Day 0 - Preparations for Launch

 

December 15, 2025

It is the middle of December 2025 and we just wrapped up a nice family get together and a nice memorial for my mom who passed away on November 1, 2025.

A lot of things look a little different now.  

It is similar to how the world changes when you have children or grandkids.  Perspective changes and things look a bit richer and interesting as explore different vantage points related to time, space, love, purpose, drive ... and ikigai.

Today, I made the first hotel reservations for this crazy trip.  I guess at some point I thought this was a good idea : ). Hotels for Sevilla, Chefchaouen, and Fes are done.  Everything else, we will have to play by ear as we make our way through borders, sand, beaches, mountains, and the unknown in an area of the world that is seldom travelled and seen by any traveller.

The plan is to start in Sevilla and head south to see how far we can get in one month

January 7, 2026

Here I am a week before departure.  This is now feeling real.  I also just found out that this is high-season for travelers to Morocco and that hotels may be in short supply.  So, I ended up making hotel reservations all the way through Morocco and Western Sahara all the wa to the border with Mauritania.  It felt like a good move as things were definitely filling up quickly.  It also helps that we only need 2 rooms everywhere we go.

As I begin to pack, I am trying to remember all the things that I left with my motorcycle in Sevilla.  You can check the 2025 Liechtenstein-Monaco-Andorra Moto Adventure blog for details on how my motorcycle made it to Sevilla.

I do remember I left my helmet, pants, jacket, boots and gloves.  Also, some tools and maps and a spare key ... but, what else?  Oh well, there is always the old and tried "lets buy what I forgot ... or just make it up as you go" solution once I get there.  I am already missing Pam. 

January 14, 2026

Departure day is here ... getting everything ready, checklists checked, messages sent, tasks delegated.  

Got up at 4am today to begin operating in European time to be ready to start early on Thursday.  Sevilla -> Algeciras -> Ferry -> Tangier -> Moroccan Border -> Chefchaouen for the night.

All in one bag that can be spread into the motorcycle panniers.  No checked luggage this time.