I will have a new job at the end of september ! My travel is finish… no more biking for the moment.
I was in Andaloucia, and I was waiting for the confirmation of a new position for september, on La Réunion island. After a call, I knew that I had large chances to get the job. I décided to stop biking, to go back to France quickly and to prepare my next job and my travel to La Réunion Island.
I went back to Seville. I planned to take a bus or a train, but it’s not so easy with a bike… By the end I went back with two carpooling ! From Seville to Barcelona and from Barcelona to Alsace.
Last bivouac near SalterasNo more biking… In SevillaIn a youth hostel, BarcelonaBarcelonaA second car in Barcelona
Africa, view from Europe – TarifaMy boat to Europe.Medina-SidoniaMedina-SidoniaPaterna de RiveraArcos de la FronteraEsperaLos Palacios y VillafrancaPlaza de España – SevilaSevillaThe cathedral, with the tower from the muslim times.Inside the cathedralSevillaBathroom, near ElRonquillonear ElRonquilloAlong the lake of El RonquilloSanta Olalla del Calaswimming pool, ZufreZufreAbove the lake near ZufreEmbalsa de Gassan, a polluted lake, Minas de RiotintoMinas de RiotintoZalamea la RealValverde del CaminoCandónRuined church, with old arabic elements – Niebla
I left the coast to go in the north of the Rif mountains. in the area of Chefchaouen and from there back to the strait of Gibraltar. I am now in Tanger and I will cross to Europe soon…
Th end of the day near Souk Elarbaa Du Gharb سوق أربعاء الغربCampspot in the Rif, it’s so green here ! – Laghdir الغديرThe Rir in Laghdir الغديرChefchaouenChefchaouenChefchaouenChefchaouenZinat Tetouan الـزيـنـات تـطوانKhemiss Anjra خميس انجرةKhemiss Anjra خميس انجرةEurope, view from Africa. Strait of Gibraltar.TangerTanger, in the MedinaThe Medina of TangerBye Africa !
Going down of the atlas, the plain opens front of me. I arrived in Demnate, I left the Amazyre area, I am now in an Arabic area. In Demnate, I had a crazy night, invited to drink the alchool of dates, following motocycles, by the end I slept a bit, in a field where we had dates…
Back to the plaines… Lehmadna الحمادنة
From there I bike to Marrakech, were I spend two days, based in a youth hostel.
Marrakech, a crazy contrast with the calm of the mountains…
Marrakech, a old city, full of history
Marrakech, music, shows all over the nights…
Marrakech, the markets full, all the times…
Marrakech, here are touristes, I didn’t saw them before !
Marrakech, people came and talk to me, to sell me all what I don’t need… but also to talk friendly.
Marrakech, Arnaquèche. Marrakech, More Cash…
Marrakech, so tiring, so creazy, so interesting.
Marrakech, with thousands of Riads, in which it’s so calm…
In the soukIn the soukPalais de la BahiaMarrakech
I left this town, to bike to the cost ! I am now in Essaouira !
The road to the coastArgan tree with goatsEssaouiraEssaouiraEssaouiraCamping near the ocean – Ouled Salem أولاد سالمThe ocean – Ouled Salem أولاد سالمEl Jadida الجديدةAzemmour أزمورDar-Ed-DouIn a Fantasia festival, having barbecu sardines. – Moulay-AbdallahCasablanca, big and busy cityLa Mosquée Hassan IIRoasted sardines place in the Médian of Casablancal’entrée dans RabatLa plage de RabatRabatRabatNuit en hamac dans les chênes liègesLa piste… C’est une route goudronnée sur ma carte ! Dans la foret de chênes.
After the desert, I climb the Haut-Atlas on the16th of juillet. I pass the Todra canyon to arrive on the plateau, Tamtattouchte, the first village. I spend some days there living with the Amazires (berbers). Then, I climb up to the top of the Atlas, and back south throuth the Dades valley. I am back in the desert ! After this loop in the mountains, on trails 3000 m up see level, I cross the Atlas on a small road (R307) from Skoura to Demnate .
