riding in the iron ore train tracks ?

[gs martin]

Hi,

I plan to be in atar for a week this september and will be riding up to choum and will then either, take the piste or ride on the train tracks over to Ben Amera for an overnight sightseeing trip.

Anyone had any experience of either this piste or riding on the track please?

Thanks martin

[Matt Roach]

The main piste from Choum to Nouadhibou runs south of the railway lines, so you will have to cross over to the north of the tracks at some point to get to Ben Amera.

Although generally it is not recommend to head north of the railway line due to the potential for landmines, I think the consensus is that the area around Ben Amera is not mined. Nonetheless it would make sense to stay in other vehicle tracks while north of the railway line.

Unless you are really struggling with the piste or are on a very overweight bike, I would much rather ride on the piste than the tracks due to the risk of tyre damage on sharp sections of the track.

[gs martin]

Thanks Matt

[taniyamorris]

Piste in the loosest sense of the word. You are essentially driving/riding through the desert/dunes S of the railway, as the shifting sands obscure any sense of permanent tracks. Easy enough though - particularly with the railway line as a handrail.

[gs martin]

Thanks for advice, looked thro your web book- looks super, and saw pics of the rail tracks, looks like you did similar too, nice to see what it will be like, cheers martin