France to Gambia

PHILinFRANCE · 11-30-2012, 12:17 PM

Hi all
Started planning my trip from France to Gambia in 2014 ........ok it's a while off but the wife says i've got to finnish the house first

So , i'm after as much info as poss please

Plan is

France / Spain / Portugal / Morocco / Western Sahara / Mauritainia / Senagal / Gambia and back

Cheers Phil

RaiderRed · 01-29-2013, 02:13 PM

I have been in Dakar for the past six months. If you have any Senegal specific questions I can certainly try and answer them. Traffic is *fun* in the city........once out of Dakar it isn't too terrible. If you are here during the rainy season then there is a good chance some roads may be impassable. Feel free to hit me up anytime!

Bodwick · 01-30-2013, 08:32 AM

Hi Raider,

I've travelled many times from Gambia across Senegal and into Mauritania for the Dakar Rallye. I also own a bar in Gambia up at Janjangbureh/Georgetown should you be going that far I'll pass you details and buy you a drink on arrival.

I can advise you to cross into Senegal from Mauritania not at Rosso but at Diama. Doing this will save you untold hassle.

Mauritania, I wouldn't travel inland towards Atar or Kiffa. It's just not safe. Nouakchott is a dust bowl but has hotels and food. Did I mention the food in Mauri is terrible!

Dakar is a laugh and not to be missed.

Gambia is small and easy going.

Watch your speed through any village area.

Have fun...

PHILinFRANCE · 02-01-2013, 10:53 AM

Cheers guys
What with the latest news in Mali my riding buddy is showing a little concern

he reads to much

myself i like a little uncertainty , also looking to push on to Guinea Bissua and Guinea.
Whats the name of your bar Bodwik ? , love to catch up in person and down a few cold ones

Phil

RaiderRed · 02-03-2013, 02:25 PM

Bodwick,
I'll have to take you up on a visit to your bar. I'm hoping to head south and visit the Gambia in the near future!

Phil,
I have spent several weeks in Bissau and am down there every quarter or so. I love the town and would suggest checking it out. The hotel Azalai is nice a
(actually an old officer's barracks made into a great hotel) and the bike would be safe. The hotel Coimbra is very nice and downtown right next to the port and the restaurants......but it would be street parking for your moto.

PHILinFRANCE · 02-04-2013, 01:18 AM

Cheers RR

, still a year off but will keep in touch , look forward to meeting in person
Phil

shearboy2004 · 02-10-2013, 12:12 AM

Phil are you taking the DR?

PHILinFRANCE · 02-10-2013, 02:43 PM

Hi Shearboy
I really wanted to take her , but bought this, a XTZ 660 TENERE
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/phot...eat=directlink

But to be honest my 17 yearold DR feels a better bike !!!! granted i've not settled into the Yam yet , i've got a good year to make the final decision !!!

Phil

shan · 02-20-2013, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PHILinFRANCE

But to be honest my 17 yearold DR feels a better bike !!!! granted i've not settled into the Yam yet , i've got a good year to make the final decision !!!

Phil

That's will never happen if you do not stop work and get out
more on it

Looks to new !!

how you doing dad

Fufo · 02-25-2013, 03:31 AM

Hey Phil,

the trip will be fun and not hard, now you have phone coverage and Gas station at least every 250 km, and then you can find fuel, food and water! I just did it http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LeOQ6wYqqRI not from Gambia but from Sierra Leone.

Juest an advice, prepare a lot of fiches fo Wester Sahara and Marocco, with your name, your data, were do you go and were do you come and the passport number and moto plate...at least you will need 20 of them! if not you will have to fill it on a piece of paper!

PHILinFRANCE · 02-25-2013, 11:24 AM

Hi and thank Fufo
Can, t get the vid working though
Phil

Todd34 · 03-03-2013, 01:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PHILinFRANCE

Can, t get the vid working though
Phil

Same here; no video.

Fufo · 03-10-2013, 06:41 PM

MMM, it looks like for some copyright issues the video cannot be seen in some countries...

I've updated the link and the permission http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LeOQ6wYqqRI hope by clikking there it will work? It should work tho!

PHILinFRANCE · 03-11-2013, 12:58 AM

Yep got this time

great vid and love the fact that you did the trip on a little Chineese bike

Love the refueling in the wind

Did you bother with any carnets ? reason i ask is there's a few different views on this , some do, some don't and just sort it at the boarders !!!

Still in two minds wheather to go on the New Tenere or stick with my trusty 1996 DR650

Cheers Phil

Fufo · 03-13-2013, 05:50 AM

WOW, both bike are great, you should stick to the DR!

I'm glad you liked the video, yes refueling on the desert with the wind...was something I didn't think about it!

I had no carnet and no international driving license, only the insurance, the lifecard of the moto and my national driving licence (Italian). In Morocco they were surprise it was handwritten (the life card was made in Sierra Leone) and in Mauritania they just write on my passport, otherwise I had no problems at the borders.

Enjoy your ride!

11-30-2012, 12:17 PM	#1
PHILinFRANCE ^OP Studly Adventurer Joined: Aug 2010 Location: S W France my little bit of paradise Oddometer: 759	France to Gambia Hi all Started planning my trip from France to Gambia in 2014 ........ok it's a while off but the wife says i've got to finnish the house first So , i'm after as much info as poss please Plan is France / Spain / Portugal / Morocco / Western Sahara / Mauritainia / Senagal / Gambia and back Cheers Phil __________________ I,M HERE FOR A GOOD TIME NOT ALONG TIME

01-30-2013, 08:32 AM	#3
Bodwick Odd Bod Joined: Jan 2003 Location: United Kingdom Oddometer: 968	Hi Raider, I've travelled many times from Gambia across Senegal and into Mauritania for the Dakar Rallye. I also own a bar in Gambia up at Janjangbureh/Georgetown should you be going that far I'll pass you details and buy you a drink on arrival. I can advise you to cross into Senegal from Mauritania not at Rosso but at Diama. Doing this will save you untold hassle. Mauritania, I wouldn't travel inland towards Atar or Kiffa. It's just not safe. Nouakchott is a dust bowl but has hotels and food. Did I mention the food in Mauri is terrible! Dakar is a laugh and not to be missed. Gambia is small and easy going. Watch your speed through any village area. Have fun... __________________ "And all the roads that lead to you are winding, And all the lights that light the way are blinding" Wonder wall.

