Cycling from Zoumi to Lamjaara

Beautiful green hills, yellow flowers and plastic garbage

2019-05-05

In Zoumi I had bought a broomstick and had it shortened so it could function as support for the OnTheRoad 4.0. Then during all those hours of climbing I never could stop nor rest since the bicycle is to heavy to stand on it's original stand. That makes "cycling" hard ! Not today then now I could stop anywhere again, as far as it would not be to steep. I was really looking forward to that. Donkeys everywhere and some of them even smoke ! But I never saw them being hit. However I did see them chained in the bare sun. A house with a headache ?! There were fields with beautiful flowers but garbage is everywhere. Some agricultural activity was going on. Maybe M'jaara is Lamjaara ? My gps told me to turn left and I did not discuss that haha. Today I in general would cycle down but there were two hills along the route. Once I had passed those the landscape became more flat, open and friendly. It was a real joy to cycle here ! All went easy and I therefore could have somewhat more attention to the scenery.

And to a couple of young boys that were insinuating they would try to stop me. Cycling very close next to me, braking hard just in front of me and passing me close at both sides. They didn't do that for a good reason so I started to also insinuate something.

However they started to realise they had to return uphill and returned after about 10 minutes. It could also be they had their doubts about that broomstick I had with me haha. The second half of this trip I was in the valley of the Flowers. And of the cacti. I saw a man filling up huge watertanks hanging aside two donkeys. Then they walked towards a field and I followed them. There I saw they needed the water for making bricks. It was time for a selfie. A car stopped to ask if I needed help ? No thank you, all is well, I am just taking some pictures. Then I cycled into Lamjaara and saw the only hotel in this region. They asked Dh 300 per night which I refused. I had planned to wildcamp if the roomprice would be more then about Dh 100. So I cycled on, convinced that I would find some place to stay in town.

I stopped at a cafe were I saw a well dressed waiter and "asked" him for a place to sleep. But at that very moment a car stopped and that turned out to be the Securitee again ... The officer told me to return "then we have a very nice hotel here, it is even famous". I told him I was there but it was to expensive for me and he then to my surprise asked me what I was willing to pay. Dh 100 per night I said.

He then made a call, told me that was arranged and "told" me to cycle to the hotel. It was a big suprise when he then told me the room would even be free of charge for me ! I asked him if I had understood that correctly and he confirmed the room being free for me. At the hotel everything was arranged for me and a young boy was instructed to bring my luggage 🖱️ to the third floor. It was a room with a view !

I once more asked the policeofficer if the room really was for free. He confirmed once more, gave me his phonenumber and left. It looks like the Securitee has a special budget to handle tourists. Very special to my opinion.

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Follow me in Lamjaara in the next blog !

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