We continued walking and entered the next walled area of the city. Here there was a warren of streets and we all felt a bit uncomfortable when approached by a group of young men who wanted to “take us to see the synagogue”. Then we were more so when they started to follow us. Luckily we were quickly out onto a main street crowded with people and this led to the main city wall and our hotel.


https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7594/...a4dcfba3_c.jpgfes 129 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7714/...e917fc68_c.jpgfes 130 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8766/...267a03f1_c.jpgfes 132 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8687/...4b8e3e27_c.jpgfes 133 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7611/...ff19cac8_c.jpgfes 136 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr


https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8685/...5343c52c_c.jpgfes 138 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

Robbed in Fes
 

The hotel on bookings offered private on site parking, but when we arrived this was actually parking on the street out front. The manager said to park on the sidewalk out front and he would have a guard 24/7. Despite this when we got out to the bikes on the second morning Daniel’s cover was partly off and someone had tried to pry off the Tourtech GPS mount and Orvar’s dry bag with rain gear and spare gloves was gone. The guard says he watched the bikes all night and was lying and/or allowed someone to steal the bag. Not a great start to the day. No one working at the hotel seemed to really care. The feeling here in Fez in general is that 95 % of the people who approach you in a friendly manner want you to give them money or more often to sell you something. This is unlike for example Brazil where 99% of people who approach you are just being friendly. It gets very tiring to be harassed all day.

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7600/...d4c333a7_c.jpgfes 139 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

Ar-Rachidia
 

Today we are headed south towards the desert and we decided to make 2 short days into one long one and go to Midelt and then to Errachidia (or Ar-rachida) in 337 KM.

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7601/...34c86828_o.pngScreen Shot 2015-03-30 at 10.56.36 AM by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr


Leaving thru the gates of Fes we had already decided to put the bad behind us because today was going to be a great day.

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7695/...509bede0_c.jpgAr-Rachidia 1 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr



We started driving up and up and were soon in the snow near Azrou at Ifrane, which has a bit of a Swiss feel.


https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8708/...d3ded8db_c.jpgAr-Rachidia 2 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8705/...b34fb118_c.jpgAr-Rachidia 3 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8818/...a34cbc8e_c.jpgAr-Rachidia 6 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

Snow and Monkeys!
 

We continued higher and there was much more snow. Suddenly when we came around a corner there were monkeys everywhere. We had some bananas with us so we stopped to feed them.

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8809/...ff4aa885_c.jpgAr-Rachidia 4 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8802/...c8e82030_c.jpgAr-Rachidia 9 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8770/...a9b406e3_c.jpgAr-Rachidia 11 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8800/...0e982630_c.jpgAr-Rachidia 12 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8703/...d50aef18_c.jpgAr-Rachidia 15 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7720/...73220a51_c.jpgAr-Rachidia 19 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7609/...211e6293_c.jpgAr-Rachidia 20 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

Skiing??
 

Just a few km up the road we came across guys renting ski equipment and toboggans for a few dollars. The hike up was steep so it was one run for 1$ in the end.

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7617/...72fb4792_c.jpgAr-Rachidia 21 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7595/...b5a403f7_c.jpgAr-Rachidia 22 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8751/...7b95987d_c.jpgAr-Rachidia 25 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7659/...0f74200f_c.jpgAr-Rachidia 39 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7677/...ba11c67d_c.jpgAr-Rachidia 30 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8822/...bf809411_c.jpgAr-Rachidia 33 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

Before you get to Midelt you come around the corner on the descent from the mountains to a panoramic view of the snow capped Atlas Mountains. If you can get a room here there is a Kasbah Asmaa with an unbelievable view. Part of our reason to keep going on from here is that they were fully booked, and there is no other real reason to stay here.

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8800/...a574af5f_c.jpgAr-Rachidia 45 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7643/...919e7e4c_c.jpgAr-Rachidia 46 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7710/...2ea69cb4_c.jpgDSC01843 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8817/...7ff6ed2f_c.jpgAr-Rachidia 52 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8776/...dde0993f_c.jpgAr-Rachidia 58 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7631/...491c3032_c.jpgIMG_0672 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

You continue farther south skirting the foothills to the town of Errachidia.

