TRAVERSE Issue 37 - August 2023 | Page 29

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leaving the deep blue behind me and as my tyres warmed up I felt my daily routine back home drift into insignificance , replaced by the euphoria of hitting the road again . I laughed and screamed like a madman inside my helmet , “ I AM BACK ON THE ROAD AGAIN !”
Like I said , I carried only the essentials on this trip , packed into my Reckless 80 from Mosko Moto . The right saddle bag contained my clothing ( 4 city and riding shirts , 2 pants , 3 pairs of socks , 1 sweater , 1 jacket , spare gloves and not enough underwear ). The left saddle bag contained my air compressor , spare parts , toiletries , a pair of shoes and some food . On the back seat , all my camping gear . Simple , easy , efficient . There is one practical indulgence , however , that I do bring with me , an alpaca wool poncho bought in Argentina . I was in Africa , but it was still winter , and this poncho would be extremely useful despite its large size . I used it as a towel , ground sheet and an extra layer of warm clothing at night .
A few weeks into the trip , getting deeper into the Moroccan backcountry by way of a variety of landscapes and ever-changing atmospheres . I was beginning to understand the culture , the language , the traditions , and the way life works here . I was also starting to create my own little world within this vast country , my own routine in the saddle filled with crazy encounters , countless cups of ridiculously sweet green teas and the shared fascination and mutual curiosity from me to the people I met and those people back to me .
Down here , you face three major kinds of terrain . The Atlas Mountain range provides high
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