This afternoon the guys unloaded the luggage and set off for some riding on the dunes. Dan is an expert with his 450 Yamaha, but this was the first time in the dunes with the 800. As Orvar says Daniel is a pretty incredible rider.


https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7727/...928d9bc7_c.jpgmerzouga 139 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7693/...80e93e35_c.jpgmerzouga 145 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr


https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7662/...934b66fa_c.jpgmerzouga 153 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8708/...9107f97d_c.jpgIMG_0942 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7696/...2b8f4588_c.jpgmerzouga 165 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7690/...79dfd88d_c.jpgmerzouga 179 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7625/...63a2dee2_c.jpgmerzouga 172 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7691/...ef07187d_c.jpgmerzouga 173 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8808/...dab2694c_c.jpgmerzouga 185 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

Ride to Roots
 

It was nice to meet up with Eduard and Simona from RIDE TO ROOTS for dinner tonight and to get route advice for some off road riding from an expert in Morocco.




https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8821/...5d35973d_c.jpgDSC09478 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

N'Kob and the PIST
 

Today we headed to N’kob in 225 km, but opted to start via the pist and to ride along the dunes.

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8701/...e4d4b6e3_o.pngScreen Shot 2015-04-02 at 2.28.07 PM by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8818/...a7ee4918_c.jpgN'kob 4 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7652/...c31753a9_c.jpgN'kob 5 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7645/...0b2d009f_c.jpgN'kob 6 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7612/...39a37f01_c.jpgIMG_0995 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7661/...257df2cf_c.jpgN'kob 8 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7718/...0dedf75a_c.jpgN'kob 11 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8764/...15f68ca7_c.jpgN'kob 14 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7591/...740a684a_c.jpgN'kob 15 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8811/...15a8079e_c.jpgN'kob 16 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

Yasmina Lake
 

Our friends had suggested a stop at Yasmina Lake. This is a lake formed by rainfall and is seasonal. The road is a bit sandy in spots. The only marker to the turn off is this small sign.

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7637/...b67c06c4_o.pngScreen Shot 2015-04-02 at 2.27.17 PM by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7612/...17ca80b7_c.jpgN'kob 17 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7586/...4f3b42db_c.jpgN'kob 19 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7615/...57eca023_c.jpgG0032838 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8778/...de1efc70_c.jpgN'kob 21 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8825/...fbcb43f0_c.jpgN'kob 23 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7615/...dcb216d7_c.jpgN'kob 22 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7603/...ba39ea11_c.jpgN'kob 25 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr




https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7667/...07f797cd_c.jpgN'kob 26 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

Rissani
 

From here we rode on the gravel until we connected back to the main highway. We needed to stop in Rissani for money since there is no bank machine in Merzouga.




https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7655/...585889b1_o.pngScreen Shot 2015-04-02 at 2.27.36 PM by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr


https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8807/...ab672888_c.jpgN'kob 31 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8718/...37b118e7_c.jpgN'kob 32 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8824/...75d3cea7_c.jpgIMG_1025 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8810/...4fb15852_c.jpgIMG_1026 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7607/...3fda4862_c.jpgIMG_1013 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7639/...18d33ae3_c.jpgN'kob 33 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8696/...0ac2e2d0_c.jpgN'kob 34 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8809/...f6be5d1a_c.jpgN'kob 35 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7653/...2d5aeb78_c.jpgN'kob 39 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr


https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7667/...ee5055db_c.jpgIMG_1031 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

Cascavel Portuguesa
 

On the road west to N’kob you head 10 km west from the town and there is an unmarked track to the right. This leads to the Cascavel Portuguesa. This was built to contain water for irrigation. Now you can drive thru the opening in the wall and up to the spectacular viewpoint.

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8713/...256327a1_o.pngScreen Shot 2015-04-02 at 2.29.58 PM by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8706/...cfd00878_c.jpgN'kob 40 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7670/...8e394af0_c.jpgN'kob 41 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8699/...179c1caa_c.jpgN'kob 43 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7724/...09d5086e_c.jpgN'kob 45 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7611/...b025c2ec_c.jpgN'kob 46 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8734/...e4a14aa5_c.jpgIMG_3755 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8732/...537a8691_c.jpgN'kob 48 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8769/...fa5381e7_c.jpgIMG_1070 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8762/...0dab5f65_c.jpgN'kob 51 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8739/...b22d6070_c.jpgN'kob 53 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8752/...74f1347b_c.jpgIMG_3760 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7712/...63696b88_c.jpgIMG_1085 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7716/...ce0dea17_c.jpgN'kob 67 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

Leaving here we continued onto N’kob. We drove around to a few Kasbahs before we found one that was no too expensive. The others were filled with riders on tours. The nice thing about the Kasbahs is they usually include dinner and breakfast.

off road
 

Getting up this morning we had a 257 km day and some of it off road.


https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7651/...e13cbaa0_o.pngScreen Shot 2015-04-02 at 2.35.41 PM by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr


We headed west again to the track from the paved road.

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8699/...4e4399d3_o.pngScreen Shot 2015-04-02 at 2.36.10 PM by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr


It is marked with the big yellow sign.



https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7688/...225725e4_c.jpgdades 1 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7624/...1ce164d8_c.jpgdades 3 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8745/...9bdc22a4_c.jpgdades 4 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

The initial section is hard packed and gravel.


https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7711/...d9bf2f76_c.jpgdades 5 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7683/...396c0d72_c.jpgdades 6 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8811/...d5195277_c.jpgdades 7 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8696/...d57960c4_c.jpgdades 8 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7672/...1823e807_c.jpgdades 10 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7596/...3c03d373_c.jpgdades 13 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7584/...15ab1e37_c.jpgdades 15 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7636/...e7d843ff_c.jpgdades 19 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7720/...789408dc_c.jpgdades 20 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8783/...9b6a14a5_c.jpgdades 23 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

The middle section is a lot rockier with sandy sections at the now dry river crossings.


https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7719/...98c9a99d_c.jpgdades 11 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8724/...68294793_c.jpgdades 21 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8785/...492e2171_c.jpgdades 18 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8706/...9af47851_c.jpgdades 22 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7700/...10ec1ecd_c.jpgdades 27 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7664/...d76b4c9c_c.jpgdades 29 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7590/...690f8e16_c.jpgdades 31 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8686/...e5e14f27_c.jpgdades 35 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8747/...bf44b95f_c.jpgIMG_1104 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7663/...b47eee03_c.jpgIMG_1126 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

We did initially think we could make it on the track straight thru to the waterfalls, but the river it way too high on April 1. Dan got himself a little stuck while scouting around. We backtracked about 2 km and then asked a local farmer if this track led to the next town across the river (i.e. a bridge) and it did.

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8742/...f95a40f2_o.pngScreen Shot 2015-04-02 at 2.38.03 PM by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8781/...b7725e5d_c.jpgdades 40 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8701/...b236ca2a_c.jpgdades 41 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8779/...76b10632_c.jpgIMG_1146 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7725/...42c9204f_c.jpgIMG_1148 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7626/...76e84e1c_c.jpgIMG_1142 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

Sara did have an issue with the bike not starting, and this may be from the fan needing to be on in the heat and not enough speed to charge the battery that is not charging perfectly. Luckily Orvar still had some water for us and we could jump start the bike. Also luckily we were just about 200 m from the end of the sand and about 5 km from the pavement.


https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7637/...a17a3c48_c.jpgdades 28 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8700/...acb5570f_c.jpgdades 44 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7664/...60d8576d_c.jpgdades 46 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8734/...abe0126f_c.jpgIMG_1169 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

Out on the highway after 50 km we stopped in Ouarzazate for food and to check the battery was charging.


https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8750/...d08c399e_c.jpgdades 50 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8693/...521883f8_c.jpgdades 53 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

We made friends with these lovely girls at the boulangerie.