Les gorges du TodraThe road out of the canyon, arriving on the plateauBerber wedding partytam – Tattouchtetapis berber
Quelques explication sur les tapis : motifs traditionnels : tontures végétales :jaune =safran; bleu = indigo; rouge = henné; vret = luserne
tapis berber
Multicolor = décor moderne symbole jaune = liberté en Amazyre
Winter Jelabatapis berber dans une aubergeplaying music in a small coffeetemporarily I didn’t ride my bike…Nomad tentmétier à tisser dans une tante de nomades berbers. Tissage de neuds en coursdétail du tissage de neudsThe gardens of TattouchteThe pass to AgoudalAgoudal, the highest village of Moroccothe trail from Agoudal to the Dades valleyBivouac at 2800mOn the top of the Atlas, at about 3000mA truck, stops along the trail to trade with the nomads.the pass, 3000m
Some pictures of the way downhilles the dadès valley, from canion to large valley.
Reparing a flat tyer in the mountainesdownhills the AtlasThe valley near MismirThe dades valley, near AmouguerGorges Dadésthe dades valley in Ait Ouglif آيت أوكليفthe dades valley in Ait Ibriren آيت إبريرنBoumalne Dadès بومالن دادس the end of the valley, beck to the desert for a bit.The low Dadès, oasis in the desert – near Kelâat M’Gouna قلعة امڭونةMy last night in the desert, at the bottom of the mountaines
The way crossing the Atlas onthe road R307, from Skoura to Demnate :
Going up of the desert, to cross the Atlas – Assermo.near Tamzeritthe pass Tizi-n-Fedrat -2580mCrossing the mountains, I had rain every afternoon, near ToufineA herdsman with its herd of goatsThe village Toufine, this size of the mountains is more green, there are trees…Near The pass of Tizi-n’OuftiThe pass of Tizi-n’Oufti -2150m
There is a strong storm other side of the mountaines, down in the valley, I hear a thud noise… It’s the river ! Carrying the water of the storm, taking away the gardens in the flow.
l’Oued en crue, near OuaoussinetDown to the plain, Ait Bouzid آيت بوزيدThe natural bridge imi-n-ifriThe natural bridge imi-n-ifri, some minutes laiter, with a flood
I write from Errachidia, south of the Atlas mountains.
The 1st of July, I land in Maroccos. I bike south, I bike through the deserts on stones…
NadorTrucks are beautiful here, near Hassi BerkaneRich houses in TaourirtThe house of the fontain keeper. I get water at a fontain, the keeper of come and invite me to camp here and eat with him.The road from Taourirt تاوريرت to Debdou دبدوI got invited in Debdou, I spend here a crazy Ramadan night, introduced in several places by host Mohamed.
Mohamed dreams of cinema and theather. He played in « L’enfant endormi« . The movie takes place in the village.
The valley of Debdou دبدوPlateau du Rekkamgoing down from the Rekkam, to the valley.near BouloutaneOutat El Haj أوطاط الحاجnear Missour ميسورcampspot near Missour ميسورNear Missour ميسورTamdafeltAbdou, l’eau du désert…. Je me suis fais invité pour le thé en demandant de l’eau. Le Ramadan vient juste de finir.Le Haut Atlas, ZebzatThe plaine, view from the road to the pass of the Tizi N’Talghaumt in the Haut Atlas.Wind and sand storm, NazlaDéfilé de N’NzalaThe atmosphere is dusty, RichLes gorges du ZinOasis in the Ziz Canyon, IfriIfriLes gorges du Zin, lowerErrachidia الرشيديةThe Ziz valley, Zouala الزوالةZouala الزوالةHilles in Dar KaouaThe sand of Sahara blows on the road, Dar KaouaSand vortex, AdrouineBiking in the desert, Adrouine
48°C, hot and dry wind facing… I drink 6L water in a morning, and I bike with a wet scarf on my face.
In the dunes, MerzougaThe surface of the soil is covered of metallic concessions – MerzougaRissaniKasbah Ouled AbdelhalimKasbah Ouled AbdelhalimMy host in Rissanimy new biking styleTinghir تنغيرTinghir تنغير
Claudia had to fly back to Germany, depart from Malaga on June 29. We cross the strait of Gibraltar from We went together Ceuta to Algeciras and biked 10 days to Gibraltar, the Atlantic coast and back inland to Màlaga. She just flies away and I will now continue biking alone !
Ceuta, Spanish port in AfricaBoats in the strait of GibraltarGibraltar, view from the seeBicycle indications on the highway – AlgecirasThe Flag of Gibraltar, in the UK.GibraltarSan RoqueAfrica, view from Europe. TarifaFaro de Trafalgar, Attlantic OceanArcos de la FronteraPuerto de El Boyar (1103 m)Puerto de El BoyarCuevas del BecerroRondaArdalesMàlagaThe Alcazaba, MàlagaIn the Alcazaba, MàlagaThe port of MàlagaAdiós amigo !
