Tunisia - offroad all the way down

[f650gsa]

love it

[Ni3ous]

Originally Posted by Ni3ous

You can see the fire we made in the back, but no smoke, damn it.


Later I figured we have to gather more green branches and grass and put it on the fire.
But there was not much choice for that in the midle of sahara...

Peter did not come back...

We somehow managed to find more and more material and put it on the fire. It was no time for taking pictures now, only gathering material and getting that fire as big as possible, and making a lot of smoke.


We later found out when Peter chasing the truck with KLR, he didnt make it with the bike. There was too much sand in the airbox, so bike died half way trying to stop the truck. He left Kawasaki KLR and ran by foot chasing the truck.
Tilen in the truck, did not saw Peter until he jumped in front of the truck and stopped him.

Dunes were too high and especially too soft, so coming back to find us with vehicle (truck or bike) was too difficult and Peter was exhausted...
So Tilen left the truck and went looking for us by foot. He was walking and trying too find us somewhere in the horizon..

It turned out making fire payed off for us, because Tilen eventually saw the smoke lifting into the sky and so he found us.
He helped us back to the truck slowly, and than we found best way off the dune section on lower ground.
We actually went back for few kilometres.

We decided to find leveled ground to make a camp and sleep another night in the desert.
Best option for us was to wait untill the next morning, and continue early, when dunes are moist and passing will be possible.

Complete team hapilly reunited again.



We learned not to leave truck too far from our sight, when riding.


We need to get to the lower ground seen in the distance, and tomorow we head over some other dune sections.



Under protection of our all mighty beasty truck



This place should do for tonight camp.
It is flat, and there is some bushes around, for making fire.



Night came soon, so we make strategic "rescue" plan in the sand for next day.



We were copletely exhausted from the day, so we went to sleep very soon.

It was a terrible cold night, I woke up finding, that condensed water in my tent is frozen, so it must be way below zero.
I got up pretty early, since it was too cold for sleeping. What a terrible night.

At sunrise sand on the ground was frozen and it was foggy.



So I gathered some branches to make fire and warm my self up.
Others are still sleeping.



Frozen seat in the middle of Grand Erg Oriental



That day we learned something from the day before, so we started earlier, while sand is not soft yet.
We sticked together and progress was good.


So after three days we finally found the road we were looking for. What a happy moment.



So time to put some more pressure in to the tires for faster stone terrain riding.



After 15 kilometres we can already see Timbaine in the distance. The destination, we were looking for for three days.



Some sick fast riding to the final destination over solidified terrain again after three days.



We did it after three days!
Ksar Ghilane direct line to Cafe Timbaine off road - checked.


We deserved some menthae tea and cafe in the shadow. First sign of civilisation after three days for us.


View from the top of the mauntain Timbaine - terrain in the back is where we came from




I would like to congratulate my riding colegues for phisical and mental persistance, strenght and riding techicques needed, to do, what we did, with our heavy bikes.

Th path we took is no ordinary or regular tourist trip. We met no one for the last three days.

Also Tilen - truck driver, he is a great driver, but we had too much trouble with ourselves and our bikes for last three days, to really see what was he able to do with his truck. It is hard to believe what courage and knowledge was needed, to take his truck on such extreme terrain and also make it through.

[Yossarian™]

In a word, Wow.

[Ni3ous]

Here is a clip about Tilens truck and the bike, he is ussually carying in the truck on such trips.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5ZxAe3MUMw

[Klay]

Incredible adventure.

[diskow]

Trippin'

[sigitaemile]

The shadow of the beasty truck looks like the profile of a skull with glasses

Originally Posted by Ni3ous

Under protection of our all mighty beasty truck

[Ni3ous]

Being in Timbaine is probably nothing special, if you take regular tourist pista route from Douz. It takes you maximum half a day and you are there with no extra effort.
For us this destination was a bit more, because we took the "route" that took us three days to get there.
So we enjoyed the moments on top of that mountain.


The view on the neighbour mountain...
After so many days in the sand, camera does not open properly anymore. Sand really gets everywhere.



Closer view to the camp Mars in behind Timbaine mountain




After while we had to climb down the mountain




and continue our trip from Timbaine to Douz.




There was small part of short easy dune section




And later almost only fast speed rocky pistas, heading next to Jebil national park, so progress was good.
We were flyin 100-130 kilometres an hour over rocks.




With no complications this day, we arrived late afternoon to Douz.



It was nice feeling in a confortable seat and drinking fine sweet tea in the shadow again.

[Ni3ous]

That evening we slept in Douz in a small camp.
We had to prepare our bikes for two days ride to the north of the country, to Tunis, where we have reservation for ferry to Italy.

We cleaned our filters, but Kawasaki eate so much sand, that therral cleaning was needed.
Kawasaki didnt build airbox the smartest way. You need to dissasemble and remove all rear part of the frame, including seat, fender, exhaust, plastics... to remove airbox and give it a proper cleaning with gasoline.

After a few hours, job was done and we went to sleep.



Next day it was a great day for riding...



Not really so many bicycles in Tunisia.



But before we took the shortcut next to pipeline to north, Mitja had a flat tire.
We had the equipment needed, and were able to fix it in 45 minutes.




After fixing it, we took that shortcut next to the pipeline over this pista.
It was straight lined for close to 60-80 kilometres.




Exept few railway crossing there was not much else to see.





In these two days riding north to Tunis, we had some short rest stops just next to the road, to strech a bit and relax.
We did not care much for the looks of it :P





We made it to Tunis on time!


We caught ferry that evening, so we were able to leave Tunisia in time as we planned.

The map of the routes we rode

Day six was rest day for half of the team in oasis Ksar Ghilane, and for Peter and Italians was riding day deeper in the desert.


What an adventure we had! It was amazing experience.




.

[A-Wind]

Fantastic adventure with great spirit and exciting story telling.

I enjoyed following it. Thanks for sharing!

Andreas

[diskow]

Eventually, the route of day 6 can not be written in this map because me and italian three guys didnt write it down yet.
Maybe some other day.

Its over !!!!
Thanx Roman. For your time. Great report.

Just for now.


I hope you people enjoyed.

مغامرة مغامرة مغامرة مغامرة مغامرة مغامرة مغامرة مغامرة مغامرة مغامرة مغامرة
مغامرة مغامرة مغامرة مغامرة مغامرة مغامرة مغامرة مغامرة مغامرة مغامرة مغامرة
مغامرة مغامرة مغامرة مغامرة مغامرة مغامرة مغامرة
مغامرة مغامرة مغامرة مغامرة مغامرة مغامرة مغامرة
مغامرة مغامرة مغامرة مغامرة
مغامرة مغامرة مغامرة مغامرة
مغامرة مغامرة
مغامرة مغامرة
مغامرة
مغامرة

now translate if u can :)

[Fantuzzi]

Great Pictures and enjoyable story.
Thanks for sharing.

[svestenik]

Great adventure you guys had :) . Can you post your GPS tracks ?

Pozdravi iz Bosne :) .

[Blacknblue]

Thanks for the great report.

It filled my night at work with drama, adventure, and rare sprit.

[twinie]

very, VERY good!!!