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7677/...1f2d60f9_o.jpgIMG_0225 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7641/...5fb1231d_c.jpgdades 55 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7675/...c0a9a478_c.jpgdades 57 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

Dades Gorge
 

From here we had another 110 km to Boulamaine Dades. Our Kasbah was up on the hill across from and with a great view of the town and the sunset. We decided to stay here two nights to get a bit of a rest.


https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8801/...34372921_c.jpgdades 62 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr


On our rest day we did a short ride in the afternoon for 20 km up the R 704 and into the Dades Gorge. We just rode up to the mirador or viewpoint and the lower gorge, since we will be riding back down the upper part of this road the next day.


https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7661/...455238a5_o.pngScreen Shot 2015-04-05 at 5.49.15 PM by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7647/...e27ab79a_c.jpgFILE0107 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr



https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8730/...85960748_c.jpgDSC09559 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8824/...047d3ce8_c.jpgIMG_1214 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7602/...fdc77448_c.jpgDSC09564 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7642/...709022e4_c.jpgDSC09580 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7637/...a3512036_c.jpgDSC09568 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8755/...5381448d_c.jpgDSC09566 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr


https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7618/...340fd010_c.jpgDSC09567 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7626/...d7fd396a_c.jpgDSC09569 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7673/...b1dc4f21_c.jpgFILE0039 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7696/...edbeea54_c.jpgDSC09575 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8823/...53700dc6_c.jpgDSC09577 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7714/...b2b764bf_c.jpgFILE0249 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7631/...574c93a0_c.jpgFILE0258 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7589/...381bf4f1_c.jpgFILE0271 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7691/...344412da_c.jpgFILE0462 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8744/...a37f673d_c.jpgIMG_1211 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

The 45 km short cut that took 6 hours
 

The plan for today was to ride up the Toudgha gorge across the connecting “road” and down the Dades gorge. After that the plan was to back track to Ouarzazate and then go north to Ait Ben Haddou in 408 km.

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8705/...b1a4e54c_c.jpgScreen Shot 2015-04-18 at 9.24.21 PM by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr


First we had 53 km to Tinghir and then another 36 km on the paved road to the cut off road, which is 47 km and back to the pavement.

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8778/...26c36d2b_o.pngScreen Shot 2015-04-18 at 9.24.42 PM by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr


https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8728/...266ebacb_c.jpgcanyon cross road 1 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr


https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8822/...041f9e14_c.jpgcanyon cross road 2 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

Toudgha Gorge
 

On the road up you pass thru the Toudgha gorge, which is as narrow as 10 meters in spots.

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8722/...0fe64533_c.jpgcanyon cross road 3 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8766/...3f69d2f4_c.jpgcanyon cross road 4 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7643/...7c292bd9_c.jpgcanyon cross road 6 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr



https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8770/...49f26396_c.jpgcanyon cross road 8 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8719/...1afe1b12_c.jpgcanyon cross road 10 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr



https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7672/...89ec9fbf_c.jpgcanyon cross road 15 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr


https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8748/...e1245bb3_c.jpgcanyon cross road 12 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7637/...fc51abdf_c.jpgcanyon cross road 14 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr


https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7718/...7112df72_c.jpgFILE0476 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr


From the gorge we rode up the paved road to the cut off.





https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7686/...e3026bd0_c.jpgIMG_1262 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8718/...6c6b8f72_c.jpgG0063208 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7592/...15de1d01_c.jpgG0063200 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr


https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8765/...bcfc10d2_c.jpgcanyon cross road 16 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7592/...15322c7f_c.jpgcanyon cross road 18 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7693/...d7731f7a_c.jpgcanyon cross road 19 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8743/...dde8b6b2_c.jpgcanyon cross road 20 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8796/...33d8cc81_c.jpgcanyon cross road 23 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7608/...e3bbc39a_c.jpgcanyon cross road 17 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8812/...78eba4e8_c.jpgIMG_1267 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8737/...9c7358c3_c.jpgIMG_1276 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr


https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8815/...d73212aa_c.jpgG0063235 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

The short cut that took 6 hours
 

The ride from the cut off 54 km to the viewpoint at Dades Gorge took almost 6 hours. This was mostly in the last 16 km. This “short” cut was some seriously challenging riding for all of us.


https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8748/...ffd0b16b_o.pngScreen Shot 2015-04-18 at 9.25.32 PM by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr


Initially the road was a good dirt road with some steep switchbacks and the pass was at over 2500m.

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8825/...cbbe6277_c.jpgcanyon cross road 31 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8795/...f17117bb_c.jpgcanyon cross road 32 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr


https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8802/...ae089296_c.jpgcanyon cross road 24 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7586/...fd1823a9_c.jpgcanyon cross road 25 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7690/...d4aea3ee_c.jpgcanyon cross road 27 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7671/...a747318c_c.jpgcanyon cross road 28 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8697/...4af9088e_c.jpgcanyon cross road 34 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8774/...9e88b59b_c.jpgIMG_1328 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8759/...c56394da_c.jpgIMG_1329 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

There are a few people living out here in total isolation in tents with a few horses and animals.

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8805/...b751d02d_c.jpgcanyon cross road 35 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7676/...a2460db8_c.jpgcanyon cross road 51 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr


https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7684/...4ae56dd3_c.jpgcanyon cross road 36 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7586/...5076ae20_c.jpgIMG_1286 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8826/...43ce843b_c.jpgIMG_1289 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8785/...d67a6351_c.jpgIMG_1291 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8798/...0acf0324_c.jpgIMG_1298 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8748/...a2362d21_c.jpgcanyon cross road 37 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8788/...b5262c97_c.jpgcanyon cross road 38 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7609/...aac634ce_c.jpgcanyon cross road 40 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7669/...7c4043bd_c.jpgcanyon cross road 42 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7597/...552a8a9f_c.jpgcanyon cross road 43 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7641/...792432d7_c.jpgcanyon cross road 44 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7680/...998092d0_c.jpgcanyon cross road 47 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7689/...2ffc5357_c.jpgcanyon cross road 46 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8752/...22983bab_c.jpgcanyon cross road 49 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7663/...7b14e58c_c.jpgcanyon cross road 71 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7604/...d5afa9a6_c.jpgcanyon cross road 72 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7655/...e45f9f21_c.jpgcanyon cross road 73 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7660/...0c14f00a_c.jpgcanyon cross road 75 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7706/...da0cfd40_c.jpgcanyon cross road 77 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

From here we thought we had it made since it was only 16 km more down to the pavement, but here is where it got really hard. We were more often driving down the riverbed, which were large rocks at times. Poor Dan had to ride some of the more tricky parts TWICE!

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7660/...4a1f9de6_c.jpgcanyon cross road 63 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr


https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7588/...d6877a9d_c.jpgcanyon cross road 48 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7721/...491a1dcb_c.jpgcanyon cross road 52 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7646/...4b0814aa_c.jpgcanyon cross road 57 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8793/...dc9d8687_c.jpgcanyon cross road 58 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8753/...7c75a1fa_c.jpgcanyon cross road 54 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7605/...40eb185d_c.jpgcanyon cross road 61 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7646/...1f700cd8_c.jpgcanyon cross road 62 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

The worst part was at times where the road was not washed away it was quite good, but around the next corner it was even worse than before. Like all these things where the route was really hard and the going very difficult we did not stop for photos.