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8822/...08d4464b_c.jpgIMG_0696 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8788/...7afc806e_c.jpgIMG_0697 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7670/...e95a64ea_c.jpgAr-Rachidia 68 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7700/...b2c8c6a8_c.jpgIMG_0690 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7640/...d52e65fb_c.jpgAr-Rachidia 73 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8709/...e05ab06a_c.jpgDSC09323 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7609/...09a928f6_c.jpgAr-Rachidia 74 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

Here we had booked into a very nice Kasbah run by a nice German woman. The staff is super friendly and the rooms comfortable. It is 30 E for a room, dinner, and breakfast. In Morocco a Dar is a small hotel with or without a garden but no trees, a Riad is a hotel with a garden that has at least 1 tree, and a Kasbah is a hotel that is a collection of buildings around a treed garden.

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8826/...694155ab_c.jpgAr-Rachidia 80 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7608/...310cf288_c.jpgFILE0735 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8770/...df343f36_c.jpgIMG_0703 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

Merzouga
 

We took the scenic route to Merzouga thru Goulmima instead of the main road and this was only an extra 70 km for a total of 201 km. This is about as close to Algeria as we will get.

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7637/...b4446401_o.pngScreen Shot 2015-03-30 at 10.57.51 AM by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7584/...9ddebe7a_o.pngScreen Shot 2015-03-30 at 10.58.21 AM by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr


The power to the entire town is off 1 day per month and this was the day. This meant no power for the gas pumps. Luckily we all had enough to get to the next town 60 km away and they had power.

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8722/...d5b937ec_c.jpgmerzouga 2 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7647/...cc296a1d_c.jpgmerzouga 1 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

This route takes a cross road to Erfoud, which passes thru a number of small villages.


https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8816/...d66cc485_c.jpgmerzouga 4 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7645/...09ccbb0c_c.jpgmerzouga 5 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8709/...0d891dcd_c.jpgIMG_0725 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8692/...9887ae2a_c.jpgIMG_0719 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7651/...51758738_c.jpgFILE0851 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

We saw out first camels today including a baby one.


https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8771/...3ec150df_c.jpgFILE0962 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8728/...61bda3b5_c.jpgmerzouga 19 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7597/...61420d50_c.jpgmerzouga 22 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7680/...3567620f_c.jpgmerzouga 23 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

We drove towards Merzouga and finally saw the big dunes of the red Sahara.


https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7599/...a5ca5fb1_c.jpgmerzouga 20 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr



We stopped in the town for some lunch and to make a plan. We had considered camping, but its 30 plus degrees.

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7611/...63d708d6_c.jpgmerzouga 27 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

We backtracked to the next big dunes and to the Kasbah Mohayut recommended by our rider friend Eduard who lives in a small village nearby.


https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8818/...8fe4b6e3_c.jpgDSC01861 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

We settled in and then decided to hike out onto the dunes for the sunset.

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7712/...4321e536_c.jpgIMG_0759 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8745/...42393b1d_c.jpgDSC01876 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8785/...62a2b641_c.jpgDSC01878 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7679/...1f0ee836_c.jpgmerzouga 35 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8741/...445a6d3a_c.jpgmerzouga 36 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7655/...11640b19_c.jpgmerzouga 38 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7664/...8d51d212_c.jpgmerzouga 39 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7629/...130c1459_c.jpgmerzouga 47 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7674/...6dd17592_c.jpgmerzouga 66 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

It is so touristy, but we had to do the camel ride to the dunes for the sun set and it was worth it for sure. Getting up at 5 am we boarded our camels and set out in the pitch black. The number of starts was unreal.

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7647/...f59a7788_c.jpgmerzouga 73 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr



We “parked” the camels and walked up one of the big dunes. Our driver brought a Berber blanket to sit on since the sand is really cold.


https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8708/...e985b89e_c.jpgmerzouga 83 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr



https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8691/...0b5fce1a_c.jpgmerzouga 76 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr


https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8822/...10dc3a3c_c.jpgmerzouga 80 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7715/...45d86df2_c.jpgmerzouga 77 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr


https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8693/...44a01bd2_c.jpgmerzouga 81 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7692/...0e351201_c.jpgmerzouga 88 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr




https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7652/...d1a76021_c.jpgmerzouga 89 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr




https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8735/...424b7d42_c.jpgmerzouga 95 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr




https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7652/...ff8e6cd8_c.jpgmerzouga 98 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

We had some fun skiing down the dunes. The only small incident was when Sara was trying to get back on her camel it decided to stand up and tossed her off. Just a bell ringer, but no serious damage.


https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7600/...c44f94ff_c.jpgmerzouga 99 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8790/...1aebec43_c.jpgIMG_0909 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8814/...d0502769_c.jpgmerzouga 120 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7609/...0f25776d_c.jpgmerzouga 125 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7721/...06bc0feb_c.jpgmerzouga 126 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7642/...c5ff35ce_c.jpgmerzouga 132 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr