Africa Day One!

Goodbye Gibraltar!

Our first days riding in Africa also saw our first puncture of the trip. Andy (The Chef) managed to collect a flat rear but stopped without further incident. The resulting inner tube change wouldn’t have won and prizes for speed, but Joe and John got stuck in and sorted the problem, which was the important thing ! As is also often the case in such situations, someone wasn’t watching their mirrors very often and consequently 4 of us road on for some mile until I spotted something wrong on a bit of a loop in the road which enabled me to see back further than I had previously been able to. By the time we rejoined the group the wheel was off and the punctured tube already removed.

Little and Large at Chefchaouen Camp site.

I think everyone enjoy4ed their first days riding in Africa, except for poor old Steve who was the subject of a most unfortunate incident in the Supermarket car park. I was trying to make some room in the back of the truck for the water,beer and other supplies I had just bought, when on passing a bag to Steve, something in his arm gave way, leaving him in agony for the rest of the day. Thankfully, tonight, he seems a little better and has stated his intention to ride tomorrow. Hopefully a nights rest and a few more pills will see him OK come morning, if still a littler sore.

Tonight we are at the usual first night in Africa haunt of Chefchaouen’s Camp Asilan, grateful for the warm, dry ride we have had and the reasonable ride down through Spain. Tomorrow we head south once more and inspite of some reservations I have decided that we will run across the road to Zoumi. My misgivings are due to the state of the road when we last ventured over it in March 1012 when the tarmac had all but disappeared, leaving us with a very slow and tortuous ride. But I still think that overall it is worth the hassle. I just hope we don’t get too many punctures.  By nightfall we should be at our other regular campsite in north Morocco; Moulay Idriss. Whether we will visit Volubilis remains to be seen. That really depends on the group and whether Roman ruins float their boat or not.

It has cooled off somewhat, but we are camped at a little over 700 metres so it is to be expected. With a perfectly clear starry night sky above us I think we should all sleep well in out little tents full off anticipation of the day to come.