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8765/...395a8a78_c.jpgcanyon cross road 65 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7642/...0b7ff9a1_c.jpgcanyon cross road 66 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7593/...65819630_c.jpgcanyon cross road 69 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8777/...f53aee4b_c.jpgcanyon cross road 78 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8782/...67459c43_c.jpgcanyon cross road 82 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7613/...02226391_c.jpgcanyon cross road 84 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8703/...36dc527a_c.jpgcanyon cross road 85 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

Getting in and out of the riverbed when there was road was sometimes a challenge.


https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8802/...32824c20_c.jpgIMG_1305 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8790/...67041563_c.jpgIMG_1307 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8725/...43bcac52_c.jpgIMG_1308 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8813/...5c45bc31_c.jpgIMG_1312 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7626/...38561cd0_c.jpgIMG_1320 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

Sara whacked her right pannier on a low-outcropped rock and took a spill. No damage to her, but we had to take a rock to get the pannier back in shape.


https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8767/...7c923c99_c.jpgIMG_1330 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8811/...5bf8dbca_c.jpgIMG_1333 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8704/...3665c56a_c.jpgIMG_1335 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr


We finally saw a 4 WD vehicle after here so at least the way was passable! We were mostly riding in the riverbed as the road was washed out. There were some stretches with large rocks to ride over and lots of just riding down the river.


https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7637/...ae71222d_c.jpgIMG_1338 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7701/...ce68578b_c.jpgIMG_1340 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8715/...12da2219_c.jpgIMG_1353 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7597/...d0cf1fa1_c.jpgIMG_1359 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7693/...59accdd9_c.jpgIMG_1378 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7631/...03dacc28_c.jpgIMG_1379 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7711/...c287f3d3_c.jpgIMG_1381 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8810/...c2f9607c_c.jpgIMG_1383 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8820/...07ba4a35_c.jpgIMG_1384 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

When we got 4 km from the road we met 2 guys on big bikes, who by the way turned around when they eventually saw what it was like the way we had just come.

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8755/...6cd92959_c.jpgIMG_1350 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr




When we were 1 km from the road we made a left on the track and not a right across the river and Daniel almost made it thru that way, but ended up buried in the deep mud. Thanks to Bramed, who was “guiding” the other bikers as he helped us to unsuction the front tire and drag the bike back to the dryer ground.

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8729/...720bdab2_c.jpgIMG_1388 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7718/...fd2a1b01_c.jpgIMG_1387 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7661/...e7e1c180_c.jpgIMG_1390 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7698/...160cbfb4_c.jpgIMG_1392 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7711/...f775098a_c.jpgIMG_1393 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

Sara’s bike was having issues again and now would start, but stall in first (side stand sensor) we flicked the stand up and down a few times and it worked. Later we saw that the side stand sensor must have been damaged after hitting all the rocks. As well as one of the bolts from the side stand was sheered off making it unusable.

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7727/...9c375b4a_c.jpgIMG_1395 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8700/...89bc0d45_c.jpgcanyon cross road 89 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7600/...a7863697_c.jpgIMG_1399 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7652/...8541b08f_c.jpgIMG_1403 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7619/...93585323_c.jpgFILE0411 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7602/...597f7f7b_c.jpgIMG_1404 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7688/...f27cd387_c.jpgIMG_1407 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

Cut the brown wire
 

When we got to the viewpoint it would not stay running. Lucky Dan had read ADV Geeks and we had been joking since we left Vancouver about “cutting the brown wire”. We removed the sensor, took apart the connection, cut the (center) brown middle wire, and reconnected and installed the sensor. Voila bike running!


https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7618/...0e7d5cee_c.jpgIMG_1409 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8730/...02aa244a_c.jpgIMG_3784 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7646/...666aee1d_o.jpgsensor by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr


The problem now is that it was 630 pm and we had 204 km to get to Ait Ben Haddou.


https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7718/...30f287c7_o.pngScreen Shot 2015-04-05 at 6.19.36 PM by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

We raced the sun and made it almost back to Ouarzazate by dark. We hate riding in the dark. The road north is on the main N9, but the last 10 km was on a road paved only in the center, which made it a challenge when there was oncoming traffic. We had reserved a hotel on bookings (as we do in Big cities, tourist towns, or when we may be very late in the day) and had the GPS coordinates. When we arrived at then GPS location the hotel was not of the name we had booked at. We checked next door and the owner said she had never heard of this property. So we checked back at the first place. The guy came out and we showed him the name and he said that is their booking.com name and he had our reservation. Long story short both were lying. The first lady owns the hotel next door to the one we booked at! The second guy did not have our reservation! Bookings is sorting it out for us.

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8734/...2786afe6_c.jpgFILE0484 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

The back way to Marrakesh
 

We backtracked 10 km to the highway for gas and then thru Ait Ben Haddou again to go on the back roads north to Marrakesh in 180 KM.


https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7680/...40b1c0d8_o.pngScreen Shot 2015-04-18 at 10.47.52 PM by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr



The road is initially paved and snakes up into the mountain past several remote villages. The center section is a good hard packed (when dry) dirt road with only one real river crossing.

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7617/...eb0aacb2_c.jpgFILE0514 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7675/...91c783fa_c.jpgFILE0549 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8805/...33235c66_c.jpgFILE0571 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8786/...38fe5b29_c.jpgFILE0573 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8779/...72cd1d65_c.jpgmarrakesh 5 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr


https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7700/...67c6f0e4_c.jpgmarrakesh 4 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7688/...b3fb6dd6_c.jpgmarrakesh 6 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

The end of the road is paved also and takes you back to the N9. This is a windy road that includes the famous Tizi-n-Tichka pass.

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7703/...dc01718f_c.jpgFILE0589 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8822/...37f3ae08_c.jpgFILE0609 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7646/...a6fc4f53_c.jpgFILE0626 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7654/...3c960a65_c.jpgmarrakesh 12 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr


https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7593/...608ecc52_o.pngScreen Shot 2015-04-18 at 10.48.10 PM by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7688/...45a4487a_c.jpgmarrakesh 7 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5453/...d1d0f493_c.jpgIMG_1421 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

From here we headed into the city and actually the traffic though a bit hairy was not actually that bad.


https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8762/...69a0ffe0_c.jpgmarrakesh 13 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7715/...4df6fe7c_c.jpgmarrakesh 14 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7612/...2f061446_c.jpgmarrakesh 15 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr


We had booked a hotel outside of the Medina with nice underground parking. We need a few days rest from the bikes.

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7604/...78cdff96_c.jpgmarrakesh 16 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7685/...3efe315e_c.jpgmarrakesh 17 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

We just missed Snoop apparently! But we did not miss out on finding a “lounge” where you can get BEER!

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8801/...512925d4_c.jpgmarrakesh 19 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8819/...73b84ccf_c.jpgmarrakesh 20 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

The first day in Marrakesh we walked down the wide Paris like avenues and to the Medina thru the main gate, which is the mot picturesque and then to the main mosque. We had a strange incident on the way to the gate. Walking towards us on the 5 m wide pedestrian walk was a man dressed in white robes, with a white Moroccan hat and a long white beard. He was caring a lap top case ans seemed to be just strolling along. When he was about a meter from Orvar and Daniel who were walking just behind me he suddenly vered towards Orvar and almost chest bumped him in an aggressive manner and walked away. Very weird and a bit unnerving. The other locals looking on were also shocked at the man’s behaviour.

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8783/...3bdcb414_c.jpgmarrakesh 22 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7598/...6a2dd22f_c.jpgmarrakesh 23 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7680/...7167cd2c_c.jpgmarrakesh 24 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8711/...ac0f02cd_c.jpgmarrakesh 29 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7698/...5fea7b35_c.jpgmarrakesh 80 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

Like many cities here very high walls or ramparts surround the old city.


https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8798/...2d8a762c_c.jpgmarrakesh 26 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7647/...72847a85_c.jpgmarrakesh 25 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7667/...7f5e7904_c.jpgmarrakesh 27 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

The center of the city is the main mosque, with its high minaret


https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7614/...2241929d_c.jpgmarrakesh 30 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7681/...3dd8d506_c.jpgmarrakesh 32 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7643/...4783dcd3_c.jpgmarrakesh 33 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7622/...abec124e_c.jpgmarrakesh 34 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

Having a coffee on the avenue was a great place to people watch.

