Imsouane to Tatraout

Before we move on to Tafraout, there are two more friends that need a mention. The first are a couple from Wales, Dylan and Willow. They are from Tregaron way and know people who we know. It's sometimes a very small world!! They are full of life and energy, even after 5 months on the road, they can get up at dawn to go for a surf. Or is that just being young.? They stop for a chat as they pass our van and we chat all things Welsh and worldly. They know Holtsfield too! They are off to Portugal next, to see if they can find some cheap land to make a home on, or, they'll go back to west Wales and build cabin in the woods. We hope their dreams come true. xxx

 And our other friend who must be mentioned is Louis, a big beautiful baby of a hound, who becomes ours as soon as his master goes walkabout. The master is Jamie and Louis is the campsite dog. He becomes ours for as long as Jamie is away, we have no choice in the matter. ' Stay with Ted n Krysia while I go to Agadir ' he shouts out as he's passing in the morning. And stay with us he does. He comes for a swim with us, a walk, to the showers and follows every footstep with great interest. He's a big softy and would not hurt a fly.

He comes on our evening walk to watch the sun go down with us. Although he just can't see what all the fuss is about. Sun comes up, sun goes down!  Happens every day.

 So the following morning, we decide to practice our leaving skills, decision made at 11 am and we're off at 2 pm! That's bike and all paraphernalia packed from scratch!  It's a good drive ahead as we plan on a revisit to Tafraout and some bike riding in the mountains. We stop at the Marjane for supplies and head on up the road we came down with Adam and Riek? The one with the diggers!!! Are we nuts or just suckers for punishment. ?

 Fortunately, just as we reach the section that gave us so much trouble last time, a large yellow sign pos up and says ''Deviation'' follow this other road! Perhaps they had not put one up when we came the other month, from the other direction. So we are relieved of a hair raising journey and instead are taken on a most lovely detour through fields of wheat and houses on hills, along the valley floor. Winding its way up until we reach the main road again, after the cliffhanging section.

Fields full of ripe wheat, ready for harvesting. Smart large houses shout wealth in this valley. There's money in these here hills. Eventually we're back on the main road and pass familiar sights

Castle on the hill? a fortified settlement from past days of feuding tribes? Now, a well visited tourist attraction more like. All the same, it's very beautiful and evocative.

And as the sun gets lower, the light becomes even more atmospheric, casting beautiful shadows on the rocks as we pass. Vanny looks so cool as she thunders up the mountain roads. She really is going well and has taken all types of road in her stride. Well done that van!




As we drop over into the Ameln valley, where Tafraout lies, the sun sets directly into our eyes!! This does make driving a tad difficult but the van knows the way now and takes us safely down the steep hill to Tafraout where we settle into a small campsite with views over the palmerie. An adventure has begun and tomorrow we go on a bike ride to Ait Mansour, something we've wanted to do for quite a while now.