Steve H Posted November 18, 2005 Share Posted November 18, 2005 Found this thread as I was having a prowl ( as you do) I thought the photography was second to none, & what a great old truck. Bummer, I can't speak hardly any Italian, but thought this was worth sharing for the pics alone. It must have been an awesome trip. Perhaps if Michele trips over this he might be able to give us a bare bones run down of the details of the trip? Michele, please don't feel obliged. http://www.africaland.it/forum/topic.asp?T...CONTI+DI+VIAGGI Enjoy, Cheers, Steve. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cols110 Posted November 18, 2005 Share Posted November 18, 2005 Yep there are some cracking photo`s there, pity I can`t read any of the text. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michele Posted November 18, 2005 Share Posted November 18, 2005 Jeez, a four pages thread! It's gonna take a bit... "Better to start with some numbers maybe,to give an idea: 42 days of a trip 12500 kilometers done 88 (") is the wheelbase,obviously 3 lads 64 years old age shared between us Crossed countries: France, Spain, Morocco, West Sahara e Mauritiania. Truck is a 1983 88" diesel (5 bearings) full stock but for:paras, beefed up rear shackel (109 1 ton) and HD Armstrong dampers. Here's a map of Mauritania,our route is marked in green. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimAttrill Posted November 18, 2005 Share Posted November 18, 2005 It's a very good site with lots of posters - just look at the number of posts of the members! I joined it a few years ago but there was nothing happening and went back last week and was amazed at the number and quality of posts. I can read Italian (after a fashion) and write it very badly. I thought of trying to translate that post but it would take me a year or two! But if there is anything you really want to understand, paste it here and I will do my best to give you the meaning of it. Michele has told me he is not interested in any Italian LR forums, but Silvio posts there and on the English forums as his English is excellent. What a trip for 3 guys with a combined age of 64 in an old diesel 88" ! I would not dare to do it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michele Posted November 18, 2005 Share Posted November 18, 2005 Michele has told me he is not interested in any Italian LR forums I'm not so bad as you could believe though! (not at all!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michele Posted November 18, 2005 Share Posted November 18, 2005 (edited) "We let in the afternoon,on July the 22th,from Albenga. Heading to Algeciras on the motorway,at the average speed of 80kms/h we arrive on the 24th in the early afternoon. We approach the custom with the "tourist who doesn't speak a language and gets nothing of what you say" technique. The custom officer runs out of patience and get rid of us in few minutes. Night camp in Kenitra. Got the papers in Rabat,on the 25th,to go to Mali (not used in the end for lack of time). Having 24 hours to spend before the documents done we relax a bit. Here's a pic (courtesy of Fra),taken at the interesting and nice souk,starring the hot dogs man." (note:I'm not sure they call them "hot dogs",maybe Jim can help here...?) Edited November 18, 2005 by Michele Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimAttrill Posted November 18, 2005 Share Posted November 18, 2005 Those are sausages, but luckily not the 'hot dog' type. No sign of a hot dog bread roll, either. What looks like a heap of either rice or couscous. I reckon the sausage would be rather like the Portugese chouriço or the spanish equivalent (minus the pork, of course). If you try to translate all that lot you deserve a medal Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michele Posted November 18, 2005 Share Posted November 18, 2005 (edited) a medal Get ready. B) P.S. I read the whole thread time ago. I think,given the large numbers of comments (you shouldn't be interested in), the tale itself is going to be a shorter job than it looks. Obviously I'm a liar to myself Edited November 18, 2005 by Michele Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkieB Posted November 18, 2005 Share Posted November 18, 2005 Those are sausages, but luckily not the 'hot dog' type. No sign of a hot dog bread roll, either. What looks like a heap of either rice or couscous. I reckon the sausage would be rather like the Portugese chouriço or the spanish equivalent (minus the pork, of course). chorizo in Spanish; I'd have said couscous too, a Moroccan version of 'toad in the hole'? Although they'd be bound to be thinking of chopping it into shawarma, knowing the Moroccans. I once got a nice bit of steak from the Market, brought it to the restaurant, who promptly — you guessed it! shawarma-style steak :D :lol: my translation of 'salsicciaro' in the original Italian would be simply 'sausage man'. 