02-01-2013, 10:53 AM	#4
PHILinFRANCE ^OP Studly Adventurer Joined: Aug 2010 Location: S W France my little bit of paradise Oddometer: 759	Cheers guys What with the latest news in Mali my riding buddy is showing a little concern he reads to much myself i like a little uncertainty , also looking to push on to Guinea Bissua and Guinea. Whats the name of your bar Bodwik ? , love to catch up in person and down a few cold ones Phil __________________ I,M HERE FOR A GOOD TIME NOT ALONG TIME

02-04-2013, 01:18 AM	#6
PHILinFRANCE ^OP Studly Adventurer Joined: Aug 2010 Location: S W France my little bit of paradise Oddometer: 759	Cheers RR, still a year off but will keep in touch , look forward to meeting in person Phil __________________ I,M HERE FOR A GOOD TIME NOT ALONG TIME

02-10-2013, 12:12 AM	#7
shearboy2004 KIWIINUSA Joined: Jun 2007 Location: Ft Collins ,Colorado Oddometer: 4,085	Phil are you taking the DR? __________________ 88 R100GS 75 Norton Commando Roadster 98 DR450 07 Sherco 450 called BLING. 07 Sherco 510 called Holy Shit .

01-29-2013, 02:13 PM	#2
RaiderRed n00b Joined: Aug 2010 Location: Sterling, VA for now. Moving to Dakar Summer '12 Oddometer: 9	I have been in Dakar for the past six months. If you have any Senegal specific questions I can certainly try and answer them. Traffic is fun in the city........once out of Dakar it isn't too terrible. If you are here during the rainy season then there is a good chance some roads may be impassable. Feel free to hit me up anytime!

02-03-2013, 02:25 PM	#5
RaiderRed n00b Joined: Aug 2010 Location: Sterling, VA for now. Moving to Dakar Summer '12 Oddometer: 9	Bodwick, I'll have to take you up on a visit to your bar. I'm hoping to head south and visit the Gambia in the near future! Phil, I have spent several weeks in Bissau and am down there every quarter or so. I love the town and would suggest checking it out. The hotel Azalai is nice a (actually an old officer's barracks made into a great hotel) and the bike would be safe. The hotel Coimbra is very nice and downtown right next to the port and the restaurants......but it would be street parking for your moto.

02-10-2013, 02:43 PM	#8
PHILinFRANCE ^OP Studly Adventurer Joined: Aug 2010 Location: S W France my little bit of paradise Oddometer: 759	Hi Shearboy I really wanted to take her , but bought this, a XTZ 660 TENERE https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/phot...eat=directlink But to be honest my 17 yearold DR feels a better bike !!!! granted i've not settled into the Yam yet , i've got a good year to make the final decision !!! Phil __________________ I,M HERE FOR A GOOD TIME NOT ALONG TIME

02-25-2013, 03:31 AM	#10
Fufo n00b Joined: Oct 2012 Location: Freetown Oddometer: 8	West Africa ride Hey Phil, the trip will be fun and not hard, now you have phone coverage and Gas station at least every 250 km, and then you can find fuel, food and water! I just did it http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LeOQ6wYqqRI not from Gambia but from Sierra Leone. Juest an advice, prepare a lot of fiches fo Wester Sahara and Marocco, with your name, your data, were do you go and were do you come and the passport number and moto plate...at least you will need 20 of them! if not you will have to fill it on a piece of paper!

02-25-2013, 11:24 AM	#11
PHILinFRANCE ^OP Studly Adventurer Joined: Aug 2010 Location: S W France my little bit of paradise Oddometer: 759	Hi and thank Fufo Can, t get the vid working though Phil __________________ I,M HERE FOR A GOOD TIME NOT ALONG TIME

03-10-2013, 06:41 PM	#13
Fufo n00b Joined: Oct 2012 Location: Freetown Oddometer: 8	MMM, it looks like for some copyright issues the video cannot be seen in some countries... I've updated the link and the permission http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LeOQ6wYqqRI hope by clikking there it will work? It should work tho!

03-11-2013, 12:58 AM	#14
PHILinFRANCE ^OP Studly Adventurer Joined: Aug 2010 Location: S W France my little bit of paradise Oddometer: 759	Yep got this time great vid and love the fact that you did the trip on a little Chineese bike Love the refueling in the wind Did you bother with any carnets ? reason i ask is there's a few different views on this , some do, some don't and just sort it at the boarders !!! Still in two minds wheather to go on the New Tenere or stick with my trusty 1996 DR650 Cheers Phil __________________ I,M HERE FOR A GOOD TIME NOT ALONG TIME

03-13-2013, 05:50 AM	#15
Fufo n00b Joined: Oct 2012 Location: Freetown Oddometer: 8	WOW, both bike are great, you should stick to the DR! I'm glad you liked the video, yes refueling on the desert with the wind...was something I didn't think about it! I had no carnet and no international driving license, only the insurance, the lifecard of the moto and my national driving licence (Italian). In Morocco they were surprise it was handwritten (the life card was made in Sierra Leone) and in Mauritania they just write on my passport, otherwise I had no problems at the borders. Enjoy your ride!

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