Base camp for the Severn to Sahara Expedition

Sunday, 13 September 2009

Hello from the Sahara

Youll have to forgive me for the dodgy spelling and lack of punctuation - trying to use an arabic keyboard which is a bit of a challenge

So - I got the bike sorted out. Took a long three hour session in Tarifa, Spain, and I was pretty frazzled when I got on the ferry, but so fqr so good. Tangier was fantastic - old medina on market day and felt very different very quickly. Sat outside the cafe central in the middle of it all soaking up the atmosphere. Things are pretty cheqp here so Im catching up on calories and staying in some interesting hotels for about 8 quid a night.

Tangier feels a long time ago now - have put in some big miles and stayed in the Rif mountains, a night in Fez which was unforgettable - like going back in time - a couple of days getting over the Moyen Atlas - which peaked with the 2200m Col du Zad. Had huge thunder storms in the mountains - got soaked and was freezing - not what I expected but a welcome relief from the heat. Rode right out into the desert yesterday on a mammouth 135 mile day with the last 10 being on desert piste navigating by compass only - was pretty nerve wracking. Arrived in Merzouga in one piece though - it is at the foot of the 150m sand dunes that strech right out into the desert in Algeria that is only 10/15 miles from there. Had a huge cous cous dish and stayed in a mud hut. This morning, had a late start and then went for a walk in the dunes which was really unforgetable - Ive made it to the Sahara. Retraced my steps to the road and now back on the fringe of the desert - oasis towns tomorrow and Tues and then heading over the High Atlas to Marrakech - close now... fingers crossed that the bike holds up.

Will post some pics seperately... hopefully speak from Marrakech soon...

Pete Woodward
www.GoingTheExtraMile.org.uk