Day 198 2nd February
48miles (Tadart to Tadoula) Average speed 10.2 mph Top speed 37 mph
What an incredible day. Hard work all morning but downhill all afternoon.
The day started with a cup of tea in the disgusting kitchen of the gite. I decided against the frozen fish and headed to Cafe Barca for brekkie on the sun terrace of cold omelette with bread and coffee. Then went back to last night’s bar for a better coffee and they made me so welcome, they even offered me the only padded chair and there were footy higlights.
I packed up and was on the road by 10.30, which was uphill all the way with very little respite, but the scenery was incredible. The switchbacks at Zerkten were great and looking back at what I’d just climbed was amazing.
The snow capped mountains looked superb, especially with a cloud perched above them. There were roadside sellers trying to tempt me to buy rocks and crystals and fossils all the way along but the roadside itself was spectacular in its own right.
There was a view down into a valley where I spotted the most remote footy pitch I’ve ever seen but the kids were enjoying it.
Before long I reached the first snow at the side of the road and at 2000 metres I made a snowman.
I actually thought I might have altitude sickness as my head was pounding and the surreal surroundings were sending me doolally! At one o’clock I made it to the Col de Tickta 2260 metres high and celebrated with a coffee.
A Chinese couple took a photo for me and told me of their friend in London.
Then as I started my descent I met Philip from Austria coming in the opposite direction. He had taken the other side road to Ouarzazarte and warned that it’s a bit more up and down so I decided to stay on the main road.
It was the most exhilarating ride down and amongst incredible views even if some of the road was a bit dodgy in places; even imitating crazy paving at times. I often had to ride on the wrong side of the road to find a better surface.
Campsite 30 dirham plus 10 for morning coffee and 10 for the guy walking into town for change of a 100 dirham note.