Day 482 14th November
38 miles (BenMansour to Moulay Bousselham) Average speed 11.8 mph Top speed 26 mph
It’s great to be back on the road.
I got up at 7.30 and showered, (well, stood in a bucket of water and splashed myself with a smaller bucket). It was good to be clean for the first time in 9 days!
I had brekkie with the family and the brickie who was now working on Kamal’s extension. I said an emotional goodbye to everyone and gave out gifts to Kamal’s mum and dad. Lots of photos were taken and well wishes spoken. Then, as I waved farewell, Younes rode with me on his new bike for a while before we said goodbye, but not before I nearly rode into a donkey and cart!
Younes accompanying me on his new bike
Then it was back on the open road. Lots of people were waving and saying hi along the route and I got to ride with a few people along the way including a guy on his way to work and some kids who tried to keep up and were cheering me on.
I had only 7 dirham on me and although Kamal kept trying to give me more, I managed to survive on water and the extra kilograms of weight I was now carrying around my waist thanks to Fazir’s wonderful cooking! I got to a small village just before Moulay and found a friendly shopkeeper who gave me a large bottle of Fanta for 7 instead of 8 dirham and I sat outside his shop in the sun to enjoy the cold drink.
Estuary
Then before long I was soon back in Moulay Bousselham and went to check in at the campsite. I set up the tent and then met Keith from Taunton who now lives in south of France. We chatted for quite a while about bikes and other stuff. Then I walked into town and had a coffee watching the sunset, before returning to the restaurant I was in with Kamal the week before. The waiter told me that I needed to buy the fish to cook and I got some from the same guy as before, but as it was later in the day the fish didn’t look as fresh and I’m sure he overcharged me as a tourist, 40 dirham for .72 of a kilo. But the restaurant cooked it well and only charged me 17 dirham including a coke and bread. It was also a good place to watch the sunset.
Dinner
I had coffee in one bar watching Spain v Russia then went to another for the second half which was pretty good for a friendly finishing 3 – 3. Then it was back to the campsite and in bed by 9.30.
Camping international 70 dirham.