Day3 02/10/2012: All Together Now...
Hows Husky
How's the Chopper? Nice flying today.
Paul also forgot to mention that Gary rode over a cow a little further up the trail.
I reckon he wanted it unconsious for his own personal gratification.
I also believe that karma caused Jono's bike to fail.
As I followed him on the last stretch of piste he managed to soak a couple of occupants of a pick up he was overtaking by a puddle, timing his pass to perfection.
I apologised for him as I passed them – they didn’t look amused. Waiting for Alan to sort himself out after his drop I had the opportunity to apologise again for Jono as the pick-up trundled by – they still weren’t smiling!
It was only a few miles before his bike finally conked out.
Jono (filming) lining himself up with the puddle:
He's a very naughty boy!
Some of the locals were enjoying themselves watching us splash our way through that trail but it's not good upsetting anyone.
Imagine what would have happened if we did that in the High Peaks.
So what happened?
When you have your engine cases powder coated don't forget to clean up the earth strap mounting flange when you rebuild the bike to ensure a good Ground return connection for the electrical circuits.
Jono certainly put in the work last night to find out why his bike wouldn't start and even refused the help on offer to deal with it himself. He spent several hours, with a brief meal break, to dig down to the top of his engine casings, scrape away some of the powder coating, and reassemble it all again to create a functioning HP2 once again.
Once finished he did take a bit of time to sit with a few of us and have a beer before declaring that he was knackered and went to his room to tuck Dean into bed.
This morning we dragged his bike off the trailer and we all set off together again.
It is a fairly relaxed start to the day at 09:00hrs because all we have to do is get to Marrakech. It would be easy by taking the fast road straight there and we'd be having our mint tea's for elevenses if we were swinging the lead but this not why we are here. We're going to have a little look at the lower slopes of the Moyen (Middle) Atlas mountains before a
fun run into the old city and it doesn't take long to get there from Beni Mellal. Our first stop is part way up the steeply rising slopes of the long mountain range.
The electromagnetic radition from the power cables has had no long term affects as far as we can tell.
The road to this layby is typically Moroccan with lots of switchbacks, long seeping bends and short straights typical of Alpine style roads elsewhere.
Dean's HeadCam again.
The climb to this place periodically opens up the views to the lowland, from where we have come, bit it's only when we stop that we can find the time to take it all in and capture a few images to show our friends, and you lot here...
Somewhere below is Afourer and Beni Mellal.
Alan captures the mid-morning mist, or dust, perfectly.
After half a cigar we're back on the road upwards and further into the mountains but before too long I'm at the side of the road again with Alan whilst watching the head of the group disappear into the distance.
Alan's had a problem with his jacket and needs to stop to make some adjustments which forces MrIfan do stop behind us and get his camera out...
Body armour alone is the way to go at this time of year.
PS. You must wear trousers.
"Right, come on Al, let's catch up". They can't be that far ahead, and they are not. Alan and I manage to catch up Jono, who has waited for us, and soon we find our next layby-stop for a vista to behold and take some more pictures. The trouble is it's on a dangerous bend and there's a lot of traffic in our way. Some of us overshoot the opportunity to turn left and park up so, we take the safer option of riding on for a few meters more to pull a U-Turn and make a safer exit from the main carriageway.
Pulling off the road onto a gravel layby is usually done without any drama's for most but there's always one who makes it more difficult that it should be.
There's an HP2 which manages to find the only rut to ride in for a 1000m which decides it's had enough and lies down on it's side: Guess which one?
Take a bow...
Well done.
Even thought Jono has given us all a laugh this morning there's another distraction which occupies our short stay here: It's the view.
We've stopped at the best point of view for the Bin-el-Ouidane reservoir after having ridden over its dam, through a tunnel and up the roads of the hills which supply its water. The artificial lake holds stunning aquamarine blue water and a few moments to recall in my mind for days to come. The photographs taken here do not in any way represent the beauty of the view and it's only for those who follow the green routes of the Michelin Maps who find these places when looking for them.
No matter how overwhelming some things are, occasionally there are other priorities which have to be dealt with...
This is becoming an increasingly regular sight to the rest of the group.
...although having one of these bikes does provide a element of defense from having the piss taken too much.
The Boss is actually suffering from an over inflated bladder.
The actuality is that we've arrived here for a
five break after a several kilometers of fantastic riding but it's cameras out for everyone in an attempt to capture the view...
The real view.
We were all asked to present ourselves, with a bike, for a sensible picture of all the riders with a worthy backdrop behind us...
Rudiemoto, Skygod, Spout, Alan, Dean and me.
...but sensible doesn't last long around here though.
A big thanks to the original Tosser's Pointing Crew.
Just one more thing before we move on from here and that is to verify that Jono's HP2, with its KTM'esq fairing, survived its' tumble and will be with us for the remainder of the day.
