- Date: Nov 11, 2024
- Starting Location: Ait Ben Haddou, Morocco
- Ending Location: Marakesh, Morocco
- Mileage: 178 Km
- Total Mileage So Far: 1909 Km (1186.2 Miles)
Breakfast
We started with breakfast at 7:30, then we pack, and meet in the lobby for a 9:00 AM briefing.
The Kasbah tour
This morning, we had a very special treat. We left the Riad, and headed about 2 miles up the road. Parked the bikes on the side of the road, and met our guide. Mohamad took us through a couple of alleys, and out to a restaurant. From the restaurant, we walked down 40 steps to river level, and walked out to the Asif Ounila river.
The Asif Ounila river is a low-salt water river, which is partially saturated with salt, as the result of opening up a mine nearby. We crossed the river, and began the climb up to the entrance of the Kasbah.
Mohamed was born in this Kasbah, and still lives there. As it turns out, some of the buildings surrounding the Kasbah were used in a number of famous films. In fact, Gladiator 1 and Gladiator 2 both had scenes filmed in this Kasbah.
To refresh your memory, a Kasbah is a home, which has walls surrounding it, and it also has 4 parapets. This Kasbah is as old as the hills, and although it is a family home, it bears the name of the local city. Aid Ben Haddou is the town that is nearby, but this name was once assigned to this particular compound.
There are 5 families that still live in this Kasbah. These families practice the traditional ways, and many are artisans selling all manner of crafts.
We entered the Kasbah, and climbed to one terrace ,and then another, and then another. Eventually, the altitude, the temperature, and wearing motorcycle gear/boots got the best of some of us, and we let the others continue up, even higher.
We purchased some art, which we’ll hang in our home, and also give to friends and family.
After touring the Kasbah, we exited on the North side of the complex, and were able to travel over the bridge, built by UNESCO World Heritage Foundation.
The Ride
Coffee Stop
As usual, we’ve ridden about an hour or so, and it’s time for a coffee break. however, this coffee stop will be a little bit different. On this stop, Scott took out a box of dates that he received from the headmaster of the school that we visited.
I love dates, and I’ve been looking forward to tasting some freshly harvested dates in Morocco. Well, today is the day.
These dates were simply, the best dates that I’ve ever eaten in my life. Oh, and the coffee at this stop was also excellent.
The Tichka Pass
This pass, which is one of the many routes across the Atlas Mountains is one of the highest passes across the mountains. The peak elevation of 2260M is achieved without much effort, as the main road that crosses this pass has recently been built up to modern standards. At the top of the pass, there is a monument that declares the height, and the location.
The weather
The Moroccan heat
We expected today to be a hot one, and it sure was. We suffered from the heat as we headed out of the mountains toward our lunch stop. The heat was never unbearable, but it’s noticeable after the colder temperatures we found in the mountains.
The ride
Today’s ride was only 125 miles, but we were afforded several types of roads and riding. The ride started with a trip over a lower mountain pass at atoub 4800’. This road was narrow, with a lot of uneven and broken pavement, with pot holes, and other defects. The turns were relentless, so you had to keep on your toes as the group made its way up and over the pass.
Leaving this pass, we exited through the valley, riding along canyon walls where you could see homes and buildings built into the side of the canyon. We finally hit the flatlands, wjhere we had about15 – 20K of transition roads. We eventually started to climb up into the high Atlas mountains, where we’d reach of height of 2260 meters, or XXXX feet.
The peak is a celebrated place to take photos, so I bought a sticker to commemorate the moment, and Elizabeth and I took photos in front of the monument.
ELIZABETH VIDEO FROM THE BIKE
From about 5 miles before he summit, the road changed, and became a perfect mountain highway, with ample lanes, and perfect turns. Each turn was a challenge to cut the perfect turn, carving into and out of every turn with the right blend of lean, throttle and braking. This stretch of road was amazing, and really enjoyable. I wish every day, and every ride was like this.
Lunch
The lunch picnic
After leaving the pass, we once again headed down into the flats, and with only 10 miles from the summit, we arrived at our lunch stop. Today’s lunch would be a Spanish picnic. Our guides brought along all of the necessary pieces for a picnic lunch, and we at like kings.
The Hotel
Tonight’s lodging is at the Hotel Du Golf Rotana Palmeraie. Another beautiful hotel. The video shows some of the highlights from the roof of the hotel.
Report from the Road
The market in Marrakesh
A short trip from the hotel to downtown will land you at the edge of the market. The market in Marrakesh is an amazing, busy, chaotic place. Our caravan of 3 taxis took all of 30 minutes to navigate the absolute chaos that is the streets of Marrakesh. A 5 minute walk from our arrival point, and we were at the market.
Looking into the market, you are struck by the color, and intensity of this place. There were at least 25 booths that offer fruit drinks, and the abundance and diversity of what is on offer starts there.
We purchased small statues of camels for the grandchildren, and some small gifts for others. Although we missed both of them, I’m told that there were large booths that sell olives, and snake charmers. Can you believe it, Snake Charmers…
After walking the market for an hour, we met up with the group and walked another 15 minutes to dinner. Scott ,the owner of IMTBike called the style of food in our chosen restaurant, Moroccan Shiek.
I’ll describe the abundance, diversity, and magic of dinner in another section. But, as we got reports from others from the group, it was clear that the snake charmers are real, and I had managed to miss seeing them. So, perhaps tomorrow morning, on our rest day, we’ll revisit the market, in search of snake charmers and olives.
Dinner
Tonight’s dinner was at a restaurant where we’d eat family style, with one main course, one side dish, and dessert. But, it’s Morocco, and every meal starts with salads. We had lentil salad, cucumber salad, eggplant salad, potato salad, tomato salad, beet salad, and more. By the time I had finished the salads, I was already getting full. But, then the main course arrives.
Tonight, we would feast on Beef Tagine, with almonds and dates. Over the trip so far, we’ve probably had this dish at least 7 times, and this was by far the best yet. The beef is served with at least one knuckle from the cow as the center, which looks like Osso Buco. The tagine is then filled with more beef, and the sauce. It arrives scalding hot in these clay pots, tagines.
We finished our meal with a fruit salad, but not before the entertainment began. One by one, belly dancers came up to our table, on the third floor, and belly danced their way into our lives. Several of our gang were coaxed into dancing with the girls, and it was a lot of fun watching and clapping for the dancers.
What will tomorrow bring
Tomorrow we’ll have a rest day in Marakesh. We’ll use this time to visit the square, and try to interact with more of the locals. In particular, I’d like to get another smoothie, and see if we can’t get the snake charmers to give us a show of a dancing king cobra.