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7717/...7b3808a4_c.jpgmarrakesh 41 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr


https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8704/...3198ab2c_c.jpgmarrakesh 35 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8772/...62874948_c.jpgmarrakesh 36 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8786/...b742e26b_c.jpgmarrakesh 37 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

Walking into the Main Square or Jemaa el-Fnaa of the old city you are hit with all kinds of sights, smells, and sounds. There are musicians, dancers, snake charmers, fortunetellers, fruit sellers, and henna painters.


https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7600/...7153b8d4_c.jpgmarrakesh 21 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7679/...42183eb0_c.jpgmarrakesh 43 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8814/...c2ef3cfb_c.jpgmarrakesh 44 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8737/...4b9f72f3_c.jpgmarrakesh 45 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7687/...32b17800_c.jpgmarrakesh 46 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr





https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8785/...4dce78c9_c.jpgmarrakesh 47 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

We then braved the maze of the Souks for some great picture taking at the spice and dried fruit stalls. There are many beautiful things we did not buy.


https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8717/...5050e545_c.jpgmarrakesh 28 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7594/...3f6f0547_c.jpgmarrakesh 39 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7657/...e47cb291_c.jpgmarrakesh 40 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8738/...48c92c90_c.jpgmarrakesh 49 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7683/...9ce6a13e_c.jpgmarrakesh 48 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8801/...83061cc9_c.jpgmarrakesh 50 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7708/...d009ab3d_c.jpgmarrakesh 51 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8715/...0aa78986_c.jpgmarrakesh 53 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7702/...ff24a6f4_c.jpgmarrakesh 56 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8695/...2bd86430_c.jpgmarrakesh 58 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8691/...1e1ea8c7_c.jpgmarrakesh 60 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7605/...014c633b_c.jpgmarrakesh 66 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8808/...a6d27581_c.jpgmarrakesh 67 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7707/...4c2ec7b2_c.jpgmarrakesh 72 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7631/...e0e6cb98_c.jpgmarrakesh 73 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7668/...e53b03e2_c.jpgmarrakesh 75 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

For the evening we did a totally touristy thing we went to a dinner show at the Palais Jad Mahal. The fire twirlers and belly dancers were entertaining, but like most of these places the food was mediocre.


https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8730/...a3de4a5d_c.jpgmarrakesh 90 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8696/...eda35faa_c.jpgmarrakesh 91 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7585/...0cce68c4_c.jpgmarrakesh 92 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7710/...6b94ca6d_c.jpgmarrakesh 93 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7708/...aa2b1e23_c.jpgmarrakesh 95 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8731/...f221311e_c.jpgmarrakesh 97 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8763/...29c0b502_c.jpgmarrakesh 98 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7612/...8c3268d9_c.jpgmarrakesh 99 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

Oukaimeden road
 

The plan today had been to go 160 km north east to visit the d’Ozoud waterfalls and drive back. The forecast was for rain so instead we decided to just hang out and rest in the city. This gave the guys some time to work on the bikes also. For Dan this was to get the rocks stuck in my bash plate out. While he was doing this he found that 3 of the bolts were sheared off. Again this was from the hell road after bashing poor Lulu over the big rocks for 6 hours she is a bit busted up. Lucking he had 2 spares.


Today the sun is out again and we are headed south to Taroudant in 294 KM, but we will take the scenic route with a detour to Oukaimeden.



https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5331/...37208783_o.pngScreen Shot 2015-04-20 at 8.43.30 PM by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8791/...6878050c_c.jpgtaroudant 2 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8800/...8e3a1e4f_c.jpgtaroudant 3 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

This paved one lane road thru the mountains passes remote villages and offers stunning view of the Atlas Mountains. You access this from the N9.

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8697/...d13de788_o.pngScreen Shot 2015-04-20 at 8.43.47 PM by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8690/...d7618e43_c.jpgtaroudant 4 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7618/...ce71125e_c.jpgtaroudant 5 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr


The kids are all out of school this week and so for fun they hang out at the roadside to see who comes by. The love the “hi 5”!


https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7674/...5cefc150_c.jpgtaroudant 7 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8743/...4c04b4bf_c.jpgtaroudant 8 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

Taroudant
 

There are a few easy water crossings and a few washed out sections.

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8712/...9f218508_c.jpgtaroudant 10 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7673/...266ac637_c.jpgtaroudant 12 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8793/...728aefdb_c.jpgtaroudant 13 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

The views are breathtaking!


https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8807/...92a63952_c.jpgtaroudant 14 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7715/...9995722d_c.jpgtaroudant 16 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7638/...1db0d43c_c.jpgtaroudant 17 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr


https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8812/...2279a914_c.jpgtaroudant 18 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr



https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7711/...37f7ff8f_c.jpgtaroudant 20 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr



https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7705/...5d897a04_c.jpgtaroudant 27 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7608/...9302d023_c.jpgtaroudant 28 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr


https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7649/...331d0451_c.jpgtaroudant 31 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7678/...5923e88b_c.jpgtaroudant 33 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr



https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8690/...8cb5815e_c.jpgtaroudant 34 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr



https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7677/...068f9895_c.jpgtaroudant 36 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

Headed down from the hills you rejoin the N9 and snake along the river on a 1 lane paved road.

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7599/...9bd17416_c.jpgtaroudant 39 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7656/...2f1bc6ed_c.jpgtaroudant 40 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7593/...5c396444_c.jpgtaroudant 43 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7673/...cb77fb5a_c.jpgtaroudant 47 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7716/...d3b78729_c.jpgtaroudant 54 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7604/...4e756673_c.jpgtaroudant 42 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

This then climbs up again to the summit of the Tizi n Test pass. This road is listed for some reason as unpaved and dangerous on the map, neither is true. From here you snake down the mountainside on the switchbacks.

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7716/...8330e36e_o.pngScreen Shot 2015-04-20 at 8.44.04 PM by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7699/...75a527ac_c.jpgtaroudant 62 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7632/...6a7e6c4e_c.jpgtaroudant 63 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8727/...038da69e_c.jpgtaroudant 64 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr


https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8732/...c946bc8f_c.jpgtaroudant 49 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr


https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8690/...b30567ac_c.jpgtaroudant 48 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7687/...f5f97f13_c.jpgtaroudant 66 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7627/...303db4ea_c.jpgtaroudant 67 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7633/...26d623cf_c.jpgtaroudant 69 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8735/...45e7a55b_c.jpgtaroudant 73 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7642/...1c38f5ea_c.jpgtaroudant 70 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7600/...f84f09f1_c.jpgtaroudant 72 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8775/...6eceb0cb_c.jpgtaroudant 80 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

Arriving in town we did not have anything booked. The first place we looked was in the Medina, but was a bit sketchy. We drove out to the main road and stopped at a fancy and expensive Kasbah and asked to borrow their wifi. From here we found a camping place that had nice tents right beside the 500-year-old city wall. The owners were nice enough to steer us thru the streets to the main square and it’s restaurants.

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8714/...32ea5191_c.jpgDSC09802 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8695/...8f758b5b_c.jpgtaroudant 83 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8734/...763cfc40_c.jpgtaroudant 86 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7725/...9e0c4b79_c.jpgDSC09799 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

Tafraoute
 

Leaving Taroudant we decided to go 179 Km to Tafraoute, a town which was recommended by a couple we had met on the road yesterday.

