Archive for Morocco
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Trans-Saharan Crossing Begins
Gateway to the Sahara
Guelmim, the ‘gateway to the Sahara’ as it is known, which hints at it’s former importance as a trading post on the caravan routes of old, had few distractions for a solo cyclist like myself. I spent little more than 24 hours in town and fairly evenly divided this time between sleeping, [...]
Photos from the Sahara, Morocco and Western Sahara
Photos from the last few days. Cycling from Guelmim, the gateway to the Sahara; to Laayoune, the first major town in the disputed Western Sahara which has been well and truly claimed by Morocco.
Having a second rest day before cycling again tomorrow. There’ll be no more breaks for the next 800km to Nouadhibou in Mauritania. And [...]
The Coastal Road
Climbing the argan tree
The landscape from Essaouira to Agadir was dominated by the Argan tree, which is indigenous to this region and similar to the olive tree. I passed the occasional shepherd by his flock of goats, who seem to find the fruit a plentiful delicacy.
The goats could be seen not only reaching up on [...]
The Forbidden Fruit
Yes, you’ve guessed correctly, it’s another anecdote involving food. I’m gathering quite a collection of these, but for now, I’ll just share the latest fruit fiasco.
I spent a couple of days cycling from Tiznit to Guelmim recently – Two small towns in southern Morocco, which have little to entice tourists who aren’t on a journey [...]
Photos from the coast and more, Morocco
Latest photos from leaving the Erg Chebbi dunes and being dropped in Rissani to arriving in Essaouira on the coast and from there heading south to my current location of Guelmim (a not particularly inspiring place, but it’s into the Sahara from here)…
Beside the seaside
Having survived the desert, I was dropped off in Rissani – a small, friendly town with little to distinguish it except that it lies practically on top of the site of Sijilmassa, the fabled city that was a thriving commercial centre at the head of the trans-saharan gold trade routes.
As has become customary, within five [...]
Photos from the Atlas and Desert, Morocco
Latest photos from my journey through Morocco…
Desert Runs
For those who haven’t perhaps heard of the ‘Marathon des Sables’, it’s a gruelling 7-day race where the competitors effectively run a marathon every day for seven days, carrying all their supplies including water, across the Saharan desert. Why exactly anyone would enter this is quite a mystery to most. I mean, who in their [...]
Slow Progress South
An unexpected encounter
100km out of Chefchaouen and I’m happily trundling along on the bike, my thoughts intermittently interrupted by passing cars where the driver or passenger provides some form of encouragement; be it waving, cheering or enthusiastically beeping the horn. One Landrover overtakes, but pulls over just ahead of me and as I cycle past, [...]
Photos from the Rif, Morocco
A selection of photos from the first fews days since arriving in Morocco…
More photos to come, but the internet is slow here!!
