So what else can we do in this heat? Ah I know go for another bike ride!! Well, we are in Tafraout after all. We set off at a good hour and head for a road we saw while Adam n Riek were with us. A small little number, heading off into the mountains. Now I know there was a sign saying road closed but I thought we'd have a look all the same!! We took a rest after the first section of piste and posed for a photo or two.
Posers!
Shall we go on? or turn back? The road road signs are clear enough? Seriously, we did see other traffic use the road while we were there so we thought, why not, we can always turn back if need be.
The scenery is stunning. The Ameln valley from above. And it is definitely cooler up here, what a relief. So we dress up, helmets on and on up and up we go. Which way was it now Krysia?
The road is obviously under construction! It is marked on the map and must be being upgraded to allow better access to these parts. As we have no idea how long the road works go on for, we find it all very exciting as we keep on climbing.
Seems to be levelling out now, glad there is no rain about. Must be a right old mess in the wet weather ( what wet weather? ), we'll keep on going, see what we can find.
What's around the next bend?
Now then, a village nestled in the mountain side, we're quite high up now yet the houses are up market, perhaps a summer haven for wealthy landowners or town dwellers. It must stay cooler up here as the sun bakes Tafraout. That explains the road too, there's money in these here hills.
And in the next village, we find a shop with enough supplies to make a sandwich, that's bread, laughing cow cheese, a yogurt and a cold drink. Great stuff as we have come out without a packed lunch and have no idea where we are going!! ( Well, some idea? ) or how long we will be out!! the friendly shopkeeper says the road gets better in about 5 kms and we can get around on fair roads to anywhere we want to go!! Tafraout??? No problem he says.
Kitted back up and well fed, we decide to carry on and find our way around the mountains to our campsite. We do know that the main road to Tafraout from the south is closed due to repairs! This could make our journey longer, we will find this out a bit later on.
First, we have to come down out of the mountains and get onto the valley roads. Wow, this is some descent, if the road was solid it would be challenging but it's a piste and yet there is a Ford transit coming up towards us on a road I can only say is ''interesting'' at this point, heart in my mouth and drive carefully Ted!
Ah, I see, there is a sharp bend and a rather large drop. I think I'll stop for the transit? Let him pass and go for it. No other choice really and it is all very exciting. Bike's going well, plenty of fuel, nerves are intact and on high alert!
What a road!
Made it. Now what's around this corner, any sign of the valley ?
Stunning scenery, deep breaths, no one coming, take a picture Krysia? oh you have! Phew, no coming!
And there it is, the valley floor with tar mac roads!
Now which way is it and where are we?
Any idea o hairy one? Not a clue really, we seem to be rather close to Tiznit, on the coast!! Mmm We've got rather a long drive ahead of us so we'd better get on with it because we're not going back over the top!
So we zoom on fine roads the many more kilometers than we'd planned, around a large detour due to major road works, to a spot we have stopped at maybe 3 years ago. A wild and desolate place, well to us it is, even more so without our van.
We've come around to the south east of Tafaout now, our journey started in a westerly direction, turning due south, then east and now we're about to head north west over a high pass, drop right down into the heat sink and get back to the undress campsite in plenty of time to get hot and bothered again! Only joking, we've done a round trip of 100 miles today and have ended up seeing amazing mountain scenery and places.
What a place to stop and take in what we've done today! Further than we had planned yet amazing to be in this open wide landscape. A drive of a lifetime for us and a chance to escape the heat for the day.
Thanks to Krysias photography, we have some great images of our trip. Of course, I took these three!! of the mobile camera woman.
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