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7683/...e985ccac_o.pngScreen Shot 2015-04-26 at 7.41.22 PM by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr



The drive there is all on the paved road, though still with amazing views and no traffic.


https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7691/...cf125cc3_c.jpgtafraoute 2 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8739/...492920b0_c.jpgtafraoute 3 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8749/...46e8a2ce_c.jpgtafraoute 5 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr


https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8819/...5f46a1ca_c.jpgtafraoute 9 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8726/...4cb6538d_c.jpgtafraoute 12 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7714/...a3e984c5_c.jpgIMG_0027 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7613/...62a6e30a_c.jpgIMG_0026 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

We took a small detour into one of the villages to see what there was to see….not much. These people have nothing. They have wells for water and they have electricity, but there are no services at all.

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7621/...cc2d31c9_c.jpgicht 15 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7604/...37ed609e_c.jpgIMG_0038 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8697/...a28268f4_c.jpgIMG_0032 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7611/...67d6359c_c.jpgtafraoute 13 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7678/...9b11e27e_c.jpgtafraoute 14 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr




From here the road continued to wind thru the hills.

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7600/...660fe590_c.jpgIMG_0007 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr



https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7712/...8ed78225_c.jpgtafraoute 17 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8798/...a12cb940_c.jpgIMG_0020 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

Tafraoute is a nice Berber town and there are few tourists. This was market day so many people from surrounding towns were here shopping.

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8698/...536f29b7_c.jpgtafraoute 20 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7661/...297cf843_c.jpgIMG_0049 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr


The first restaurant we found in town actually had some of the best food we have had so far.

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7604/...f22249b0_c.jpgtafraoute 18 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7625/...0fd01516_c.jpgtafraoute 19 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr


The local dress for the women is western clothes, but over top the wear a black sari like covering with elaborate embroidered hems.

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7790/...84e5e38d_c.jpgIMG_4459 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

We found a very nice and very cheap hotel off the main square.


https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8808/...2bfdd71c_c.jpgIMG_4453 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

Icht
 

Still headed south we made for Icht in 111 KM. This was initially on the paved 1 lane R 107. It looks a lot like Sedona here.




https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7670/...de0e438d_o.pngScreen Shot 2015-04-26 at 7.45.19 PM by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr


https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8815/...17f9390c_c.jpgicht 1 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8790/...59a9326f_c.jpgIMG_0054 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

We took a detour on the “ track to the painted rocks” to see said rocks. Belgian artist Jean Verame, painted giant rocks in 1984 in glowing blue colours. They say he used 18 tons of blue colour.


https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8781/...700495c7_c.jpgicht 3 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7626/...658bb3f1_c.jpgicht 4 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr


https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8756/...55f76695_c.jpgicht 5 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8813/...2b69f463_c.jpgicht 6 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8705/...b4238037_c.jpgicht 7 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr




https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8744/...b96fc2c2_c.jpgicht 9 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7711/...c16a1cfb_c.jpgIMG_0078 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7683/...ac82ce46_c.jpgIMG_0072 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

The paved road continues south from Tafraoute thru the rock formations.


https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8827/...638d49ef_c.jpgicht 13 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7709/...897a1fcc_c.jpgicht 16 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8826/...fefa31ab_c.jpgicht 18 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr


From about 20 km out of town the 107 becomes a very good dirt road.

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8714/...c9163351_c.jpgicht 20 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7713/...54249307_c.jpgicht 32 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7698/...0ced0519_c.jpgicht 33 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7646/...2392142b_c.jpgIMG_0091 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on FlickrFlickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7600/...fd657a3b_c.jpgIMG_0093 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

You go thru several canyons and then slowly climb up in to the hills.


https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7719/...15882bb9_c.jpgicht 21 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7617/...a32e6ed4_c.jpgicht 23 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7666/...22bf2ea9_c.jpgicht 24 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7660/...3b262fbc_c.jpgIMG_0099 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

The down is a very steep road with hairpin corners and switchbacks.

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8737/...02b6b34a_c.jpgicht 28 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8747/...3baa437c_c.jpgicht 25 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7613/...9e04c49a_c.jpgicht 30 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7608/...09b380b6_c.jpgicht 31 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr



https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7631/...e74986b8_c.jpgIMG_0132 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8775/...19c3b8a0_c.jpgIMG_0128 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr


https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8806/...134862d0_c.jpgIMG_0127 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7683/...a21744f4_c.jpgIMG_0123 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8688/...4c7de600_c.jpgIMG_0115 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

This drops you in the valley where there is an Oasis.


https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8754/...8d33f140_c.jpgicht 35 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8752/...8c71c74b_c.jpgicht 37 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7707/...77b54421_c.jpgicht 39 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7591/...5b2098bf_c.jpgIMG_0138 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8753/...b0c8336a_c.jpgicht 42 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8787/...8ae28eed_c.jpgIMG_0140 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

Then you drive along the valley floor, which luckily for us was a very well maintained road thru the riverbed. Also luckily all the river crossings were concreted and the rocks pushed off the roadway.

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8701/...03be12f2_c.jpgicht 43 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr


https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8698/...6da52026_c.jpgicht 44 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7687/...0e8bb51e_c.jpgicht 48 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr


https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8693/...8a0660e5_c.jpgicht 52 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7659/...b8315aee_c.jpgicht 49 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7695/...5038c00e_c.jpgicht 50 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7660/...744fa0cf_c.jpgicht 54 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7703/...c4775bc8_c.jpgicht 55 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8826/...7b8827de_c.jpgicht 56 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7650/...2d37c593_c.jpgIMG_0173 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7646/...0a2e011a_c.jpgIMG_0166 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8766/...09e16f1e_c.jpgIMG_0152 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8728/...21d8f5bd_c.jpgIMG_0155 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr




https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7598/...570f542a_c.jpgicht 59 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr



https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7590/...b2168fba_c.jpgIMG_0177 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

As we rose above the riverbed suddenly in front of you was 2 lanes of paved road.


https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8726/...c032ff74_c.jpgicht 60 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr


https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8754/...585e47f2_c.jpgicht 62 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

From here this took us south across the desert to Icth, which is another Oasis.


https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7721/...1630cc24_c.jpgicht 63 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8689/...81ca4248_c.jpgicht 64 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

The town is very clean and the locals excited to see us and waved and said “Bon Jour”.


https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7625/...561d4abb_c.jpgicht 66 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr


https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8709/...cb95bca5_c.jpgicht 67 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8821/...3d39c953_c.jpgicht 68 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8822/...52808926_c.jpgicht 69 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8710/...5e726b8f_c.jpgicht 73 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr


https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7703/...67e16c1a_c.jpgIMG_0185 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

After a loop thru the town we headed to the nearby oasis for some Berber camping.


https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8784/...d35c61e0_c.jpgicht 74 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr


https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7608/...e4393c0c_c.jpgicht 75 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7729/...f4d74370_c.jpgIMG_4463 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr


https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7658/...e1072895_c.jpgIMG_4464 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

Western Sahara
 

This is a far south as Sara is going. The guys have decided to go south in the desert in to the disputed territory of the Western Sahara. The conditions of the roads, the 30 km “dry” lake crossing, and the last of gas will make this a challenge she does not want. Fun for the guys, not so much on LuLu, especially in deep sand.


The guys headed south 82 Km to Assa to fill up on gas. They had heard there might not be gas south of here so they filled up the jerry cans and a few water bottles and then picked up some provisions.


https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7672/...d1cce063_o.pngScreen Shot 2015-05-06 at 5.34.33 PM by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8844/...d1349799_c.jpgIMG_4471 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr




They continued south to Zag where they passed the Military checkpoint and then they were chased down and told they could go no further for their own safety. There are apparently land mines and “other” dangers. They turned back and then tried to make their was south of the off road route listed on the map….This “road” does not exist.