Today, July 1st, I am on the Ferry to go to Morocco ! I want to discover the country when it’s not Ramadan.
We land in Africa by the end of the afternoon, on june 16th. We are in Melilla, a Spanish port on the coast of Morocco. We get a map of Morocco and we look for the border post. Some locals show us the road, we follow a car through the mess of the city… The border is full of people, noisy… A gay wants to help us, he speek german and talk with Claudia. He told that with no help we would spend houers here… he want 2€, Bah ok. We pass the Border and go away quickly on the bikes, he asked for 20 more, he did nothing, no ways !
We are in now in Beni Ensar I Aït Nsar, Marocco !
We clinb up the hilles to tourn around the city and join the road of the mediterranean coast. We are in an urban area, no places for tents… we continue on the road. It’s Ramadan… people doesn’t eat or drink during the day. The night is falling. Suddenly, songs cames from all the minarets around. Its the time for the prayer, and time to eat. We continue the road. It’s night now. We get lost in the urban areas, we ask for directions, some peoples speekes a franch, some german… The streets are full, peoples live at night during Ramadan. We are offered a sweet coffee with milk in a small shop. It’s about midnight in Europa (10 here)
We continue and sleep in a small wood after the cities… too tired
MelilliaI ask for room on the road, Beni Ensar I Aït NsarFirst morning in Marocco Douar Ighzar -n- YamrabthanOur first campspot in Marocco, view on Douar Ighzar -n- Yamrabthan
Then, we spend five days along the Rif mountains, along the see. Up and down on the « rocade méditérrannéenne ». It’s so wild here ! No tourists, only pastoral activities, some small vilages, sometimes people selling frutes along the street…
Plage Boundouha, a fishing portPlage Boundouha, on the roadvers IchamraranHills around IchamraranCHA’ABIChopping, tazaghinCultures near a small river, tazaghinOther users of the road, Ait MassaoudGoing up in the Rif mountains, Rouadi الرواضيHelpfull childrens ! Ait-KamaraRouadiAit-KamaraFrom the pass, we can see the next one… Beni BoufrahHay reserve for animalsToo high, too hot, too steep… AguercifFrom the road, up of Takmout. Around 900m up of the see.Downhills to El JebehaThe town of El JebehaEl JebehaEl JebehaAzentiGroceries in a big shop, Oued LaouNight under the stars, AmsaThe end of the mountains… Azla
After the Rif, we arrive in the area of Tétouan, a big city… with cars, concrete building, noise…
TétouanThe gate of the old Tétouan, another world…In the old TétouanFollow me, follow me…
A old man came and told us we may follow him… He wants to show us something… what ? We follow him… He introduced us in a old building. And other man told us « welcome, let me show us this old building, I will guide you »… By the end the end he asked us to buy stuff… We had to get a bit, but we was not good customers… By the end, it was an interesting experience.
In a tourist shop, in TétouanIn a tourist shop, in TétouanMarket in the old TétouanMarket in the old Tétouan
North of Tétouan, the coast is full of touristic complexes (empty during ramadan). Not anymore the wild areas of the Rif…
Andalousie…The flag of the province of AndalouciaA 330Small road from Galera to CastilléjarNapping time in a cool pleace, near GuadixThe town of Guadix and the Sierra NavadaThe Guadix cathedralThe hilles near La PezaSierra Nevada
We biked 130 km per day from two weekes… We are now taking a day off in Grenada with a host from the WarmShower community.
We just made plans for the next week : going to Morocco !
The old Caravanserai in GrenadaThe AlhambraIn the AlhambraThe road down to the see – AcebuchesThe Ferry to Africa, in Motril; june 16th
We follow the mediterranean coast, direction South !
We cross the city of Valancia…
At night near the sea, Cap i CorpThe gate of ValenciaGoast town…Clap
We bike from wild rocky coast and agricultural areas with olive and mandarines plantations, to ghost towns with empty and too big buildings waiting for tourists. Those towns are near white beaches… some building have been abandoned before finished… We are tried of cities and touristes and we wand to see the real Spain ! In Altea, we decided to go through the mountains and reach the inland plateaux. We climb the mountaines…
Night camp in an almond plantation, at the bottom of the mountains near PolopClimbing in PolopValentínRM-730, El Entredicho
