Kris Roos (krisr)

Hey everyone, starting a solo moto trip through Western Africa! I’ll be sharing pictures and updates here, but don’t be concerned if I miss days. To keep things interesting I’m considering opening up some decisions to you all in real time… let’s see how this goes! 🤩

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DAY 12, April 27th Bir Gandouz Currently waiting on the visas for Mauritania, should come in soon! Rode out to the coast to visit a fishing village/port where the majority of the $ comes from in the region and it left more questions than answers. Really weird investment into different parts of the town. For example, consistent 20 meter high streetlights in the village and wide roads, but then 90% of the people live in shacks made from scrap materials. Ventured out onto the coastal roads and found a small hut in the distance. Decided to go investigate and turned out to be a military zone with a few guys living in a makeshift tent. The outpost is mostly for spotting drug traffic into Morocco from Mauritania, but the guys just had one old pair of binoculars. Invited us for tea/ cookies and fishing when the weather is better! Otherwise had a moment of adrenaline after getting chased by a pack of dogs guarding the port gate :) Looking to enter Mauritania in the next 24 hrs where the real adventure begins 🤩

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DAY 11, April 26 Dakhla -> Bir Gandouz 300 KM day went by surprisingly quick with zero speed loss even after more than doubling the weight (10 additional liters of fuel, more gear, and two people). Endless Sahara desert, driving past only two gas stations and a few abandoned looking huts during the ~8 hrs of riding. Stopped along the way to see the third highest rated activity in all of Western Sahara, Thermal Source Of Asnaa. Turns out to be literally just a guy with a hose who will spray you for 15 dirham (1.5 euro) 🤣 Got a local rec for camel and had my first camel Tajine, tastes almost like a cross between lamb and beef, overall pretty nice! 🐪 Found also the nicest hotel I’ve stayed in here, feels really out of place and like some sort of oasis (Fyndy Hotel Bir Gandouz) 😍

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Hey everyone, starting a solo moto trip through Western Africa! I’ll be sharing pictures and updates here, but don’t be concerned if I miss days. To keep things interesting I’m considering opening up some decisions to you all in real time… let’s see how this goes! 🤩

• 16 replies
• 12 recasts
• 109 reactions

Day 3 started strong leaving Agadir and quickly getting into the Sahara desert with nearly nothing for hundreds of KMs in every direction. Pushed through some 350 KMs, making it to Tan-Tan which is this lost town in the middle of the desert- really surprised it exists (look at the map). Trip is getting more interesting with some unexpected obstacles now! After a detour to find gas, the last 100 KM ended up in the dark with crazy winds since this week there’s a windstorm here. I made it into town freezing at around 21:00 after the ride and found the hotel/ house I booked but with nobody there. Also in the meantime the USB outlet on the bike went out so my phone was about to die. Waited for nearly an hour before a little girl found me and gave me a cookie and then disappeared into the village to find the guy whose house it was thankfully :)

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Finally started the trip this morning after four days of hardcore research and negotiation to get a bike. Marrakesh is famous for scams and I expected it but still is insane how difficult it is to get reliable info. Spent the last days talking with everyone I could in the streets, markets, and dealerships to pull together some offers and info. Had tons of guys tells me everyone else is lying and they were my brother. Everyone seemed to have opposite opinions on topics incl. brands, models, prices, paperwork, regulation, and condition. Long story short, got the bike that every delivery guy drives. Paid everything in cash and no receipts or contracts of sale… Probably gonna be some issues with this in the next days/ weeks, but you can’t get plates or the official ownership certificate after buying in Morocco for around 4 months, so let’s see how I get through the corrupt borders + sell the bike in Gambia or somewhere without the papers. Arrived today in Essaouira and gonna head south tomorrow!

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Day 2 of the journey down ending in Agadir for tonight. Took a lot of side roads today and explored the coast and especially enjoyed the lost town of Teldi. First mechanical issues today with the chain starting to drag against the chainguard when I arrived at the bottom of a valley with ~30 mins of mountain road to get out and to a shop with tools so had to improvise with the multitool to make the adjustments. 🤩 Otherwise great local breaky, lots of KMs on coastal roads, and found a local beachside skatepark for sunset 🤗

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