I didn't reach Morocco this time in October due to the damper rod in the shock snapping on my bike, it ended up wedged under the armco barrier in Spain, and I went tumbling down the road at 60mph and was a bit battered.

However the rest of the group carried on and had to make several detours because of flooding, the guys at the petrol station at Remlia on the piste to Zagora advised against heading south (Azzy has been stuck there before for 24 hours on a ridge which became an island due to floods), wadi's on the Rekkam in full spate, one with a lorry on its roof further down the river. Very different to last October.

Sad to hear the reports about the quad bikes upsetting the locals. I have heard that it may not be too long before the big dunes at Merzouga may be out of bounds. Any body have any news on that please?

I can't see it happening....it's a massive area for one thing and apart from the Army patrolling down the East side inbetween Erg Chebbi and the Algerian border, there isn't anyone in authority around to enforce such a ban.

It'd also upset the local economy as well...most if not all of the hotels from Rissani southwards offer some form of quad or 4x4 excursion and they'd be up in arms if it was stopped.

TBH I've never seen a problem with vehicles on the dunes there...unless you've got some extreme machinery and/or are very very good, they're too much to ride/drive over anyway.
It's the traditional pistes and classic routes I'd be more worried about.

I DID see some very professional looking rally cars practising around the dunes but not on top of them. They were very fast and all over the terrain around the dunes.

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Poul
May you enjoy peace and good health !

We have been in Maroc for last two weeks touring in our Landcruiser and first encountered snow whilst staying in Ifrane. We managed some tracks in the Cedar forest but had to make it through 9 inch snow. Not a problem for the vehicle but with occasional whiteouts and generally bad visability this was enough to steer us away from Cirque du Jaffar.

On to Merzouga where the weather was much better. Perfect mirror lake on the north side of the dunes. Advised stongly (4 days ago) not to attempt M6 Oued Rheris crossing by the owner of Atlas du Sable Hotel... lots of water everywhere.

Instead dropped into the desert from Megta-Sfa near Rissani and had fantastic run down. Big problems 10km before joining piste for Zagora at another oued crossing when we bottomed out in thick mud. Despite walking it beforehand and generally having a good look our inexperience really showed here and certainly not the sort of thing you want 40 minutes before sundown. We were assisted by locals and eventually pulled out by a tractor at 10pm. Big thanks to the guys at Auberge Oasis Tafraout N30 43.137 W004 31.177 without whos help we would been really stuck... literally. Rest of crossing to Zagora goes without problems.

Heading up to Tinerhir today but a bit concerned about the comments referring to the Todra and Dades Gorges and problems with the loop. Will try to find out more and post here.

Any recomendations for accomdation in or near Tinerhir?

Paul and Dawn.
Guess Where We Are?

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Paul Driver
www.guesswhereweare.co.uk

Camping & Hotel ... can't think of the name, but it's on the Ouzarzate side of town going out of Tinehir in that direction it's on the left hand side of the road about 2km from the grand taxi rank. The owner is Hassan, secure parking there!

Kira

My favourite is Auberge Le Festival which is about three or four kilometers north of the narrow gorge section of the Todra at N31 37.297 W5 33.677, see Auberge le festival. It's a great location and Addi, the owner, is a thoroughly nice guy and deserves the business. He also serves a brilliant 'big breakfast'.

I've stayed a few times at the Bougafer at N31 30.199 W5 32.476 which is on the way out of Tinerhir heading west. Another alternative is the Tombouctou at N31 30.913 W5 32.029. Heading west through Tinerhir you turn left at the traffic lights and it's 400m on the left. Don't be put off by the entrance.

There's a supermarket in Tinerhir that sells and wine.

The first 'cut' of the Todra - Dades link piste is approximately N31 44.166 W5 32.990 and you should be able to get round it without too much trouble. The second 'cut' is N31 44.933 W5 41.086 and IMHO you won't be able to get past in a 4-wheel vehicle unless you do a lot of digging and filling. So there's a challenge for you Take iron bars for levering rocks around plus some shovels.

Tim

PS: A total of £228m has been given to a disaster fund to help deal with the ramifications of the recent flooding and other natural disasters. $128m has come from the Moroccan government and an additional $100m from King Abdallah of Saudi Arabia. 28 Moroccans were killed in the floods and more than 200 houses destroyed.

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"For sheer delight there is nothing like altitude; it gives one the thrill of adventure
and enlarges the world in which you live," Irving Mather (1892-1966)

Hi
In Tinherir not an hotel but a small guest house, "Retour Au calme" 2 or 3 rooms, less than 1 km after the place on your right hand when toward East, friendly guy.
When was you stuck in the mud, may this is your footprint we saw the 23rd near to Fezzou ?

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Eric
http://two400xrinmorocco.blogspot.com/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CJbEWCb_wk

Merci Eric, tips like this are appreciated by us and useful to the businesses too. Bon voyage, Linzi.

"We were assisted by locals and eventually pulled out by a tractor at 10pm. Big thanks to the guys at Auberge Oasis Tafraout N30 43.137 W004 31.177 without whose help we would been really stuck... literally."

Hi Paul and Dawn,

I am looking to contact the Auberge Oasis in Tafraout and I note from your blog above that you stayed/were helped out there.

I ran in year's Marathon Des Sables and we passed close by on one of the days. The only reason I know (as we were rather preoccupied being burnt, blistered and frazzled out in the jebels), is I took a photo at the top of a jebel and one of the locals got in the shot and wanted me to send it to him. In the absence of an email address, or address himself, he gave me a card of the place he worked (The Auberge Oasis). I was a bit delirious at the time from exhaustion and my average French did not help but I think he wanted me to post a copy.

Howveer, the card and details were all but worn off in my back pack by water, sand, food, and general rough treatment and is only now, looking at the card again, that I made out the Hotel Name and searched in Google finsing your mention.

It is a long shot but I would be very glad if you had the details and could forward them to me.

Many thanks in advance and I hope your trip enjoyed the smae breathtaking views as mine albeit on a bike you may get to see a few more!!

Kind regards,

Jamie.