Without breakfast, and on top changing route and accommodation for the night last minute with the help of my host, I got on the road 9:30am, half an hour later than planned. Finally I decided not to go on a 40km provincial road without a clear confirmation on the tarmac conditions and hardly any infrastructure along. Too risky.
Therefore I ended up in Settat after a fast and fascinating ride. The landscape is playing between fulminant surplus and pure scarcity. Endless kilometres of lands trying to be cultivated, big time. Not much growing yet but but huge areas under development.
A local on a motorbike coming along tried to encourage me two times to stop but I signalled him, that I want to proceed and kept paddling. On the final attempt, we moved side by side at the same speed for a while and he wanted to give me some oranges, which he placed into his helmet now hanging at the steering bar of his two-wheeler. He did not want money, just supporting me on my ride.
While passing through a village hundreds of school kids finished school and were on their way home. They always get super excited at the moment they see me, cheering and waving their hands. A group of young boys at some distance were eagerly trying to stop me, the normal reaction, but again, I would still be in the village now, stopping at each and every occasion. When one of the boys did throw a stone behind me, which hit the bike frame, I stopped. This happened before on my trip to Ourika the other day. Yelling at him did show some signs of misbehaviour and regret and I kept it there and moved on. It is a fine balance sometimes between being welcome despite not playing by their rules. Finally they will ask for money or some sweets. An absolut exception and I have great sympathy with them. My overall experience with the local people is overwhelming positive while travelling this country.
Tomorrow we will get back to start in Casablanca.
Fair winds…
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