'Nuff said. Looks as though the Italian guys had an air compression system as an additional modification at least, indispensable for the ore train route. From Italy, it's unfortunate that Algeria has closed access from Tunisia, as a result of the troubles; then it has bandits in the South, of course; that would be a quicker way to the Sahara for them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michele Posted November 18, 2005 Share Posted November 18, 2005 You made me hungry now!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkieB Posted November 18, 2005 Share Posted November 18, 2005 It is lunchtime, you're allowed I'll press on with the translation: then there is the fishing beach where it's possible to eat fish in most noteworthy quantities. thus on the 26th we reached Marrakesh at the campsite we met 2 german guys driving a 109 who we naturally befriended, as all Series owners do, on meeting other poor souls [sucked in?] similarly to themselves. then we visided the mythical plaza Djemaa el Fnaa where we ate at a bench [ed: Djema el Fna, while very real, has vendors selling food in the middle of a massive plaza, theoretically pedestrianized] naturally of all the possible places to sit, we selected the one where unfolded a very violent argument between the owners and we're not quite sure who; when it progressed from hands to broken bottles we took the decision to settle the bill then distance ourselves. The city in the evening is however fascinating, full of life, [read virtually [rocking?]] it should be seen. You however can't see it as we left the camera at the campsite 27th A further long stage of the journey to TanTan. TanTan is a city full of old series virtually all Santana, very very common in the whole of the western Sahara. Thus we took a room in an hotel for an all-in price that the owner had given us after fixing us up a bit. He is a very nice chap who also speaks a bit of Italian. He spoke to us at length concerning traditions saying that it is a shame that people are distancing themselves from their origins etc etc, we were left with only one doubt, what was the reason for calling his hotel 'Texas Hotel'?; well.. That's enough translation for now, you get the picture, they say a picture speaks volumes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michele Posted November 18, 2005 Share Posted November 18, 2005 Wahey! You never told me you speak Italian! Cool,useful the day we'll meet somewhere on the Alps! There's a spare translator,good thing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkieB Posted November 18, 2005 Share Posted November 18, 2005 that's 'cause I cunningly disguise my linguistic ability ; as I say, better a cunningly disguised linguist than a mere cunning linguist really I understand [particularly Florentine Italian] much better than I speak. The quicker version: western Sahara: http://www.africaland.org/public/ma3.jpg dawn: http://www.africaland.org/public/ma4.jpg sunset over the ocean: http://www.africaland.org/public/ma5.jpg "the restored version of a microbus" http://www.africaland.org/public/ma6.jpg no-man's land from Morocco to Mauritania: http://www.africaland.org/public/ma7.jpg Nouadhibou bay: http://www.africaland.org/public/ma8.jpg lunch under a very rare tree on the ore train route http://www.africaland.org/public/ma10.jpg a camel herdsman who appeared suddenly, without camels, told a story in French they didn't understand, then set off into nothingness http://www.africaland.org/public/ma9.jpg camels pasturing; near a well eg: http://www.africaland.org/public/ma11.jpg camping next to an erg: http://www.africaland.org/public/ma12.jpg a snippet of a photo of the african night sky simply at 3 times zoom with a digital camera [whole photo too big to post] http://www.africaland.org/public/macielo.jpg [now 2nd August] ¾ way from Nouadhibou to choum, big erg necessitates deflation/reflation: http://www.africaland.org/public/ma13.jpg following tracks on the open plain that appeared in front of them: http://www.africaland.org/public/ma14a.jpg keeping to the train tracks, noticing carriages etc 'artistically' abandonned http://www.africaland.org/public/ma14.jpg naving with gps, [closer to choum the tracks they had been following head in a different direction] looking for the piste [train track] on a big plain with piles of rock on it http://www.africaland.org/public/ma14b.jpg 2 photos, one in either direction, to give an idea of the length of the ore train [here, preparing for the journey] http://www.africaland.org/public/ma15pg http://www.africaland.org/public/ma16pg the [umpteenth?] african sunset, in choum: http://www.africaland.org/public/ma17.jpg from choum to atar, gradual progress as the road changes from: http://www.africaland.org/public/ma18.jpg to a veritable African motorway: http://www.africaland.org/public/ma19.jpg 'great, give it a bit of gas', however no: the 'motorway' is hardcore corrugations.. 