BAD TRIP - Morocco, Marrakesh and a meltdown.

This trip didn't go according to plan.
What would you have done?
A big learning experience for me, one that I will reflect on in the future.
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[@GavCritchley]

Thought about this a lot over the past couple of weeks. What would have really helped would have been someone quietly pulling me to the side and saying 'Its fine, you are doing just fine...try doing this...have you thought about doing that...why not enter the corner this way, perhaps lean that way'. I think if I'd had a little bit of encouragement, I'd have kept my confidence.

[@jonallen4017]

I doth my cap to you sir for your honesty, no disgrace not every one is up to Paris Dakar pace and it doesn’t make for an enjoyable ride when your playing catch up . . Great video, really informative, great sound and picture quality . Thanks for posting and keep them coming .👍

[@God-Knows-I-Dont]

Dam right. Good call. Live to ride another day . Fantastic footage and great commentary. Really enjoyed it.

[@BriKinsella]

Cracking video Gav and very considerate of you not to take up the offer of the others adjusting their speed. 👍🏼

[@GavCritchley]

Thank you!

[@simonthorn5884]

Great vid Gav and sounds like the right thing to have done, as you said you’re on holiday! Fab adventure.

[@GavCritchley]

When I explained it to Deird, it was her comment about Skiing that struck me. You know I don't ski....but I could imagine that feeling if you are with people at the top of the run looking down....

[@firestorm996]

Good vid. Very big of you to do what you did and admit there was a mismatch between yourself and the rest of the group. Nothing more dangerous than someone trying hard to keep up with a group, usually from the back, and in your case on unfamiliar roads with variable surface. Morocco is not a good place to get injured in the middle of nowhere.

[@GavCritchley]

Thanks. I've thought a lot about this since the trip, and was just talking to a pal about it last night. Not everyone wants to do the twisties and get their knee down, but in some circles this is perceived as not being a 'real biker'...cue conversation about chicken strips and uneven tyre wear. I think I'm at last old enough to say 'f*ck em!'.

[@rt6798]

Good call Gavin. Wish I was there with you mate, looks like an amazing trip..

[@GavCritchley]

Easy to do from Tarifa. I left my bike (with a random bloke I met on a Facebook page...another story!) in Tarifa, and did the rest on the train. Next time I'll take my own bike and then I can go at my own speed and stop where I want. I'm a slow rider!

[@llamamanism]

I’ve had this as well, riding at the limit for 8 hours a day is not relaxing. I hope the lady rider fared well

[@GavCritchley]

She did. She stuck with it, which was impressive. She'd come from the States to do this trip specifically. I expect/hope that the fellas wound it back a bit.

[@thaumaturgeishere331]

Good call!

[@GavCritchley]

Thank you!

[@2wheelsrbest327]

Should of watched this before I left my comment on previous video. Its exactly what I said.

[@GavCritchley]

They were lovely people, but I'm a big boy now and can happily do it by myself!

[@Beardmondy67]

.. Discretion being the better part of valour, Gavin,.. I had a painful experience in October thanks to a hire bike's badly worn front tyre, ( I should've checked the bike over before I rode the bloody heap ). I was a few miles into an 80 mile round trip to Mindhead with the 'Off The Kerb' firm in Dorking when I rounded a slow corner standing-up, stupidly hit the front brake and slammed hard down on my right side, breaking a few ribs, ( around the Fullers Farm loop area ).. Feeling a bit of a dick, I remounted in some pain and carried on a few more miles and ended-up dumping the poxy bike again at the bottom of the tricky London Lane,. ! I remounted once again, though I was having problems riding at this point and the universe intervened as shortly after one of the group suffered a puncture at which point I elected to part company with the group and head back to Dorking and Ryker's for a burger and to lick my cracked ribs whilst regaling the folks in the car park of my disastrous morning ,.. I shall however be back down the Surrey lanes on my own bike, ( a KX450 X ) when the weather and conditions dry-up,.. Might catch you out and about, mate ,.. Cheers for now,.. Dan Shooter ,..

[@GavCritchley]

Dan, if you’ve seen any of my earlier vids you’ll know I know that area very well. I live in Peaslake so learnt my off road technique on those very lanes. I see the Off the Kerb folks out and about all the time. And good for you for saying ‘enough is enough’. It was the right thing for me, and sounds it for you too. If you ever want to go for a ridiculously slow and cautious ride, let me know!

[@Beardmondy67]

@@GavCritchley ..Howdy there again, Gavin,.. Yes indeed mate, I've watched your lanes vids many times over which have been a great help in acquainting myself with the Surrey lanes recently,.. I've done a few of them on my KX450 earlier in the year and some with that Off The Kurb outfit prior to my ill fated October fiasco with them,.. I've also bought four classic evo two stroke MX bikes and have done a few MX days this year, ( of which I find more fun, and arguably less hazardous than green laning ! ).....I'd be delighted to have a lanes cavort with your goodly Youtoob star self, ( I'm based in Wombledon ). The ribs are all fixed now, but the weather has been putting me off and I'm no fan of riding through muddy lakes and getting covered in sh*te as I don't possess a jet wash at present,... Anyhooo, as I'm retired / unemployable I'm about through the week generally, so let me know if you fancy the company of a hairy old Womble on a ride-out,.. Cheers for now,.. Dan,.. :o)