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7651/...c423c08e_c.jpgIMG_0191 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7597/...0f49d70e_c.jpgdessert ADV 3 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr


https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8732/...c0b53032_c.jpgdessert ADV 5 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

They did get to camp overnight under the sky FULL of stars and feast on Sardines, laughing cow, and Moroccan bread.


https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8717/...8802004f_c.jpgdessert ADV 6 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8818/...dc8ccf81_c.jpgdessert ADV 7 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7674/...731f34ed_c.jpgdessert ADV 11 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7640/...f0e4fbb3_c.jpgdessert ADV 12 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7709/...49f8b96c_c.jpgIMG_0224 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr


https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8755/...848e54d9_c.jpgdessert ADV 1 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr


https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8741/...a31da465_c.jpgdessert ADV 2 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

They tried the next day also to find a route south, but eventually turned back because of deep sand.


https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8767/...8edbacd4_c.jpgdessert ADV 13 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7696/...7b3534f5_c.jpgdessert ADV 15 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7707/...5b5a4398_c.jpgdessert ADV 18 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8690/...817d2f66_c.jpgdessert ADV 19 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7600/...3bb44183_c.jpgdessert ADV 21 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7595/...1abfa8ae_c.jpgdessert ADV 23 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7622/...944cbfb4_c.jpgdessert ADV 20 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7634/...3880b32e_c.jpgIMG_0266 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

They turned back up at the little Oasis in the afternoon. This place had the best food we ate in Morocco. We were sleeping in a Berber tent in the total silence of the desert.

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7685/...4bdae2cb_c.jpgIMG_3807 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

Tan Tan
 

Today we need to get west to the coast. Initially we rode 64 km and tried to find the off road cut off route from the town of Taghjijt that goes between the R 102 and the N12, but no such luck. From here we continued to Guelmim with view of the low hills or anti-Atlas. We had a peak at the coast at El Quatia and then headed back to Tan Tan for the night after 320 KM.


https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7663/...40d3e318_o.pngScreen Shot 2015-04-26 at 7.51.42 PM by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8839/...ac283d62_o.pngScreen Shot 2015-05-06 at 5.51.20 PM by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr


https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7642/...57fbb441_c.jpgIMG_0284 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7699/...bfe5bec1_c.jpgIMG_0291 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

Sidi Ifni
 

From here our goal was to get to Sidi Ifni in 252 KM. You can do this on the main road, but we decided for and off road route. The first leg was on the pavement, but there was a 50 km cut off to the Plage Blanche. We did start down this road, but turned back after 5 km after we decided we did not want to fight the sand all the way there. There is a paved road to the beach slightly farther north and so we made for this.



https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7675/...ceb49c53_o.pngScreen Shot 2015-04-26 at 7.54.22 PM by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr


The “beach” is isolated and there are no services. It is a nice spot for a lunch break of you guessed it Laughing cow and Moroccan bread.

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8705/...086d5fc4_c.jpgIMG_0307 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr



https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7673/...a1e12410_c.jpgIMG_0308 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7624/...0464f23e_c.jpgIMG_0306 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

From here we started back towards Guelmim, but then took the off road cut off towards Sidi Ifni. 90 % of this road is good hard gravel, but there are a few steep and very rocky sections and the last 200 m to the pavement is very steep very rocky and narrow.

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8720/...554d2ebb_c.jpgIMG_0314 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8811/...e9bd102a_c.jpgIMG_0321 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8728/...ff3ec9ba_c.jpgIMG_0319 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7714/...0d71844d_c.jpgIMG_0320 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7719/...079f78c6_c.jpgIMG_0324 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

Now we are finally on the “coast road”, which is almost never right on the coast, but you do have some views of the ocean. Sidi Ifni is a small port town where we found a cheap hotel on the sea with great parking. The best part was the hotel sold wine and beer.



https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7691/...b5e5a4f6_c.jpgIMG_3816 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5331/...4ddb0d4d_c.jpgIMG_3815 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8852/...842746ca_c.jpgessouria 2 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr


We took out breakfast at a local café with a nice view of the water. Then we started on our 342 KM day north to Essouria.


https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7700/...d10aa3c5_o.pngScreen Shot 2015-04-26 at 7.55.30 PM by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7587/...2ee28fb4_b.jpgIMG_3813 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr


https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5333/...cbf71fe7_o.jpgIMG_3817 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8834/...000560e1_c.jpgessouria 8 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

Essouria
 

From here our day was north and along the ocean for the most part. When we left the sea and went up in the hills it suddenly looked like we were back in Spain. We did get to see the famous Moroccan goats that climb trees to eat the foliage.

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8899/...c2a2b812_c.jpgessouria 5 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8817/...72286b3a_c.jpgessouria 10 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

Arriving in Essouria we had a nice place booked just outside the medina and 1 block from the beach.

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7585/...3a5cccc4_c.jpgIMG_3821 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7774/...2861d3c0_c.jpgIMG_0244 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

This is a very nice town with a more laid-back feel than Fes or Marrakesh. Three days of down time we spent relaxing, walking on the beach, and enjoying the local atmosphere.

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7794/...0b6ab451_c.jpgessouria 26 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7661/...bb8df93e_c.jpgessouria 18 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8782/...9ed114eb_c.jpgIMG_0345 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8695/...b56de89e_c.jpgessouria 16 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7770/...c95630be_c.jpgessouria 25 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8703/...17a02a28_c.jpgessouria 13 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7657/...a9e7294d_c.jpgessouria 33 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7711/...ceee556d_c.jpgessouria 37 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7658/...b675d8c0_c.jpgessouria 40 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

Mohammadia
 

Headed north again we were on a mission now to get the ferry in 2 days time so that we can arrive back in Marbella on Sunday for our tire oil changes booked for Monday morning.



We had to get past Casablanca for sure and to do this we did take the toll road to get past as fast as possible. We made for Mohammadia in 391 KM and the camping L’Ocean Blue.

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7712/...7e2512b6_o.pngScreen Shot 2015-04-26 at 7.56.15 PM by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

This is a small and not that nice camp place, but they do have wifi!


https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7627/...22d6242a_c.jpgDSC09987 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7592/...0433c538_c.jpgDSC09988 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

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https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5466/...f9b001cf_c.jpgDSC00005 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

Asilah
 

Today again we are booking it north to Asilah in 270 KM.


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We stopped in Moulay Bousselham for lunch and a break and then made the last 90 km.



https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8772/...e0f93de4_c.jpgIMG_3839 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr



This is a very nice clean town on the water. The people here are the friendliest we have met.


The pricing here is also much lower than the rest of the places we have been. They do not seem jaded here at all by the tourists. The guys stopped for a proper shave for 2 Euros.



https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7661/...ab860c80_c.jpgDSC00007 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7726/...a30083b0_c.jpgDSC00009 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

The ferry
 

We found a nice hotel near the pedestrian zone and 2 blocks form the old walled city.

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7720/...d1199628_c.jpgDSC00013 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

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Getting up early today we took the toll road directly from Asilah to Tangier MED in 90 km.


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Arriving at the dock you show your ticket at the gate and then proceed to “check-in”. Here you get your ticket. We arrived at 10 for the 12 ferry. You then proceed to the gate and show your ticket. Next you drive following the Auto Access signs to the second gate where you are given a tourist card to fill in. From here you go to the police booth, where they want your passport and tourist card. The next booth is customs, where they want you TVIP. They stamp it and give you 1 copy. Then you follow the signs again. There is a huge X-ray machine for vehicles. Stop before this and the agent will open the gate so you do not go thru the machine! Then proceed to your port number. Here there are an incredible number of big trucks loaded on to the ferry. You show your ticket for the agent to scan. When boarding the police will again check your passport.

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8687/...8b619415_c.jpgDSC00048 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr


The crossing takes 90 minutes and so we had time for a nap in the sun. We were not sure what to expect with immigration and the customs for the bikes after our experience at the Madrid airport. Technically there should be no issue. We Drove off the bikes and followed the signs to the exit. You are stopped at passport control where they scan your passport. They continue to follow the exit signs. “Welcome” to Europe!

