Still feeling feverish, i ate a light breakfast. The mountain hut workers asked if i was ok after inspecting the room and i confessed to having vommitted. Today was going to be all down hill, so i layered up with everything I had and began my descent down to a town called Ourika. About 10 minutes in I noticed that my rear wheel was bent so I pulled up for a bit of roadside mechanics, only then to realise that i had cracked my rear rim 😠that is game over in the cycling world, one should not cycle on a cracked wheel! And it was multiple cracks. Again, insanity kicked in and I was determined to complete the tour so i pootled down the mountain, constantly on the brakes.
Ourika is at the foot of the Atlas mountains. Not much to do here, it is used as a starting point for hiking in the area. I checked into a guest house and slept for 14 hours straight (recovery sleep!).
The next morning, there was a huge market outside the guest house. It turns out that Monday is market day here, and it was bustling with everything from livestock (donkey, anyone?) to spices to clothing and random tools that you would ever need, and even a snake charmer!
Feeling recovered now, i inspected the bike again and didn’t think it was any worse than yesterday. I decided it would be wise to cycle back to marrakesh, again all downhill, and end the tour a day earlier than planned.
All safe and sound now in marrakesh, mission accomplished and really happy with the trip (mixed in with type 2 fun!).
Great adventure! And I’m already missing roaming on the bike. Trips like these, to me, are a form of meditation. The mind is clear and in survival mode. I think about the nature I’m in. Otherwise, basic instincts come into play: food, water, direction, shelter. It’s hard work, but it’s rewarding and the memories will stick with me forever.
Morocco, you’ve been great! Now to loiter in marrakesh, eat food, wander the streets, treat myself to a hammam, and reflect some more on the past week!