First day cycling, south of Marrakech. [Morocco]
Heading towards the Atlas mountains. [Morocco]
Tajine time! [Morocco]
Trying to blend in, wearing fleece and long pants in 30+ degree weather. [Morocco]
Saturday souq, Asni. [Morocco]
Should I follow Mohamed, or wait for Benoit? Asni souq. [Morocco]
Ouirgane lake. [Morocco]
Atlas mountain valley. [Morocco]
Maximizing your tank of gas. [Morocco]
Looking cooler than I actually am. [Morocco]
Towards the Tizi n Test. [Morocco]
[Morocco]
Steady as she goes. [Morocco]
Cyclists! Walter, Virginie and Elio (in trailer). [Morocco]
Walter & Virginie's tandem, Ijoukak. [Morocco]
Gite el Mahjoub, Ijoukak. [Morocco]
Tea on the terrace chez Mahjoub, Ijoukak. [Morocco]
The river crossing from Mahjoub's gite. [Morocco]
Rock the casbah. [Morocco]
12th century mosque, Tinmel. [Morocco]
Tinmel mosque, another view. [Morocco]
Starting to climb. [Morocco]
Elio (2 years), Virginie and Walter. [Morocco]
Elio. [Morocco]
Starting the Tizi n Test mountain pass climb. [Morocco]
Look closely: that is the tandem family cyclists, centre shot. [Morocco]
Walter, Virginie and Elio, one switch back ahead of us. [Morocco]
Going up the Tizi n Test. [Morocco]
Inching our way up the Tizi n Test. [Morocco]
The climb never ends. [Morocco]
Almost at the summit, Tizi n Test. [Morocco]
Atlas mountain view. [Morocco]
View from the summit, Tizi n Test, 2100 m. [Morocco]
Charlie's Angels on Tizi n Test. [Morocco]
Tizi n Test sunset. [Morocco]
Beginning of the descent to Taroudannt. [Morocco]
Unnecessarily dressed for the descent from Tizi n Test, 2100 m. [Morocco]
Descent from Tizi n Test. [Morocco]
The road down from Tizi n Test. [Morocco]
Tizi n Test descent towards Taroudannt. [Morocco]
Overhanging rock on the road. [Morocco]
Michele gets A+ for overcoming her vertigo. [Morocco]
Descent from the Tizi n Test. [Morocco]
At a cafe on the way down from Tizi n Test. [Morocco]
One of the many switch backs. [Morocco]
What ever you do, keep your eyes on the road. [Morocco]
Still going down. [Morocco]
Descending towards the Souss plain. [Morocco]
The road is finally flattening out. [Morocco]
Beginning of Souss plain. [Morocco]
Bicycle awareness! [Morocco]
15 diram (1.50 euros) for a cut and a shave with straight razor. [Morocco]
Can't really see it, but there's a goat in that tree. [Morocco]
Making our way through the Anti Atlas. [Morocco]
No flat tires yet. [Morocco]
Anti Atlas on our way to Tafraoute. [Morocco]
Typical Moroccan road sign. A lot of times they're deliberately scratched out. [Morocco]
I look well don't I? Well, I feel like sh*t. [Morocco]
Winding road through the Anti Atlas. [Morocco]
Pedalling with %40. [Morocco]
Spaghetti western. Where's Touko and Blondie? [Morocco]
Still going. [Morocco]
Some down hill at last. [Morocco]
The first healthy looking cat we've seen in Morocco. [Morocco]
Anti Atlas. [Morocco]
A village on top of a hill. It's actually an expensive hotel. [Morocco]
Here's where we spent one night on our way to Tafraoute. [Morocco]
Entrance to the guest house. [Morocco]
Inside the courtyard of the guest house. [Morocco]
Final day before Tafraoute. Yes, still feel like shit. [Morocco]
On our way to Tafraoute. [Morocco]
For the record, I'm not puking in the village well. [Morocco]
Final climb before the descent into Tafraoute. [Morocco]
Getting more arid. [Morocco]
A sign that displays Berber script. [Morocco]
Yet another Tizi before Tafraoute. [Morocco]
Stunning view from the top. [Morocco]
Let the downhill begin! [Morocco]
Around a switch back. [Morocco]
Downhill to Tafraoute. [Morocco]
First sign of oasis. [Morocco]
The view from our apartment in Tafraoute. Operation Get Better in full swing. [Morocco]
Terrasse at our apartment in Tafraoute. [Morocco]
Home made tajine at our apartment in Tafraoute. [Morocco]
First day ride after several days of rest. [Morocco]
Le Chapeau de Napoleon. [Morocco]
The strange rock formation around Tafraoute. [Morocco]
The painted rocks, Tafraoute. [Morocco]
Maybe lost in the desert. Maybe not. [Morocco]
Cycling back to Tafraoute after our day ride. Michele now feeling like shit. [Morocco]
Day hike around Tafraoute. [Morocco]
Invited chez Hicham for brochettes during Aid el Kebir (Fete du Mouton). [Morocco]
Walking off the liver brochettes, Tafraoute. [Morocco]
Hicham (and his half-sister), who rented us the apartment in Tafraoute. [Morocco]
In front of Hicham's bike rental shop. Our Tafraoute apartment was on the roof. [Morocco]
First climb out of Tafraoute. [Morocco]
Still climbing. [Morocco]
The start of the downhill to the oasis at Ait Mansour. [Morocco]
Hints of the oasis to come. [Morocco]
The oasis! Ait Mansour. [Morocco]
Ait Mansour. [Morocco]
Ait Mansour. There is a woman asleep at the side of the road. [Morocco]
Entering the village of Ait Mansour. [Morocco]
Letter from Valery Giscard d'Estaing who dined at the same restaurant as us. [Morocco]
Leaving the oasis behind. [Morocco]
A barrier! Of course, it is not at all steep here. [Morocco]
Cool hill striations. [Morocco]
Passing through isolated villages on a road that was not on our map. [Morocco]
I guess we're not out of the oasis yet. [Morocco]
Morocco's Habitat 67?
