Outback Challenge: Morocco (Team USA)
- Thread starter Scott Brady
- Start date
expeditionswest said:
Keep an open mind about this, and find out what you can about the terrain and time constrains of the planned events. Using a laptop based nav system requires a certain degree of stability in the cabin, as well as time to use the equipment, and may be better suited to low-key events. Laptops just don't work well in high speed rough terrain events, such as blasting around in the dune country, or at night under low light conditions. Most laptops are also not very rugged. I would suggest having a simple, large screen GPS device available as an alternative, in case you need to fall back on simple but effective as a plan B. My 2 cents.
Scott Brady
Founder
We are in Avignon and trialing with the PZJ73. The food is fantatstic and the host has been wonderful.
outback imports has quite an operation here.
the GPS will be the the primary nav method, followed by the computer. the water crossings can be over 1.3M so the cumputer will be quite vulnerable.
off to work on loading in the truck
outback imports has quite an operation here.
the GPS will be the the primary nav method, followed by the computer. the water crossings can be over 1.3M so the cumputer will be quite vulnerable.
off to work on loading in the truck
Jonathan Hanson
Well-known member
Thanks for taking the time to update us, Scott!
Desertdude
Expedition Leader
Yeah Scott - thanks for keeping us in the "loop" - enjoy the food !
Scott Brady
Founder
4/24
we leave for Sete and then Morocco tomorrow.
obtaining final equipment today, and second spare with Staun beadlocks. loading and lashing in the cargo area and African Outback roller drawer system
the pzj73 is running 35" kevlar belted baja t/a
we leave for Sete and then Morocco tomorrow.
obtaining final equipment today, and second spare with Staun beadlocks. loading and lashing in the cargo area and African Outback roller drawer system
the pzj73 is running 35" kevlar belted baja t/a
BajaTaco
Swashbuckler
I tried to embed the World Time Server's dynamic graphic into the thread here - to show current time in M'Hamid, but I can't get the code to work in the WYSIWYG editor.
So here is the link > MOROCCO CURRENT TIME
So here is the link > MOROCCO CURRENT TIME
Desertdude
Expedition Leader
Thanks for including that Chris :beer:
DesertRose
Safari Chick & Supporting Sponsor
I can't imagine a more perfect adventure - gastronomy :eatchicke followed by real adventure and then more gastronomy :smilies27 to celebrate the victory! Good luck Scott :arabia:
VikingVince
Explorer
What a great adventure plus great food:chowtime:
How long is your visa good for? You might consider getting lost on purpose:jumping: "Morocco Meandering Mania"
How long is your visa good for? You might consider getting lost on purpose:jumping: "Morocco Meandering Mania"
Scott and Nathan Update
I receive almost daily reports from Nathan and Scott on their adventures in Morocco. They got off a 48 hour ferry ride from France to Tangiers Morocco today and have started their 400 mile drive to their race course start. Attached are some selected photos.
Here was an update from yesterday (4/26)
Just heard from Nathan again. Their 10 hour queue turned into 12 hours but the good news is they're all finally on the ferry and starting their crossing of the Mediterranean to Tangiers, Morocco. The bad news is the ferry has one engine down and the 36 hour crossing is expected to be 48 hours. This pushes them back on schedule and as soon as they land at 11pm on Thursday night, they'll have to start a 400 mile journey to get to the race course start on Friday morning. Coincidentally their first task is a 300 mile trek across the desert. woohoo.
There are 14 teams participating and they've been broken up into teams of 2 vehicles for traveling safety. Although they are scored individually, the 2 vehicle teams are responsible for each other and are not allowed to leave each others sight, so there are alwasy 4 guys together if something breaks or they get lost. They were all also given flares and the rule is if anyone gets stuck in the desert they need to stay put and at 5am the next morning they shoot off a flare to let everyone know where they are and then another every 30 minutes from then on until they are found.
Apparently the whole competition is in French. Nathan and Scott were paired up with some cousins who speak french and english so they translate for them. Nicola, who Nathan described as right out of a 3 Musketeers movie, is from Luxembourg, and Sebastian is from Belgium. After sizing up the other teams he thinks they'll come out somewhere in the middle becase there are some very capable trucks. It will ultimately come down to Scott's driving capabilities and Nathan's navigation, so be thinking of them.
I receive almost daily reports from Nathan and Scott on their adventures in Morocco. They got off a 48 hour ferry ride from France to Tangiers Morocco today and have started their 400 mile drive to their race course start. Attached are some selected photos.
Here was an update from yesterday (4/26)
Just heard from Nathan again. Their 10 hour queue turned into 12 hours but the good news is they're all finally on the ferry and starting their crossing of the Mediterranean to Tangiers, Morocco. The bad news is the ferry has one engine down and the 36 hour crossing is expected to be 48 hours. This pushes them back on schedule and as soon as they land at 11pm on Thursday night, they'll have to start a 400 mile journey to get to the race course start on Friday morning. Coincidentally their first task is a 300 mile trek across the desert. woohoo.
There are 14 teams participating and they've been broken up into teams of 2 vehicles for traveling safety. Although they are scored individually, the 2 vehicle teams are responsible for each other and are not allowed to leave each others sight, so there are alwasy 4 guys together if something breaks or they get lost. They were all also given flares and the rule is if anyone gets stuck in the desert they need to stay put and at 5am the next morning they shoot off a flare to let everyone know where they are and then another every 30 minutes from then on until they are found.
Apparently the whole competition is in French. Nathan and Scott were paired up with some cousins who speak french and english so they translate for them. Nicola, who Nathan described as right out of a 3 Musketeers movie, is from Luxembourg, and Sebastian is from Belgium. After sizing up the other teams he thinks they'll come out somewhere in the middle becase there are some very capable trucks. It will ultimately come down to Scott's driving capabilities and Nathan's navigation, so be thinking of them.