Rain in the Sahara

Yesterday we finished our trek through the Atlas mountains and down to the Sahara.  Again a stunning day's drive.  Was only about 250km but with all the photo stops it took the whole day.   It was much the same as the previous day with massive plains in between the mountain passes, but this time the plains were all red ground and rocks.  After every pass it just became dryer and dryer, until finally there was very little growth except for a few scattered scrubs.  The heat was phenomenal with very dry, hot strong winds.  It all added to make for very barren and dramatic scenery. It was beyond me that people can make a living here.  Coming down one off the  passes, I came around a corner and in front off me was this massive blue lake.  Absolutely amazing and so unexpected.  It stretched for kilometer after kilometer.  Can't believe there was enough water for such a sight.


A few hours later we were on a plateau with nothing, just red deep red rock and sand.  It was just unbelievable, and I was completely lost in though wondering how anything survives this.  I was struggling on the bike.  And then suddenly the road opened on this huge big green valley.  WOW! Palm trees, a river a loads and of people.  It looked like a tropical island surrounded by a sea off angry red mountains. The contrast was absolutely mind blowing.  We tried to get it on a photo, but without the hours driving through nothing it just doesn't work.  We spend most off the afternoon driving along this river to the Sahara proper.

We stopped for the night in a one horse town called Merzuga, it is on the edge off the Sahara with the dunes coming right up to the town.  Nothing but a dusty main road.  Straight out off a Hollywood western. Just as we found our accommodation a massive sand storm blew in, complete with thunder and lightning.  Perfect timing.  Then it started to rain.  IN THE SAHARA.  I was shocked.


Today was very chilled out.  The heat killed us.  Woke up just before six and climbed the biggest sand dune around for the sunset.  What a trek.  I was shattered when I reached the top.  The morning we gave the bikes a bit of a service, and then later the afternoon we went playing near the dunes.  Was so much fun to mess around without all the luggage.  Had a couple of close calls when we hit unexpected soft sand, but didn't fall.   My bike is in love with any road that's not black tarmac.  Tomorrow we slowly head back towards Marrakesh.