15kmh! really found the microbus! [must be an in-joke ] http://www.africaland.org/public/ma20.jpg right, that's as far as the post dated 14th Sept, I'll now take a break! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michele Posted November 18, 2005 Share Posted November 18, 2005 (edited) I just had done this: "July the 28th The long trip goes on,and while going down towards the coast we enter the West Sahara. The scene is extremely monotonous but the coast is quite nice. All the towns we come across are Moroccan stations,flags everywhere and fully war equipped. Story is,it's years since ONU pushes for a poll to happen (note:how to explain "autodeterminazione"?self-consciousness?but with a politic meaning...), so Morocco and its nice king well thought of stretching things out for a ten years, and settling as much as possible in the meanwhile,so to arrange the poll the day that Morocc..an? will outvote Saharawi. It sucks. Anyway, in order to induce people to move they made everythign duty free,diesel inclusive, which was around 0.30Euros/liter. Last stop before the sunset Sunset above the ocean The stage is very long,thus we reach,after +750 Kms.,the gas station at the beginning of Daklha peninsula, where we stop late at night." but I quite like your idea of a quick version Edited November 18, 2005 by Michele Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkieB Posted November 18, 2005 Share Posted November 18, 2005 Cool,useful the day we'll meet somewhere on the Alps! yeah I'm more confident of the 110's ability to make a reasonably long journey in less forgiving conditions now, as I've owned her for a year, done quite a few repairs, she's now a bit more trustworthy. When there's an Alpine event happening, [pref. spring/summer/autumn, I wouldn't want to have to work underneath in deep snow eg] I'll happily be part of it. cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michele Posted November 18, 2005 Share Posted November 18, 2005 When there's an Alpine event happening I thought it would have been you to suggest something! Whenever you want. It'd be nice to organize a LRA Alpine meeting! I would invite some trusty mates from the Shire land and Germany as well, I'm sure they'd be happy to come... End of hijack... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimAttrill Posted November 18, 2005 Share Posted November 18, 2005 "(note:how to explain "autodeterminazione"?self-consciousness?but with a politic meaning...),' That's a direct translation of 'self determination'. Yes, it is political. Basically, it means you get a vote in an election. This can be thought of as a form of democracy, but as most African countries are dictatorships of one kind or another, it's a sort of 'buzz word', meaning 'you get a vote but as only President Bongo-Wongo is standing, it's all a bit of a waste of time anyway'. Other buzz-phrases are 'Free and Fair Elections', 'multi-party democracy' and so on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michele Posted November 18, 2005 Share Posted November 18, 2005 (edited) I loved that Mr. President Bongo Wongo line. It'd be worth a 'toon of mine... Edited November 18, 2005 by Michele Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hillbilly Raider Posted November 18, 2005 Share Posted November 18, 2005 When there's an Alpine event happeningI thought it would have been you to suggest something! Whenever you want. It'd be nice to organize a LRA Alpine meeting! I would invite some trusty mates from the Shire land and Germany as well, I'm sure they'd be happy to come... End of hijack... How many more times???? we are HILLBILLIES NOW!!!! and you KNOW WE WILL BE BACK NEXT YEAR!!! oh yes indeedy!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michele Posted November 18, 2005 Share Posted November 18, 2005 Ok ok ok ok,but you live in the shire-land yet I think it could be a nice gathering... B) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve H Posted November 18, 2005 Author Share Posted November 18, 2005 Michele, Mark, Wow, great going guys, that is magic. I think Marks way of doing the picture captions is quite OK, & a lot less work, of course any comments of importance or extra interest would be nice too but really I'm totally humbled at the response, not to say somewhat envious when I read of plans to meet in the alps etc, NZ is sooo faraway sometimes. (Sometimes I like it like that too ) I've a reasonable idea of North African geography, I read (devoured?) heaps about it. A trip thru there would be one of my fondest dreams one day. Oh well, thanks for helping to keep my dreams alive. Looking forward to the next installment. Many thanks guys. Cheers, Steve. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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