Day 208 12th February
13 miles (M’hamid) Average speed 8.4 mph Top speed 21 mph
I was awake at 8 and made tea on the stove with 2 chocolate croissants and a cake for breakfast. I then made about another four cups and lit a fire to burn the rubbish. Read a bit and waited for Georges to meet me between 10 and 12. I spoke to young guy at the camp who offered me a tour or some hash, neither of which I needed, but I paid him 50 dirham for the use of his campsite which I wasn’t even in as I was in the desert! There was no water or toilets but it was well worth the £5.
I left to go and meet Georges at the Drom Blanc but went in a neighbouring village to have a look round. On the way back I decided to check and see if Georges had got to the campsite, and I was glad I did as his car was there and no-one else about. We went for lunch at the restaurant on the bridge and had a lovely tagine with good wifi.
I checked the price of swimming at the Azari hotel but at 100 dirham decided not to bother. I went for coffee and watched Burnley vs Chelsea and then went back to pack up my tent. The guv offered me tea as I arrived and then I packed up in the wind and sandstorm. Guv then wouldn’t let me leave without paying, I tried to explain that I’d paid earlier. It took 3 phone calls for him to agree that I was free to go! I cycled into the sandstorm for a couple of miles and found the turn off for Drom Blanc, but now it was into the wind on a stony track. I was glad that I had put most of my stuff into Georges’ car earlier. As I looked for Georges, 17 Malaysian tourists were checking in, but the receptionist said we could have free accommodation and food if we would help out. Bonus.
So we started by sweeping the sand from reception and then getting all the crockery together from the other kitchen. We prepared and set tables before serving soup followed by chicken tagine. My first ever table service went well and I remembered to serve from the left and clear from the right! And I only dropped one spoon all night. We ate from their leftover tagines which wasn’t great but then we had the leftover soup too and did the washing up before setting the tables for breakfast. I was knackered by the end and glad to get to bed at about 11.30. I don’t think I’m cut out for waiting tables but it’s the only work I’ve done for a while!
What with the work and the weather I wasn’t taking too many photos today!
Le Drom Blanc free to a waiter