Agdz - Zagora - Agdz

Brigitte:

Leisurely breakfast with birds singing. It seems washday.

Ride to Zagora. The tour through the Draa valley is a bit disappointing, maybe because we have seen similar areas, maybe because the expectations are too high from the guide books. But in fact, there are large mud house settlements along the palm groves or oases. It's 40 degrees and Zagora is not that special. We have a lunch break there and try to change money at several machines - all out of order.

For the way back we choose the track east of the Draa, at least for about 30 kilometers. This is exciting, because you really pass small towns, but also a bit exhausting, because sand and gravel and hardly ever asphalt. It is funny that today is obviously washing day and also along the Draa small groups gather for swimming and chatting. We are often greeted with much joy, laughter, waving and we do not know if they think we are crazy or happy about us riding where they live. It's similar as seen in documentations and we feel like on safari in Africa. The people here in the mud house settlements are all very dark skinned, yesterday we read that they are descendants of slaves.

The first crossing to the main road we do not dare, because too much water flows through the ford. We saw in the morning that it took four people to bring a small bike over. The second crossing works for us. We find  a place for a Coke. The rest of the afternoon, after having a shower, we spend with planning the rest of the journey - planning always needs a lot of time. In the evening we have couscous with vegetables, as starter a spicy vegetable soup and then oranges with cinnamon. Although we saw a lot of melons today.

Photos not taken: women doing washing in the river, groups of young people welcoming us with big hello, shoes in front of the mosque.