Cycling from Lamjaara to a cafe

Wildcamping at the first floor !

2019-05-07

Today (and for several days to come) I would cycle in some middle of nowhere. I expected the Barrage Al Wahda, the big waterreservoir that obviously was causing so much damp at night, to be the highlight of today's YesTrip.

I saw some militaries and asked them if I could have breakfast somewhere. They looked confused but then explained me about the Ramadan having started today. So now I knew for sure I would be on a diet today 😁.

I was wrong about the start of the Ramadan and I think that was because I read about the turkish system. They use a fixed date but Morocco does not. Here they wait until in Saudi Arabia the moon is for the first time visible at the western horizon just after sunset. I first passed the Oued Ouargha river which is starting out of that reservoir. I was looking forward to cycle along that lake today while I like being close to big waters (but not to be in water or on a beach 💤). I neared the dam and saw the installation but I could not get close to it here. Installations like these are of main importance for the energy system of a country. So they are potential terrorist targets.

Those militaries I spoke to are here not by accident but purely because this dam is here. There lifes must be horribly boring since they are in the middle of nowhere. And so are Not the terrorists 😀.

It is strictly forbidden to have a look at the dam, for strategical reasons. At least that is what the one and only military at the gate tells you. So alternative is simply to demolish 💣 one of the (all unguarded) powerlines. If you are a terrorist.

I cycled on but found the road quite steep here. Once more I got the impression that not all considered my trip as being normal 🙃. Then I read a lot of interesting information about the reservoir. Like that one is supposed to not throw away litter. At the gate was a guard who did not allow me to walk to the lake. But he (they) had produced a lot of garbage that was simply thrown behind the wall. See no evil, here no evil. The bridge I had passed. From here on it would get tough ! Too tough ... At the first top a bar/restaurant/terrass/bidon was awaiting me. I cycled in a beautiful scenery for the rest of today's YesTrip. But not all are so lucky ... Were others were extra lucky. I came around a corner and this turtle was on the dangerous tarmac. I saved it Yeah 👏. Then while I was making pictures a bus came around the corner and I stopped it. The driver did not see the turtle, not even when I pointed to it. Finally he started to smile and waited for me the turtle to cross. Do I Love moments like these 👏. I hope Turty will make it for a very long time. And I suppose he/she will succeed in that then I have not ever seen a turtle been killed on a road. Is being a turtle the optimum way of travelling ? Always having your sturdy house with you and being able to cross every type of terrain 💯 ? I got more high 🙃 and more and more exhausted so I investigated a potential wildcampingspot. I had not seen any usable spot today yet and knew there were no official places nor towns to stay.

I saw an almondyard but it was to open and to much in sight of the road. I would for sure get visitors there, and even people not stopping would probably inform the Securitee ... Besides that it was by far not horizontal enough to sleep here. Then in hills and mountains there is only little place left since the roads are cut out of the land only as far as needed for them. I continued cycling, pushing, puffing, resting and enjoying. The views got even better by the kilometers.

Then I saw a building some meters up the hill that was obviously not a house. The moment I stopped (pushing ...) a man looked down to me and I made the international sign of "sleep" and "tent". He waved me up and offered me a place in his private garden behind the cafe (which it was).

But the garden was quite dirty and a lot of animals were living there were I then would be inbetween. They could easily ruin my belongings by stepping on them or by eating them. I pointed to the roof of the cafe which was flat and had a look. A perfect spot for me since my tent is (really) freestanding 🖱️ and doesn't need lines nor pegs to stand. The owner made clear the place was oké for him so I brought my luggage upstairs. And the man even brought a chair and table upstairs. Later on he also brought a bucket with water that I could use at the (moroccon) toilet ...

He made clear that he could offer me food and drinks during the day. But the cafe itself was closed for Ramadan until 19h30 every day and I therefore had to eat and drink outside of the view from the street. No problem for me since I had no shade up there so I would be downstairs anyway. Cycling along waters can be very exhausting ! Today I cycled only 33 kms but 591 vms. I therefore had a very low average. I rested almost as long as that I moved. Since the OnTheRoad 4.0 🖱️ is "quite heavy" when packed this is a rather common problem challenge 💦.

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So today I ended up at the roof of a cafe. What more could a man want 👅.

Maybe a nice cold beer ???

◀️ ▶️ Route 🖱️ ⏫