Bivouac in the desert. [Morocco]
Pretty village. [Morocco]
After yet another climb, a downhill! Heading towards Izerbi. [Morocco]
Filtering water in Izerbi. [Morocco]
Clean water at last, after filtering and sterilizing. [Morocco]
Wide open spaces. [Morocco]
Our first wild camping. [Morocco]
Wild camping dinner: mmmm, tuna and rice. [Morocco]
Full moon (almost) over our wild camping spot. [Morocco]
Not much around our little camping spot, not even protection from the wind. [Morocco]
Sad sight: a small-spotted genet dead at the roadside. [Morocco]
View down towards the coast near Tiznit. [Morocco]
Desert brush. [Morocco]
Shade break on our way to the coast. [Morocco]
Not sure I would stay at this hotel! [Morocco]
Finally at the beach: Aglou Plage. [Morocco]
Poor camel. [Morocco]
Treating ourselves to a nice guesthouse. [Morocco]
Nice chill day. [Morocco]
The beach in front of the guesthouse. Aglou Plage. [Morocco]
Hyalp! Strong undertow, but the water was warm. [Morocco]
Dead tired after swimming back against strong current. [Morocco]
First perfect sunset in Morocco.
Mirleft beach. [Morocco]
The King Kong of locusts, Sidi Ifni. [Morocco]
Tajine prep with Moroccan beer in our Sidi Ifni bungalow. [Morocco]
Abandoned airfield, Sidi Ifni. [Morocco]
Sidi Ifni beach with Thomas and Claudia. [Morocco] Photo: T. Straessle
Beer commercial smiles with Thomas & Claudia, Sidi Ifni beach. [Morocco] Photo: T. Straessle
The old port of Sidi Ifni with Thomas & Claudia. [Morocco] Photo: T. Straessle
Rainy day in Sidi Ifni with Thomas and Claudia. [Morocco] Photo: T. Straessle
Thomas (Swiss German) and Philippe (French), our new cycling friends. [Morocco]
The hills on the way to Guelmim. [Morocco]
A sunscreen break with Thomas. [Morocco] Photo: P. Fauvarque
A wave hello from Philippe. [Morocco]
Approaching Guelmim, the gateway to the Sahara. [Morocco]
With Thomas, refueling on bananas. [Morocco] Photo: P. Fauvarque
Thomas and Benoit, with Philippe in shadow. [Morocco] Photo: P. Fauvarque
Our camp in Abaynou next to the thermal pool. [Morocco] Photo: P. Fauvarque
With Thomas and Philippe at our hotel in Guelmim. [Morocco]
Velib' bicycle in Guelmim! [Morocco]
The sail on Philippe's bike. [Morocco]
Long way to go. [Morocco]
There is pain behind that smile. A long ride on a hot day. [Morocco]
Philippe, truck stop on the road to Tan Tan. [Morocco]
Lone truck stop. [Morocco]
Thomas chats with a Mauritanian who later scams us. Guelmim. [Morocco] Photo: P. Fauvarque
Two types of heavy load, leaving Guelmim. [Morocco] Photo: P. Fauvarque
First hint of dunes south of Guelmim. [Morocco]
Serious contemplations. [Morocco]
Camel taxi. [Morocco]
On the road to Tan Tan. [Morocco]
With Thomas and Philippe, Tan Tan bound. [Morocco]
Truck stop tea break. [Morocco] Photo: P. Fauvarque
Thomas. [Morocco] Photo: P. Fauvarque
Heading towards the Western Sahara. [Morocco]
Drafting behind Philippe. [Morocco] Photo: T. Straessle
Entrance to Tan Tan. [Morocco]
Wide openness near Tan Tan. [Morocco] Photo: T. Straessle
Finally in Tan Tan. [Morocco] Photo: P. Fauvarque
Tan Tan cityscape. [Morocco]
Downtown Tan Tan. [Morocco]
Camel in front of the Snack Seoul, Tan Tan. [Morocco]
El Ouatia, also known as Tan Tan Plage. [Morocco]
Tight squeeze in the taxi to Tan Tan Plage. [Morocco] Photo: T. Straessle
Benoit is not comfortable in this Grand Taxi! [Morocco] Photo: T. Straessle
Tan Tan Plage [Morocco] Photo: T. Straessle
Philippe with his elixir. [Morocco] Photo: T. Straessle
Cycling into a sandstorm near El Ouatia. [Morocco] Photo: T. Straessle
Land Rover, the modern day camel. We take a taxi to the road to Es Semara. [Morocco]
