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