Poland 23.968km of my travel - Technical Stop
Visas+Re-registration+Insurance etc
Abidjan to Mauritania
From Abidjan to Europe is around 5-6K km. My plan was to go Mali - Senegal - Mauritania - Morocco and than take ferry to Europe and start moving eastbound to Italia, Turkey etc. My Starter was causing problems and seemingly second spare relay was close to his death. I still have to get my rear break to fix it. My friend Slawek - was on the way to Gambia and we decided I will meet him there. He had spares for my motorbike as well. Once again I stoped in Bamako This time I striped down starter and fit new carbon brushes.
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| Way to get to starter out is from this side |
In Bamako once again I have to get Mauritania Visa - this time was around 130 euro - twice much when I was coming down last year. I also have to wait 2-3days as it was public holidays. Waiting I striped rear break once again clean all parts with normal clean tap water and that was It! The breake worked as new. it must be small dust and sand in the cylinder so it would pump the fluid.
Way to Senegal was nice and border was much easy from this side - I rode over 400 km every day to make my friend on time.
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| road from Bamako to Senegal |
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Slawek
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| Puting Camel into small car is not always easy |
We Passed Nouakchott and next day morning - engine seized - not to good - We managed to get mini bus and paid around 60 euro for it to get back to Nouakchott. Slawek got plane in 5 days from Marrakech - Morocco so he need go by bus (2000km hi hi), I stayed and found mechanic who kind of repair my moto - please see my other detailed post about all motorbike problems in Western africa and how i solved them.
after 5 days of stop I finally moved forward towards Mauritania Border. I have only electrical problem in the desert. I had to sleep in the police check point and repair motorbike in the morning - Mauritania was problem-free crossing and same day I made Dahkla
Moroccan King
Red Flags from border were placed in each town of Western Sahara. As Morocco fought Algeria in 80's over this territory. Saharian people got own identity and always willing to have own country. With a help of moroccan army western sahara was annexed and it is now under their power. Some people will still talk about their saharian identity and would not call it Morocco. On the other side Government invest a a lot of money to this deserted area and put cities and civilization. They Have program of sending original marocans to south, co they would make majority of Moroccans there soon. So the true of history is on their side now however on the maps is always marked as Western sahara
I rode to Dahkla same day as a King's arrival - I would think this is all for my self, hi, hi...The streets were partly blocked and I was zigzaking over the city just to find something to eat. I had some tasty chicken sandwich - Yes Morocco food is tasty - at least compare to black Africa. I parked moto and went to the crowd just to see the king... people were happy and in some reasons not many were using cameras - I did.
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| Awaiting for the King |
I probably seen king in the passing car and that was it. How good is to be a King.
Moroccan Mountain
On the way to Tanger - where ferry to Europe is going - I was going through the big beautiful muntain - The problems occurred in the top. Evening was nice and I did some 250km this. I pitched tent just after sun gone down, Mountain and sky were red from bleeding sun, Air smell of honey and pine tree, was dark when I got all my tent ready and slept nicely. Cold wake me up after some lazy 2 hours I decided to got up. sun was already there I eat some dried caffe and drink water - I was ready. Route was beautiful
At 2100m over the see level cold and snow and rain starts to fall down, I put my all clothes and after an hour all was soaked wet, I stop for hot cafe but could not stop shaking from the cold, this was around mid day. I was continue riding till the evening. on the way I stopped in the small town to get some clothes I bought all new trousers, socks, traniners, jumper and panties, and I continue with the wet on me as 2 jackets I had on me was wet too, so no point of getting them changed. I Passed Marakesh and got some cheap local fish food, and than late evening I almost frozen stopped and pitched the tent in dried river bank, I could not stop shaking from the cold until I got completely undressed and put all new dry clothes I had. I usually not make drama but I though I was overcooled I actually was! - rain was continue and stopped in the morning - I slept till morning.
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| Atlas Mountains - rain and snow and cold |
Ferry cost me 260e for berth bed and Motorcycle and was sailing 3 night over Mediterranean see, this was equivalent of 2200km so 7-10 riding of min cost of 400e and tiredness. No much chain and no Tyres left as well no insurance and MOT test. So I was happy I found this ferry. I share berth room (I don't know how to say it in english) with 3 others Moroccan - and after this time without much language I could understand who are they and where they are going. I have made new friends mostly austrian, So I could spent sometimes talking in English and learning Austrian German. Ferry Stops in Barcelona and next day in Genova - the port where Christopher Columbus was leaving for America - wow!
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| Leaving Africa I was taking big memories souvenir |
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| Genova |
One of them were people from Desert Dream - when my Moto died in Mauritania I seen their big fast passing Overlanding Tatra in Nouakchott. I Thought it would good if I asked them where can I fix my moto. Than I met Gunther and Gerhart in Garage Sahara they were welding their Nissan front beam. My engine was temporally fixed there but I still need sprockets and chain and Tyres. Rest of them Daniele, Guido and Peter I meet on this Ferry too. https://www.facebook.com/Desert-Dream-157526797600749/?fref=ts
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| Desert dream - they take me my poor Yamaha to their Village in Austria and help finding new parts for moto - I will Remember Big Tatra and their crew Long |
On the ferry They offered me drive to Austria and help to find parts - I was overwhelmed by their "no business" attitude, We put Yamaha in to the back of big 6x6 drive Tatra and we head for Graz. we made in one day wow! In Gerhard Garage we did all parts changed we visit City several times to get all we need for Yamaha, Gerhard Parent are hard working Farmers - They produce all sorts of fruits there, this was Great stop and I will hoping I can see them once again,
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| Thank You!!! |
Poland - technical Stop and preparation -
Last Stop Kaliningrad
end of the stage 1 of my Around the World travel
From Graz I made 500km cold pass to Ostrava in Chech republic, my insurance was finish in Senegal and technical test for motorbike finish last september. in Ostrava my brother Wojciech send me insurance over the internet so I could almost legal ride moto in Poland. I made around 250km and heavy snow (25 Feb 2016) stopped me at Piotrkow Trybunalski, I found cheep but still expensive hotel for around 30e - next day I made cold or very cold 300km and my second brother Janusz -Krzysztof and his wife Bernadetta welcome me 20km before Olsztyn my born place. Me and they were Happy I made it!, we all new this is not the end of the travel.
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| central Poland in snow |
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| Welcome in Poland |
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| My Family |
After some days I managed to get new plate and temporary registration document as this is standard procedure here. Waiting for document I went for 5 days in to Kalingrad where I practice my self learned russian. I meet good hearted and interesting people there: Tatyana and Larisa Tourists from Russia and Sasha from the Hostel - Crazy Dog. Thank you for all.
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