Category Archives: Morocco

A Challenging Beginning

We were up early on a rainy Tuesday morning to begin our Moroccan ride. Since it was raining and snowing on the High Atlas Mountains we elected to load the bikes on our guide Abraham’s van to search for better conditions. When we reached drier weather we started riding. A few miles later Jocelyn’s right pedal fell off. When the bike boxes arrived in Marrakech we had noticed a few box punctures. One of them was right where the right crank arm was and the inside where the pedal attaches to was galled. Jocelyn’s LHT had a new crank set installed before we left the states so we knew it wasn’t damaged then. When we attached the pedal it would only insert about 2/3 in and figured that would work fine so didn’t think any more about it. That was a very foolish move on our part. We were unable to reattach the pedal so we called Abraham to pick up Jocelyn. I continued riding while they went to the next town to find someone who could maybe fix this.

After a few miles I started climbing into a fierce wind and was knocked down twice. I plodded along and finally reached the next village of Telouet and found Jocelyn and Abraham waiting for me. Jocelyn’s pedal was on so we continued to 17th century Kasbah Telouet. I really like history and old architecture so this was a real treat. We continued along a beautiful rocky valley to our destination for the night at an old Berber Hotel in the town of Alt-Benhaddou.

Jocelyn’s pedal once again fell off near the town of Quarzazate so we found a machinist who inserted new threads into the crank arm and attached the pedal. This should permanently fix the problem. We continued on to the town of Skoura where we found a nice Kasbah for the night. I picked up a stomach virus and have been sick the last several days so travel has been slow with no camping. I received two medications from a pharmacy in Skoura. Besides it has been two cold and this coming from a guy who spent the last two winters in Antarctica! Yesterday we unpacked everything again, got rid of a lot of stuff and are now down to our rear panniers and two trunk bags carrying our camping gear. We continued along a river gorge and visited a nomad family living in a cave – a very interesting life. To them it is all about their animals. Biking through Morocco has been very fun and interesting but certainly not as easy as the U.S. and New Zealand.

Having Abraham as a guide to see the “real” Morocco has been great. Plus between Jocelyn’s bike problems and my stomach virus issue his help with driving us has been a bonus.

Starting our ride outside our hostel.
Starting our ride outside our hostel.
Riding the Atlas Mountains.
Riding the Atlas Mountains.
The LHT galled right crank arm.
The LHT galled right crank arm.
We stopped for tea at this isolated hotel while waiting for Abraham.
We stopped for tea at this isolated hotel while waiting for Abraham.
A new friend.
A new friend.
A beautiful restaurant.
A beautiful restaurant.
  Riding into the 17th century Kasbah Telouet.

Riding into the 17th century Kasbah Telouet.
The front door key of Kasbah Telouet.
The front door key of Kasbah Telouet.
Kasbah Telouet built in the 17th century. It was a stopping point for caravans heading to the Sahara Desert.
Kasbah Telouet built in the 17th century. It was a stopping point for caravans heading to the Sahara Desert.

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A beautiful all wood door.
A beautiful all wood door.

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A ride along a beautiful valley.
A ride along a beautiful valley.

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Tagine - A typical Moroccan meal.
Tagine – A typical Moroccan meal.
Kasbah Anemiter.
Kasbah Anemiter.

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The movie Gladiator was filmed here. There was another movie being filmed the day we were here.
The movie Gladiator was filmed here. There was another movie being filmed the day we were here.
A machinist shop where the LHT was fixed.
A machinist shop where the LHT was fixed.

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Our destination for the day where we rode in at sunset.
Our destination for the day where we rode in at sunset.
A Moroccan sunset.
A Moroccan sunset.
A Moroccan towel rack.
A Moroccan towel rack.
Our Kasbah hotel in Skoura. All the Kasbah hotels include dinner and breakfast. There is no menu. Served is whatever is available. This Kasbah cost US $40.
Our Kasbah hotel in Skoura. All the Kasbah hotels include dinner and breakfast. There is no menu. Served is whatever is available. This Kasbah cost US $40.
We stopped at a pharmacy in Skoura where I purchased two medicines for about US $7.
We stopped at a pharmacy in Skoura where I purchased two medicines for about US $7.
A picnic.
A picnic.

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A picnic spot overlooking a village.
A picnic spot overlooking a village.
Tea in a nomad cave.
Tea in a nomad cave.
Jocelyn in a cave with another new friend.
Jocelyn in a cave with another new friend.
Two nomad girls weaving a carpet.
Two nomad girls weaving a carpet.
The "brains" of the Atlas Mountains.
The “brains” of the Atlas Mountains.
A beautiful Kasbah high atop the Dades River Gorge.
A beautiful Kasbah high atop the Dades River Gorge.