Up'n atom. Too hot for another day here so we leave first thing in the morning. Put the bike on last night so we could get off at a good hour and before it gets too hot. We will be heading north after we get out of the mountains, which will mean the sun is at our backs! But first we have to get up and over the top of the mountain wall which surrounds Tafraout.
It's a beautiful morning and the early sunshine highlights the contrast between the valley and the mountains.
The climb begins!
The villages soon hug the cliffs as the valley gets steeper. Small communities hang on to the outcrops of rock as if they have no where else to go! Water must be their reason for being. Springs perhaps? Age old rites to a source?
Rain falls here but only occasionally. The last time the river ran through Tafraout was Christmas of 2009, we were here! as it happens. The whole town was out to see the spectacle as a raging torrent of brown water cascaded through and under the bridge in the center of town. Our campsite was inaccessible due to flooding and we had to be 'ferried' in on a 4x4!
That was more than 4 years ago!
Great views the higher we get.
And at last we reach the 'Tizi' with the road below showing our ascent route, Tafraout way down the valley in the distance. The van's engine is quite warm! but nothing serious.
Our journey takes us back along the road we arrived on, spectacular but straight forward driving.
Ups and downs, hairpin bends through small affluent villages. Perhaps there is more rain here on the north facing slopes? Crops of wheat are being harvested and water is evident in the streams.
Water! that magic ingredient to life. These camels have probably come up from the desert to drink their fill and stay alive. This is at a small reservoir at the bottom of the valley. It's flat land now all the way to Agadir.
Then back around the coast road to familiar territory. Just around the bend is Tamri, a banana town. The sweetest little banana's you will taste anywhere, for 8 Dirhams a kilo! the sand dune in the distance is evidence of the prevailing wind here. A strong northerly can blow for a week here, bringing sand from Imsouane!! which lies across a bay, directly behind the dune. Hot sun and a howling wind can make for trying conditions. We have been lucky this year and have not had to endure these conditions.
The banana plantations spread for miles up the valley in the distance.We stop for 2 kilo's in Tamri as well as other supplies before calling in at Imsouane for a couple of nights. A short stop to say farewell as we are heading north and homeward. Another year, our 5th, is drawing to a close.
At Imsouane, we find the campsite empty apart from Jamie, who is leaving on Thursday himself for some well needed European sanity.
One season passes, another is knocking on the door as summer approaches and Moroccans will fill Imsouane. It's theirs now until next winter.
It's a beautiful morning and the early sunshine highlights the contrast between the valley and the mountains.
The climb begins!
The villages soon hug the cliffs as the valley gets steeper. Small communities hang on to the outcrops of rock as if they have no where else to go! Water must be their reason for being. Springs perhaps? Age old rites to a source?
Rain falls here but only occasionally. The last time the river ran through Tafraout was Christmas of 2009, we were here! as it happens. The whole town was out to see the spectacle as a raging torrent of brown water cascaded through and under the bridge in the center of town. Our campsite was inaccessible due to flooding and we had to be 'ferried' in on a 4x4!
That was more than 4 years ago!
Great views the higher we get.
And at last we reach the 'Tizi' with the road below showing our ascent route, Tafraout way down the valley in the distance. The van's engine is quite warm! but nothing serious.
Our journey takes us back along the road we arrived on, spectacular but straight forward driving.
Ups and downs, hairpin bends through small affluent villages. Perhaps there is more rain here on the north facing slopes? Crops of wheat are being harvested and water is evident in the streams.
Water! that magic ingredient to life. These camels have probably come up from the desert to drink their fill and stay alive. This is at a small reservoir at the bottom of the valley. It's flat land now all the way to Agadir.
Then back around the coast road to familiar territory. Just around the bend is Tamri, a banana town. The sweetest little banana's you will taste anywhere, for 8 Dirhams a kilo! the sand dune in the distance is evidence of the prevailing wind here. A strong northerly can blow for a week here, bringing sand from Imsouane!! which lies across a bay, directly behind the dune. Hot sun and a howling wind can make for trying conditions. We have been lucky this year and have not had to endure these conditions.
The banana plantations spread for miles up the valley in the distance.We stop for 2 kilo's in Tamri as well as other supplies before calling in at Imsouane for a couple of nights. A short stop to say farewell as we are heading north and homeward. Another year, our 5th, is drawing to a close.
At Imsouane, we find the campsite empty apart from Jamie, who is leaving on Thursday himself for some well needed European sanity.
One season passes, another is knocking on the door as summer approaches and Moroccans will fill Imsouane. It's theirs now until next winter.
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