It has to be back on the road from here towards Marrakech. It's a new road this time for most of us, which is just as enjoyable as the ride to the reservoir, and will take us to our lunch stop at a place I'm sure I have seen before.
We stop for fuel, a toilet break and our lunch at one of those multifunctional service stations to be found in Morocco (without the £3 pint of coffee). There's a cafe with food, a truck-wash, and of course
sans plomb for our bikes. There's nothing to be seen across all horizons except this place and it makes you wonder what life must be like looking after all of the travellers who stop here. I've said it before:
"If you didn't have to do it somebody else would and no doubt make a decent living in this near desert location supplying those who arrive here." There's nothing for miles around here but they can still provide us with a decent meal in the middle of the day.
That's Ian's...All to himself.
We get the Tagine's with chili's...
Wake up you two!
We're not alone here. In Morocco there are many opportunities to see some new wildlife and even the simple things like butterflies in October...
Nice job MrIfan: All of your butterfly snaps were worth posting here.
After we had dined we were back on the road and off to a place we found last time for a little bit of fun and to break up the road ride. It's a small stream bed leading to a river by the side of our road to Marrakech. It's rocky and sandy with sloping sides which make's it difficult to turn around at the bushy end; just ask the Boss.
We assemble by the footballing goal and yes, there's only one and no pitch. In fact it's even not remotely flat and those who's who play that game wouldn't dare perform a sliding tackle on the stoney ground.
Smoking is not allowed in the penalty box.
That's the start point up there and there's a small trail to ride down to the river bank. You turn right quite quickly before you have to plough your way through the muddy beach and ruin your trousers.
The Boss takes the lead and is followed by Spout, Alan and then me.
Spout leads on the way back because he doesn't have to pick his bike up!
The easier way out.
The more challenging route.
KTM Power...
The Lazy Yamaha.
This is the first rocky trail we've taken so far and even though they're not too big they still give the riders something to think about on the sandy surface. It's quite easy to get a wobble on find yourself fighting the handlebars to get a sweat on.
This pair are on the way out but, come in from the left behind the post and brick building then swing it to the right.
Jono and Dean bring up the rear giving the rest of us a
roosting show to watch.
Rudiemoto and Dean playing together.
Jono's HP2 has a lot going for it but sometimes a big bike just makes its own path allowing Dean's agile KTM 640ADV a simple pass.
I'm going to have to go and have a look in this cave one day. I don't expect to find anything but having seen it again in this picture I'm starting to get curious and wonder if there really is anything too see.
The Cave: Is it just a dug-out for shade and weather protection?
After our playtime we crack on towards the Big City but not before we try another piste in the middle of the afternoon which is supposed to take us to the outskirts of Marrakech. It's a good start into the hills, slightly north of Timinoutine, with an easy track but this turns into a wadi crossing at one point which is quite deep and full of sand. After negotiating this we carry on riding up, it seems to always be
up in this country, until we arrive at the edge of an unexpected village. It doesn't look right to ride into this place so we stop and have a look around. There's no indication on the surrounding landscape of which way we should go to avoid disturbing the village's community: It's the village route, the hillside full of sheep or turn around. Awesome Skygod decides to go and have a look in the village and leaves us to our bonus five-break. We smoke, drink water, look at our bikes and give the shepherd a bottle of water. This guy is sat on the hillside in the baking sun watching his flock and has nothing with him. No food, no water and he's not even wearing a hat, he's just sat there taking in the day and looking at his sheep which are searching the gaps between the rocks for something green to eat. I still think we should have given him more water to see him through the rest of the day. Look at this sky. Just a single cloud and it's getting hot, even in October...
I don't know why but Dean feels the need to check his phone.
Spout adopts an increasingly familiar pose.
I can't look anymore...
Jono proves that there's not enough water in a 3L aquapack for the day around here.
The AirCon in here helps keep you cool.
Well, we have to turn back from this place and go back across the wadi and down the hill for a while before turning to find something better than the roads. We find that for a while if being wedged into a carts' width track lined with stone walls is better than a twisty road. It's not uninteresting in any way but there are donkeys being walking along these tracks and women (it always seems to be womens work) loaded with whatever those twiggy bushes which seem so important to many places in Morocco. Is it kindling or herbs? I wish I knew but it's fair to say that alot of it get moved by whatever means possible (Maybe Tim Cullis knows?).
Once we'd fought our way out of there it was a ride along what looks like the canal into or around Marrakech. It may just be a protected river because there doesn't seem to be any traffic on it and it doesn't look very clean so fallling in there isn't an option.
Well, there's just a couple of shots for today which I could find to use and they are from our evening out in Marrakech and taken before, or after, our Indian curry meal in a roof top restaurant looking over the city.
It's a shame about the focus and movement...
There's lots of tat sellers in Marrakech.
Pherhaps I'll come back here in 2013 to have a proper look around but for now it's only for tonight because tomorrow we'll be on our way in the morning where we will be heading further south for another change of scenery.