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7683/...c4d8b7e1_c.jpgIMG_3845 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr


https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8791/...4100be41_c.jpgIMG_3843 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

Gibraltar
 

We headed back to our nice little hotel in Algeciras where the first beer is free! Again we did a quick change and drove the 21 km to Gibraltar. We had time to drive around the rock and thru the tunnel. We hit the duty free liquor stores and had great Indian food again.

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8823/...8a133d68_c.jpgDSC00049 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

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https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7586/...faec3bdf_c.jpgIMG_3848 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

Grazelema
 

Getting up early we drove back 80 KM to Marbella to meet up with Antonia and Natalia.

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They had just bought a 1200 Gs yesterday and were keen to go for a ride. We headed up in the hills again to Grazalema this is where we were supposed to end up the last time we were up here and after Rhonda, but I made a wrong turn. It is perched on the hilltop.



https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8731/...10bfa5e9_o.pngScreen Shot 2015-04-26 at 6.50.17 PM by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

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Gaucin
 

Then we headed further up the hills to Gaucin and we visited the castle on the hill. The narrow streets are like a rabbit warren.

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7707/...93e137ed_c.jpgmarbella 2 5 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

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From here we headed back to the beach for lunch of traditional Spanish food including shrimps, calamari, and Paella with squid ink.

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8721/...bdc6c4e8_c.jpgmarbella 2 14 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

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6 hours in ER
 

Poor Orvar has been coughing for weeks so today it was 6 hours at the hospital for him to get the same answer I gave him, and the same drugs! But he did get a chest X-ray that was normal so at least there is no pneumonia.


https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8775/...f3a554db_c.jpgmarbella 2 32 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8811/...490fd542_c.jpgmarbella 2 25 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr



https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8817/...bedb24b0_o.jpgmarbella 2 30 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

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Today we headed back to the Motofusion shop with the tires we had ordered and had delivered to Antonio’s place. We also had oil changes and the 650’s side stand fixed!

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7675/...e65ece92_c.jpgmarbella 2 33 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7636/...5630b91d_c.jpgmarbella 2 36 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

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The 650’s Heidenau tire after 24,000 km and still not at the wear bar!

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7601/...f67e91ef_c.jpgmarbella 2 38 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

Estepona
 

This afternoon we drove 30 KM south to Estepona.

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8795/...0ea66f43_c.jpgmarbella 2 39 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7679/...be7e7357_c.jpgmarbella 2 40 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7588/...58e3169d_c.jpgmarbella 2 44 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7626/...7729ac06_c.jpgmarbella 2 47 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7697/...1311395d_c.jpgmarbella 2 59 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8766/...c6306ce6_c.jpgmarbella 2 60 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

Then we rode over for lunch on the beach. While we were eating a police officer came over to look at our bikes, that we had parked on the sidewalk and took some photos. Antonia ran over to talk to him in case there was a problem, but he was just interested in our bikes. He had called a few of his colleagues who also showed up.


https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7707/...f636fb93_c.jpgmarbella 2 62 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

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This evening we had another fantastic meal prepared by Antonio and Natalia. We were sad to leave their lovely home.

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7640/...e1dd7290_c.jpgmarbella 2 90 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

Tavira
 

Today’s plan was to get to Tavira Portugal in 372 KM.

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https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7798/1...40d014a6_c.jpgsevilla-tavia 1 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Sentanil
 

We drove thru Ronda again and then made for Sentanil where the village is built in a narrow valley and the old cave dwellings have been used to build the houses and shops.


https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7741/1...ac8bd45e_c.jpgsevilla-tavia 4 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

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Sevilla
 

Then we made for Sevilla. Here we contacted Jose, who we had met on the road from hell in Morocco.

https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7685/1...e5f2a5a3_c.jpgsevilla-tavia 25 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

He has a 1200 and wanted to give us a tour of the city. There is a massive festival here in April called the Feiria de Avril. Basically the city “lives” casa’s in the fair. They dress in costumes and party day and night for an entire week. Jose managed to talk the police into letting us into the restricted area with the bike so we could get a photo at the “gate of the fair”.

https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5334/1...6b9ec46c_c.jpgsevilla-tavia 29 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr


https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7704/1...66621afc_c.jpgsevilla-tavia 26 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr


https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8777/1...a2bf1bb7_c.jpgIMG_0259 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Feiria Avril
 

After this he convinced them to watch our bikes so we could walk around. They even invited us into their “ casa or house” so we could try the traditional drink “Manzanilla”.

https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7707/1...6a2e0f4e_c.jpgsevilla-tavia 34 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

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Tavira
 

Then we continued west. “Welcome to Portugal”.

https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7777/1...637be337_c.jpgsevilla-tavia 63 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr


We booked the night in Tavira, which was once a small fishing village and is in summer a tourist Mecca.



https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8755/1...3969d40e_c.jpgIMG_3897 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Today we rode from Tavira to the southern most tip of Portugal and then back to the small village of Espargal for 284 KM.


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From Tavira we rode 170 KM along the coast, which here in Portugal is not a coast road as you see say on the west coast of the USA, but it slightly inland and very built up. We stopped in Albufeira, but it is really not that nice a town. The beach to the south is more scenic.


https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7736/1...50f4fd7d_c.jpgsagres 2 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

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https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7741/1...81aa8ea0_c.jpgsagres 6 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Further south and west is Sagres, which is quite nice and the fresh grilled red snapper for lunch was delicious.


https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5346/1...c54ecbd1_c.jpgsagres 12 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

There is a large fort here at the point that in the past was to protect the city from raiders from North Africa. It is more of a wall that closes off the 60 m cliffs than a traditional fort. The huge sundial is read from the top of the ramparts. The locals are actually fishing from these cliffs.


https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8713/1...03beaf4d_c.jpgsagres 10 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

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Cabo San Vicente
 

Further west 8 km from here is Cabo San Vicente, which is the most south west point of Portugal and where it was thought “that land ended” before the discovery of the “new world”. The lighthouse is built in 1846 on the ruins of a 16 th century convent.

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8765/1...ff06f6bb_c.jpgsagres 8 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

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https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7707/1...5fa555a1_c.jpgsagres 44 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Espargal
 

We had been invited to the home of Annette and Tony in the tiny village of Espargal. To get back the 150 Km we did take the highway to get back faster. They are the parents of Neil who we had met at the ferry to Victoria this past summer. Neil and Franziska had spent the summer crossing Canada and were headed south. They are currently in Ecuador. We had a lovely night out at a local place with a number of their friends. The villagers still uses the Roman well here.

https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7730/1...33c52dfd_c.jpgsagres 54 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

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https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8725/1...80d6d1cb_c.jpgsagres 56 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Evora
 

Headed north we took the tiny, curvy small roads to end in Evora in 195 KM.


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https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8875/1...d0e56915_c.jpgsagres 58 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7701/1...c83fc2f1_c.jpgFILE0207 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

This is a 2000-year-old town that is a warren of narrow cobble streets inside the ancient walls. There is a restored Roman ruin on the hilltop. We had a nice couple of nights camping.

https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7710/1...d5485030_c.jpgevora 22 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8803/1...7fb41d8c_c.jpgevora 19 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

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Lisboa
 

Instead of the short 132 KM trip from Evora to Lisbon we decided to again take the small roads for 227 KM and ended up in 146 KM at Troia, which is the tip of a peninsula.