Land Rover taxi, El Ouatia. [Morocco]
Inside the Land Rover taxi. [Morocco]
Unloading at the start of the road to Es Semara. [Morocco]
Camels gathered for the El Mosem festival in Tan Tan. [Morocco]
Tent city for the El Mosem camel festival, Tan Tan. [Morocco]
Invited for tea in one of the tents. Tan Tan. [Morocco]
Tent and bikes. Tan Tan. [Morocco]
Ready for the camel races of Tan Tan's El Mosem festival. [Morocco] Photo: T. Straessle
Simple salad with Philippe in a crummy hotel in Tan Tan. [Morocco]
Thomas wondering where the camels are. Road to Es Semara. [Morocco]
Camels across the road to Es Semara. [Morocco]
Cycle chic. [Morocco]
Camel crossing. Road to Es Semara. [Morocco] Photo: T. Straessle
Camel glare. [Morocco] Photo: T. Straessle
Camel and bikes. [Morocco] Photo: T. Straessle
Nomad. [Morocco] Photo: T. Straessle
Wild donkeys near Abteh. [Morocco]
Water in the desert near Abteh. [Morocco]
Three of the Fabulous Four. [Morocco] Photo: T. Straessle
Arriving in Abteh. [Morocco] Photo: T. Straessle
Abteh cafe. [Morocco] Photo: T. Straessle
Berda, berda. [Morocco] Photo: T. Straessle
Abteh cafe interior. [Morocco] Photo: P. Fauvarque
Sterilizing water with ultraviolet light. [Morocco] Photo: T. Straessle
Abteh kitty. [Morocco] Photo: T. Straessle
At our wild camping spot in the desert. [Morocco]
Our tents in the desert. [Morocco]
The road and the sunrise. [Morocco]
Sweet camping spot. [Morocco]
Philippe sand diving. [Morocco]
Arid. [Morocco]
A viper? [Morocco] Photo: T. Straessle
Thomas has a crazy zoom on his camera. [Morocco] Photo: T. Straessle
Camels unlimited. [Morocco]
Thomas and Philippe share the road. [Morocco]
Share the road with the UN. [Morocco]
Benoit reflects on Philippe's new shades. [Morocco]
A siesta at the true (?) gateway to the Sahara. [Morocco]
Sunset from the gas station on the way to Es Semara. [Morocco]
Philippe at the gas station sleeping rooms. [Morocco]
Endless straightaway, Western Sahara. [Morocco]
Camel crossing, Western Sahara. [Morocco]
Gas station wince. [Morocco] Photo: T. Straessle
We stop for lunch. Western Sahara. [Morocco]
Western Sahara. [Morocco]
Load 'er up. Western Sahara. [Morocco]
The wind is usually from the north. Western Sahara. [Morocco]
Approaching Es Semara, Western Sahara. [Morocco]
Arriving in Es Semara, Western Sahara. [Morocco] Photo: P. Fauvarque
Thomas in Es Semara, Western Sahara. [Morocco] Photo: P. Fauvarque
Kitty and a mishmash of wires, Es Semara, Western Sahara. [Morocco] Photo: T. Straessle
On the road from Laayoune, Western Sahara. [Morocco]
Near Laayoune, Western Sahara. [Morocco]
Michele holds the bikes. Western Sahara. [Morocco]
On the way to Foum El Oued. Western Sahara. [Morocco]
Foum El Oued, also known as Laayoune Plage. Western Sahara. [Morocco]
This one didn't make it. Laayoune Plage, Western Sahara. [Morocco]
Stairway to the Canaries, Foum El Oued [Morocco]
Foum El Oued [Morocco]
Flushed of tourists, except for us. Foum El Oued [Morocco]
Wait... no.... tourists! Foum El Oued [Morocco]
Busy campground, Foum El Oued [Morocco]
Really busy campground, Foum El Oued [Morocco]
Mais... mais... j'aime pas les arrêts. Port de Lâayoune [Morocco]
Our last meal in Morocco, hoping not to get sick. [Morocco]
Heading to the ferry, Port de Lâayoune [Morocco]
That look that says I've had it. Port de Lâayoune [Morocco]
Sunrise on the ferry to Las Palmas from Lâayoune [Morocco]
Just waking up from a shitty sleep on the boat from Lâayoune [Morocco]
Our next stomping ground, Las Palmas [Canary Islands]
Back to first world comfort, Las Palmas [Canary Islands]
