Day 189 24th January
37miles (Kenitra to Rabat) Average speed 9.8 mph Top speed 38 mph
I had a lie in and got up at 10.
Breakfast was Jarjar bread left over from Kamal’s, with cheese and orange from Mohamed’s farm, then coffee in Cafe Elysees where I used their proper toilet. I left at midday and headed out on N1. The road was busy but not any problem. I met a couple of cyclists from Munich and turned off too early for Plages du Nations. Ended up in a sandy track and a lady came to tell me to cross onto another, but the going was too thick and heavy, so I returned to the main road and found the correct road. Stopped off for pictures of Paris Saint Germaine football academy and carried on to the beach.
Paris Saint Germaine football academy
A hotel official came out and asked me where I’d come from and welcomed me to Morocco. I went down to the beach and then back to the hotel Firdaous for coffee on their patio. A very smart waiter in a white suit and dickie bow brought me a very milky coffee and I fed the shaggy dog some sugar while enjoying the wonderful Atlantic shoreline with its miles of beautiful sand and the waves crashing in.
Waiter and shaggy dog
The waiter looked surprised not to get a tip but at 20 dirham for a coffee the only tip he got was to put some coffee in his coffees.
Then down to the beach for a paddle and settled down for more bread and cheese while my feet dried off.
Brian paddling in the sea
I went back to the main road and carried on till I reached another market where I had a Coke. I checked out the exotic gardens, but chose not to walk round as I didn’t want to leave the bike.
Garden of exotic flowers
On to Rabat and it was rush hour when I arrived, but it was good fun weaving in and out of traffic. I tried to find the central hotel and after about an hour eventually did, but couldn’t find the hostel Anders had recommended and I used McDonald’s wifi to find this one. Checked in with a guy from Enfield! Then met Craig from New Zealand and Jasper from Holland who were very experienced tourers. We chatted for a while and went to dinner together. Jasper and I ordered a whole rotisserie chicken to share but ended up with one each. It was lovely but I was a bit bloated! I enjoyed their company but missed out on seeing Morocco beating Ivory Coast in the African cup.
Rabat
The town went crazy tooting their horns and hanging out of their car windows. I later went for a walk in search of coffee, but my guide book was correct in saying that most cafes and restaurants would be closed at 9.30 so back to bed it was.
Hostel de Jeunes 60 dirham