The Sahara Desert has a very strong claim to being the spiritual home of adventure biking.
From the oceans of sand dunes that inspired Thierry Sabine to create the first Paris-Dakar Rally, to the iconic motorcycles that bear names from the region like the Ténéré and the Tuareg, the Sahara has captured the imagination of generations of adventure bikers.
Plunging into the vast unknown desert with nothing but your wits and your bike, the freedom to ride beyond the well-trodden roads, camping under a sky heavy with stars: it’s the very essence of adventure.
But would you have thought it possible to ride to the Sahara in Morocco and back to the UK in under two weeks?
In the latest issue of Adventure Bike Rider (available here), Steve Winch sets out to see if it can be done.
There and back again
For Steve, riding across Europe, crossing the Straits of Gibraltar, and arriving on the African continent to explore the Sahara had been a dream he’d held for years.
Finally, the moment arrived where he could scrape together enough time away from work and family commitments to turn his dream into reality.
The time he had to make it happen? Only 11 days, between leaving his home near London to dipping his tyres in Saharan sand, before turning around and making it back home.
Under and over
Steve’s trip took him first under the Channel by train, and then a massive ride across France and Spain covering 1,600 miles in three days.
Torrential rain in France and near-freezing temperatures in Spain makes the long journey even more difficult, but Steve gets to the ferry port on time and across to Morocco to begin his final push towards the Sahara Desert.
Into Africa
As Steve wheels further into the interior of the continent, he encounters sandstorms, manic drivers, stray cattle, and cratered roads.
And once he finally reaches the Sahara, he follows in the footsteps of the Dakar riders of yesteryear: namely, by getting lost striking out across the endless dunes and getting his fully-loaded GSA stuck deep in the sand with seemingly no-one around for miles.
Can he get dig his bike out in the blazing heat of the desert? Can he find his way back to civilisation? And can he do all that and ride back across Europe to his home in England with only a week remaining?
You can read the full story of Steve’s Saharan adventures, and find out everything you need to know about riding there yourself, in the latest issue of Adventure Bike Rider, which you can get by clicking here.
What’s inside the latest issue?
The July/August issue of ABR magazine is out now and it’s packed full of all the inspiration, knowledge, and entertainment you need to make the most of your adventure bike.
What’s inside the latest issue of ABR?
- Reviews of the latest motorbikes and gear
- Inspiring travel stories from around the world
- Useful hints and tips to get the most out of your bike
- Incredible routes to follow in the UK and abroad
- Stunning photography to fuel your wanderlust
- UK green lanes to ride
- Interview with Walking Dead star Norman Reedus
Get your copy today with free UK postage by clicking here.