Day 207 11th February
13 miles (M’hamid ) average speed 10 mph Top speed 20 mph
Up at 8 for brekkie of cheese, omelette, bread, jam and tea and oj. I packed, showered and left at 10 to set up my tent at Jamal campsite. I’m the only one here unless you count the insects. Old guy welcomed me with tea and I set up.
Then I went to the cafe to meet Mohamed to pay for Aladdin and organise camel ride: 200 dirham for 2 hours. Met Georges from previous campsite and he said I could go to Foum Zguid with him on Monday, but it may be a slow trip of 3 or 4 days. Fine by me as long as we don’t get lost and the 50 year old Land rover makes it! I did some food shopping and came back to lunch and tea before camel ride at 3. I wasn’t ready, as the camel arrived at 2.30. So I finished up and set off with Barcal and Le Chan, the guide and the camel.
Suddenly my phone said it was an hour later, I think it must have assumed I was in another time zone, it certainly felt like another world!
It was lovely going into the desert, the dunes were a sight to behold.
The designs made in the sand were spectacular and there were lots of photos to be had if only I could hold the camera level as the motion of the camel made it difficult.
We stopped for a rest after about 45 minutes and I needed it, there are two things you’re guaranteed with a camel ride, crushed nuts! Barcal prayed and I took some more photos.
(Ermintrude : there are more photos of the desert in the gallery here pages 14 to 17. Some of these look like painted scenery!)
We got back in time for me to go into town and get water before dark and I got to see first half of live Spurs in the cafe before heading back to light the fire. I had a wonderful dinner of beef, onion, pepper and tomato kebabs using my spare spokes as skewers, with jacket potatoes cooked in the fire. It took a while but was well worth the wait. Watching the stars and the flames of the fire beats TV any day! I was in bed by 10.30 looking up at the moon through my tent door. A lovely day.
Jamal camping 50 dirham