Leaving Essaouira we continued down the coast towards Agadir. Along the way we stopped at the Pause Cafe. We had been on a long dusty route not only came across this place in the middle of nowhere. We grabbed a couple of the large waters (1.5 liter) and headed into the next town.
The road ahead was jammed with people and vehicles, just a mess. We had come across a scene looking like this years ago in Honduras. At that time there was a large protest going on. My mind immediately jump to that time and we proceeded down the road into the congestion. It was elbow to elbow as we passed through the Thursday marketplace. Sometimes your mind gets the better of you. As we exited town, trucks were on the side of the road. They were piled high and overloaded with hay bales. Their enormous loads were being transferred to waiting trucks and vans. Some of these smaller trucks were about to pop their suspensions. I would overtake them only on the straight sections. In the corners, the top-heavy load of hay seemed likely to overturn the vehicle.
We made it to town and found a great hotel overlooking the ocean. We happen to be the only guest for the next couple nights. How to turn over that night we were presented with a basket of fresh seafood. The fish and the lobster were still moving as he showed each one to us. That evening we made our way back up the hill to our hotel. We spotted a camel in the bushes.
Melanie had been desperately wanting a pedicure after a month wearing motorcycle boots. We traveled inland a bit in the direction of Marrakesh and found a spa. Perfect! Right around the corner was a coffee shop. I ordered an espresso and opened my Kindle on my phone. I sat in the early morning sun Reading another chapter from Friend Sam Manicom’s newest book. His new book is titled “The Moment Collectors, Asia”. It is a collection of 20 short stories from travelers in different parts of Asia.
A friend of ours, Henriette Thiim (“fortheloveofwheels”), had recommended for us to visit the Kassba Afayene Inoumare. Our first try using the GPS took us on a route that eventually went to sand and ended. We saw our destination ahead. Yet, it lay beyond a dry rocky expanse. We needed to cross a riverbed and climb a steep hill. Nope. We again tried and found a different route and the effort was totally worth it. We were met by a young girl as we arrived. Melanie got off the bike and went to talk with her. She showed her a picture of her that Henriette had sent Melanie. A big smile erupted on her face as she recognized the time the picture was taken. She even showed us where Henriette had camped for the night. She offered to show us through the amazing structure that was over 200 years old. Her family had lived there for several generations. Her GGGG grandfather, or there about, had built this entire structure by hand.
We arrived for the night in Tafraout. Finding a small hotel we had to wait for someone to show up to check in. Abdullah greeted us and welcomed us to his hotel. He found a great room for us and showed us a place to get something to eat down the street. The next morning we were chatting with him. He told us that we were the first Americans to have ever stayed at his hotel. We gave him a sticker and he was just beaming. He wanted pictures on the motorcycle.
We realized there was a spot on the beach further south that we had missed. So he took another route back to the beach where the oceans had carved huge arches into the rocks. There weren’t many choices for hotels but we found a good one. We were on the fourth floor and the hotel was on a bluff overlooking the ocean. The views were just incredible. Surprisingly the road where my motorcycle was parked was on the fifth floor above us. We had a great chicken tajine on the beach. He stayed open just to feed us. No rush.
From here we turned east. We rode along the Algerian border. We headed in the direction of the Great Sand dunes of the Sahara.
But that is for the next blog.
Cheers,
2WANDRRs
2WANDRRs 
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