asphalt section to Tagounite . Then back onto a stony road that leads into the mountains , this takes us to a military post . A sign declares that this is the border with Algeria , just beyond the mountains . We must have our documents verified and it comes with ease .
We cross the Draa Valley before stopping to take more photographs , the landscape is extra-terrestrial , otherworldly in fact . The stony path continues and crossed the mountains , from the pass we are able to witness the Sahara desert laid out before us .
An evocative experience attaches itself after lunch , a long plateau that becomes mystical as we ride . It ’ s as if we have been transported into a scene created by Salvador Dali . The whole time we have been stood due to the nature of the track and before long everyone needs to rest their legs , something that causes other discomfort while seated on a Beta .
As the kilometres pass by I witness the most unusual ways of relieving pain in legs and buttocks , my riding companions take up the weirdest positions . It ’ s a plan that is fraught with danger , the obscured positions hide the fact that the track is littered with stones and cracks .
Everyone is tires as we reach camp . It matters little as the scene is one of beauty , a small valley that has to one side rocky hills and on the other great dunes of sand . Someone takes advantage of a nearby hostel to shower , although no ones complains of feeling dirty . The desert is a pristine environment , almost sterile , wet wipes are all it takes to remove most of the dust .
Many of us decide to sleep in the open air , not only because of the favourable climate , but also because of the deserts , clear night skies . Looking up you feel as if you have
been immersed within the galaxy .
Rested we awake early and leave to reach a small ford that must be crossed . The journey to the river throws us at the most evil of surfaces , ‘ fesh fesh ’, that talcum like powder that sucks in all who dare venture on ton the surface . It ’ s a result of erosion from the clay soils , so fine that it behaves like liquid . It throws a fine , choking dust into the air , and it ’ s insidious nature to ride causes many of us to fall .
The laborious ride takes us to the river where we are dumbfounded to find the recent rains have swollen this river to a vigorous flow . Despite this the crossing looks easy and demonstrates to be so . We easily cross and head to the small village of Ramlia . After a quick stop we are on the road again and desperate to reach our destination of Merzouga , and the famous dunes . Our plan is to reach them with plenty of daylight
TRAVERSE 98