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From here you can get a ferry to Setubal, where we stopped for a break on the square.

https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7786/1...f75b54d1_c.jpglisbon 3 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

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https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8800/1...7ed7cf7b_c.jpglisbon 16 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Continuing on you you go 50 KM along the coastline to get the 25 Th of April Bridge to the city.



https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8758/1...cfbb4b7b_c.jpglisbon 8 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

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https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7664/1...79948861_c.jpglisbon 11 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Like a lot of big cities Lisbon has the tourist hop on hop off buses. We had never done this before and spending the day doing this was a great way to get an overview of the city.


https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7742/1...eb36ac9c_c.jpglisbon 21 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5323/1...51ce4012_c.jpglisbon 22 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8847/1...32685d86_c.jpglisbon 72 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8711/1...5d286696_c.jpglisbon 70 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr


https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7675/1...9847f3e9_c.jpglisbon 30 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7745/1...fc81927e_c.jpglisbon 31 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7687/1...1ef4eea6_c.jpglisbon 36 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

We did HOP off and do some walking in the city center.

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8877/1...08d6d7e7_c.jpglisbon 41 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7702/1...be83d7af_c.jpglisbon 42 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8846/1...9d2f8d00_c.jpglisbon 43 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7689/1...d6cde2d2_c.jpglisbon 45 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7735/1...5ed74052_c.jpglisbon 47 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8891/1...bb167bfa_c.jpglisbon 51 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Cabo de Roca
 

The next day we got up early to ride along the south coast and out to Cabo de Roca. This is the western most point of continental Europe.

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8741/1...63d14384_c.jpglisbon 77 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7707/1...ec34cd25_c.jpglisbon 79 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7713/1...25c38e74_c.jpglisbon 84 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7719/1...5ea7e447_c.jpglisbon 85 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5340/1...a03f8799_c.jpgcabo do Roca-Castillo St Jorge 1 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Riding back to the city we did a loop thru Sintra. This place clings to the hillside and is covered with beautiful buildings. This is the kind of place you need to spend the day walking around….next time!


https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5340/1...ab57564b_c.jpgcabo do Roca-Castillo St Jorge 2 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

After we did some walking around the city with a few stops at the Port wine institute, the Napoli wine shop and the local bread and cheese stores to get provisions.


https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8740/1...e8463851_c.jpglisbon 92 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8743/1...ea55a9e9_c.jpglisbon 101 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7785/1...33c3585f_c.jpglisbon 106 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5321/1...ca87ee7a_c.jpglisbon 105 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8814/1...879ef13d_c.jpglisbon 107 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7675/1...d64f010a_c.jpglisbon 111 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7735/1...20f0ab45_c.jpglisbon 110 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7686/1...ed7312a5_c.jpglisbon 115 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7692/1...6bfd95bf_c.jpglisbon 114 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Today we rode back across the bridge to BMW to get new steering head bearings for the 800.

https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5344/1...99fe6b49_c.jpgcabo do Roca-Castillo St Jorge 5 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr


https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5349/1...b89c5bea_c.jpgcabo do Roca-Castillo St Jorge 8 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

For the rest of our last day we hiked up to the Castle of St. Jorge for a panoramic view of the city.



https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5466/1...e34b8e6e_c.jpgcabo do Roca-Castillo St Jorge 9 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8847/1...6abafae1_c.jpgcabo do Roca-Castillo St Jorge 14 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8694/1...720a7c56_c.jpgcabo do Roca-Castillo St Jorge 18 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8839/1...213864a4_c.jpgcabo do Roca-Castillo St Jorge 22 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr


https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7677/1...807d08b6_c.jpgcabo do Roca-Castillo St Jorge 28 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8749/1...3e183bf7_c.jpgcabo do Roca-Castillo St Jorge 37 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7794/1...f97eb302_c.jpgcabo do Roca-Castillo St Jorge 43 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Here we parted from the Swede for a few days, as we needed to get back to Madrid today. This meant a 635 KM highway ride back to Spain.

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8759/1...dac4b281_z.jpgScreen Shot 2015-05-20 at 1.16.53 AM by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7760/1...4f731b95_c.jpgFILE0403 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8746/1...f5ec5c3f_c.jpgFILE0469 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

New luggage that does not leak
 

We arrived to Modesto’s apartment where he had stored our new chains and sprockets and our NEW BUMOT PANNIERS!

First we needed to get the old racks off. Several of the crappy screws were stripped on one side of both racks and this meant actually cutting the rack off with a grinder.


Opening the boxes from Bumot we were so stoked to see what great build quality the racks and panniers had. The hardware is stainless steel. The panniers themselves are very attractive. The lid system opens out so that the top lies flat and can be used as a shelf. There is no chance it will slam on your fingers (and kill the nail on your thumb like Daniel did on the first moth of the trip). There is no stupid wire holding the lid half open and that gets caught all the time when you are closing the lid (and no white screw knob to hold the wire on that falls off regularly). The top has a rubber gasket so they will not leak like sieves and soak all your gear like our old boxes did almost from day 1. They are really well designed and constructed.



https://c4.staticflickr.com/8/7745/1...85ee04d3_o.jpgbanner by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

https://c4.staticflickr.com/8/7664/1...6d9d90fa_o.jpgSONY DSC by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8837/1...51039d76_c.jpgtool_box by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

DID chains
 

Next we headed to the workshop of Modesto’s friend Javi to cut and install the chains and the sprockets. The DID chains we had put on about 60,000 km ago have lasted very well, but are now done.

https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7742/1...73425805_c.jpgIMG_3939 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5450/1...9690293e_c.jpgIMG_3935 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7742/1...42ac97e8_c.jpgIMG_3940 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

North to the UK
 

We finally finished up and left Madrid at 6 pm. We managed to get 167 km north before we had to stop for the night. These are the less glamorous times when you have to do highway time and its raining.


https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8784/...944ac9b8_o.pngScreen Shot 2015-04-30 at 8.36.57 PM by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

We had been invited to the Bordeaux home of Mike Waterman, who we met at the Moto GP in Argentina last year and who coincidently is going to Iceland on the same ferry as us in June. This meant another 544 KM ride today.


https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8796/...bc5cf1b6_o.pngScreen Shot 2015-04-30 at 8.35.43 PM by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

Getting up in the morning it was pouring and this continued all day. We rode north again trying to get on and off the highway to avoid the tolls. Near the border of France the road signs are in Spanish and Basque. Welcome to France!




https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8712/1...0f354f0b_c.jpgfrance 1 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

We were headed to Mike’s house near Bordeaux. What hospitality. We had aperitifs, bubbly, red wine, oysters on the half shell, steamed mussels, duck, and cassolet. All this and we managed to get to bed finally at 3 am.

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8747/1...6f5eceda_c.jpgfrance 7 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7708/1...54b434e8_c.jpgfrance 2 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr


https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8803/1...c020c527_c.jpgfrance 4 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8824/1...ddd827e2_c.jpgfrance 9 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

It was raining, but only lightly today, as we made our way north to La Rochelle to meet up with the Swede.


https://c4.staticflickr.com/8/7791/1...7803cf977d.jpgScreen Shot 2015-05-11 at 9.24.20 PM by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

The fastest way from the coast is to get the ferry from Le Verdon-sur Mer to Royan, which stays on the coast but saves driving the long way around the inlet.


https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5322/1...bb412e93_c.jpgfrance 13 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/world_wide_ride/17575082042" title="IMG_3948 by Sara &amp; Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr"><img src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7764/17575082042_5f78fbe5e8_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3948"></a>


https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8788/1...f7c18b67_c.jpgfrance 14 by Sara &amp; Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8784/1...b7e16489_c.jpgfrance 15 by Sara &amp; Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

This is a nice little French city on the sea, but in the rain it is just not as picturesque.


https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8820/1...41899a0b_c.jpgIMG_3958 by Sara &amp; Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr



https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7669/1...843f21b6_c.jpgIMG_3960 by Sara &amp; Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5348/1...0cebebd5_c.jpgIMG_3967 by Sara &amp; Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7719/1...3fb863b6_c.jpgIMG_3968 by Sara &amp; Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr