Todhra Gorge
We traveled the 130 Km to Tinehir. The road became desert after the palmeries of Erfoud and Jouf. There appeared to be a fight with the desert and they were using sand barriers very similar to the ones on top of the Woodhead pass the purpose there being to prevent the snow from blocking the road.
Fence to keep out the Sahara
We saw a set of very large spoil heaps that turned out to be wells taking water from the ancient irrigation system. We struggled to find a lunch stop but eventually found a tree and I had a little snooze. We arrived at Tinehir and headed for the maison de Hotes Relais De Calme. We had an en suite room with a view of the palmary. It was owned by a Moroccan man with a French wife who had a Dalmatian dog called Joy. We ate outside in a Berber tent.
Sunday
Tinehir – Gorges du Todhra – 6 hours 37 min 85.7 Km
Alarm for 6:00 breakfast 6:30 on the road for 7:00am
We made a poor start missing the turning and arriving at the outskirts of town when we should have been above the palmary. Silly when you have put in the effort to make an early start.
There were a few wispy clouds at the beginning of the day but for the first time this holiday the sky turned purple blue and crystal clear. We cycled slowly up to the gorge, 15Km on an empty road uphill all the way but there were only a few steep sections with hairpins. The gorge was nearly empty a few stalls being set up to sell trinkets and one rock climbing team. The rock face was impressive with good steep rock close to the road.
We changed our plans about using this road to go into the mountains. We continued on and upwards out of the gorge. We reached a large village Tamtattouchte which reminded me of Ladak. We were hassled continually by young children and we had to eat our lunch being watched by a young boy. Who, to give him his due, did not say anything. We had a fantastic 35Km downhill after coffee and a chat with some lads who were traveling by bus. It was about 3:30 and as we descended the light made the rock glow red in the gorge and the shadows and green of the palmary looked fantastic. A very good day.