Ronda Loop to Malaga Finish | October 31 | 163 Miles | Today began with more choices, options to make a loop ride though the country back again to Ronda over famous Andalusian roadways or to stay in town and poke around until the rest of the group returns. It’s only about 90 miles between Ronda and Malaga but we turn into an all day affair, even … Continue reading Tic-Toc Maroc: Scraping Around Spain
Chefchaouen to Ronda Spain | October 30 | 198 Miles | Thanks for a little dinner conversation, or perhaps NO thanks to it, we realize there will be a time change (somewhere: border or ferry?) to deal with tomorrow, and that we should leave really early in order to make the mid-day ferry. But we already have morning ferry tickets but won’t be able to make it … Continue reading Tic-Toc Maroc: Shipless in Cueta
Meknes to Chefchaouen | October 29 | 110 Miles | With only one more night in Morocco ahead of us, nostalgia is already setting in, thankfully we returned tonight to a familiar place… but in a different riad. This one farther up the hillside from the parking lot and much more modern. The welcome drink, a limocelli digestive type thing was perfect after another day in the … Continue reading Tic-Toc Maroc: A Muslim Roman Holiday
Bin El Ouidane to Meknes | October 28 | 202 Miles | Well, it was hard to leave paradise, but we tried to drag it out as long as we could with a poolside ride briefing and some dragging of the feet. The weather wasn’t quite right for a morning dip in the pool but we all took note of this place for future visits to Morocco. … Continue reading Tic-Toc Maroc: I Don’t Wanna Go
Marrakesh to Bin El Ouidane | October 27 | 327 Miles | Today had to be the worse day of them all… I mean, awesome because I’m still on tour in a foreign country and doing just fine, but sometimes when you want something so much, hurdles grow up between you and the goal. And that was surely the journey today. Surprisingly, for what is the first … Continue reading Tic-Toc Maroc: Choking The American Dream
Marrakesh Rest Day | October 26 | 0 Miles | Mid-day report… Despite my hatred for the way they prefer to do buiness in Morocco, I’ve managed to spend too much money on things to bring home, ouch! Our tour guides arranged with a local man names Ahmed to give us a walking to this morning, complete with a shuttle bus pick up at the hotel, … Continue reading Tic-Toc Maroc: The Shopping Bug
Ait Ben Haddou to Marrakesh | October 25 | 141 Miles | From one UNESCO world heritage site to another (this tour is full of them, visiting 6 of the 9 in the country!) today was a ton of fun.. and history. The day started with a climb out of the saharan desert, pass towns reminiscent of Colorado mountain towns, clinging to the vertical ochre … Continue reading Tic-Toc Maroc: Into the Kingdom
Boumalne Dades to Ait Ben Haddou | October 24 | 141 Miles | With more than 12 hours sleep, I started out feeling pretty good today, happily. Although had I been paying attention to the provided guidebook I would have realized that this morning’s ride was another loop ride, up into another nearby canyon and back to the hotel for lunch. I could have slept … Continue reading Tic Toc Maroc: Back In The Game
Erfoud to Boumalne Dades | October 23 | 172 Miles | Bruised and back on the bike, today was one of the more relaxing days on tour…well, sort of… With only a “few” miles to ride, a scenic side trip, enjoyable (hilarious!) shopping experiences and a “helpful” bike swap… although the collective pain was mounting. Unlike any other day following a tour’s rest day, I was … Continue reading Tic-Toc Maroc: Chewed Up, Spit Out
Erfoud Rest Day | October 22 | Going in Circles So much for a rest day! That was a friggin workout… and in the end, cost me more than I’d spend on the entire trip so far (for food and fuel). With a handful of optional activities planned for the group, hanging around the hotel —although very beautiful— didn’t compare to the plan to ride camel … Continue reading Tic-Toc Maroc: Rest Day My Ass
