The Tempest Two are a duo of adventure lifestyle fans who think nothing of jumping in a rowing boat and setting off on a 3000 mile epic over the atlantic. Follow the pair as they swap paddles for panniers in this story, as they go from novice motorcyclists, to weather beaten pros in two weeks.
This is their story:
Almost every motorcyclist in their life has dreamt the same dream, the open road ahead of them, the wind whistling through their hair, and the roar of a motorbike as they drive into the sunset. An idyllic scene for sure, but a far-fetched fantasy only obtainable by the Beckham's of this world, or is it?
Earlier this year, we decided to try and make a childhood dream a reality, and prove the system wrong. With zero motorcycle touring experience, we would look to mount two of the most rugged and impressive motorbikes on the market, and ride them from London to the Sahara Desert, to a boutique festival, Beyond Sahara, in under two weeks. We pitched the idea to Triumph, who generously lent us a pair of the Tiger 800 adventure bikes.
Our journey began in the glamorous setting of a Welwyn Garden City motorcycle training centre, our idyllic dream was immediately tarnished as we took our first lesson in freezing cold January rain. The ripped jeans became a pair of waterproof trousers, and the fitted leather jacket became a high-vis waistcoat. Ego’s to one-side, we dedicated ourselves to the cause and hit the open roads. To add to the pressure, we had only nine days from our first lesson, to actually learn and pass the test, and a few days after that we would be leaving for The Sahara. The look on our instructors face when we disclosed this information summed up perfectly how most people viewed this endeavor; arrogant, not possible, and stupid.
The following days we had planned to make our way down the coast to Gibraltar, where we would enter Morocco via ferry. However, it soon became apparent that we had wildly underestimated the distances we had set out for ourselves on a daily basis. When planning the trip, our calculations were made with only experience of driving a car to guide us. Four hours on a motorbike, and four hours in a car, are two very different things it turns out. When riding a bike, you are concentrating every second of every minute, constantly engaged and alert. In a car, it is far easier to zone-out and go into autopilot, thus making time move fast and trips more manageable. Essentially, we realised that driving to Gibraltar would require some serious stints on the bikes, with no time to actually explore and enjoy different places (something we were 100% committed to doing). We scrambled for alternatives, and found we could in fact jump on a ferry in Almeria, and enter Morocco via Nador, an entry point completely void of tourism and western culture.
Our new route would take us from Nador, down a single road through Midelt and into Merzougha (the edge of the Sahara). We had some long hours on the bike ahead, but the beauty of Morocco was overwhelming. We were growing in confidence on the bikes, and starting to push them harder. The long, empty roads through the barren desert were the perfect runways to open up the throttle and have some fun. We passed through abandoned towns, towering canyons and lush-green oasis’. One thing that struck us more than the landscapes though was the reception from the local people. Every child, elderly person, policemen and goat would smile and wave at us. The outlook of these people, who's lives are filled with struggle and hardship, was infectiously positive. We took a huge amount from the people we met throughout the trip, but one person in particular made a real impact on us, leaving us speechless and humbled in equal measures. This man was called Moha, an owner of a tiny cafe in the Moroccan desert. We had pulled in to grab some food and stock up on water, only to find we had no cash and card payments were not available. As we packed up to leave, Moha told us to sit-down, and he would gladly feed and water us free of charge. The willingness to give, when he had very little, was a trait that seemed to be engrained within most of the Moroccans we met.
Our goal for this trip was not just reaching a destination. It was to show people that you don’t have to be an experienced rider to take on such a trip. Many people are intimidated by long-rides, unknown roads and boarder crossings. Adventure bikes are often labelled for the older rider, but this is not the case. We are two young guys, with no experience or credentials to call upon, and we have just returned from one of the most enjoyable two weeks of our lives. If there is one-thing to take from this article; forget pre-conceptions of what you are capable of and start planning your dream-ride, its only a dream until you make it happen.
To read more of The Tempest Two's adventures on land and sea, please look up their blog : http://www.thetempesttwo.com/
Do I need travel insurance for a trip like this?
Just like any holiday, a trip on a motorcycle – be it in the UK, Europe or beyond – can be ruined by delays, lost documents, illness and more. There are plenty of travel insurance options, but you need to make sure you get a policy that includes riding motorcycles, and if it does, that it's for bikes of the engine size you'll be riding (many only cover up to 250cc). At its most basic, you should look for insurance that provides cover for the following:
- Medical expenses
- Loss or theft of personal possessions
- Lost or delayed luggage
- Loss of your passport and other documents
- Travel delays and disruptions
- Having to cut your holiday short
In addition though, if you’re taking a motorcycle (or you're renting one while you’re away) be sure that your insurer will cover you for any medical expenses, should you have an accident. You must also think about where you’re riding – some policies won’t cover you if you’re trail or enduro riding, or if you’re on a race track. Remember – this isn’t about your bike being covered, it’s about your medical expenses, should the worst happen.
If you're only going away once, a single-trip policy will likely be all you need, but also consider an annual policy, which could extend to cover your family holidays too (a good insurer should also be able to offer cover for your whole family).
BikeSocial’s parent company, Bennetts, has a motorcycle-specific travel insurance policy – find out if it suits your needs by clicking here.
