrote:

Well, the weather in Taza is sunny for the next 7 days and about 24c. Bouarfa the same and Merzouga is sunny and 29c with no rain in sight. Bring it on.

Strange, got this feeling of déjà vu, can't think why?