Day one in Morocco

A great days riding to set the Morocco leg of the journey off.   We were greated with lovely bright sunshine, so I had a hunt around and found my sunglasses.       We arrived at about 10am Moroccan time, which is the same as UK time.   The air was a little chilly dispite the sun so for the first couple of hours riding I kept my over jacket on.   

We took the motorway to Tetouan and followed the coastal road South East.  This was a great twisty coastal road with great views.   This road is on the North edge of the Rif Mountains so lots of steep inclines, decents and hairpins.    Unfortunately the wind was still with me and was a bit hairy a few times rounding a bend from the sheltered side in a big cross wind.   But great fun.  

We then turned off and followed a dirt track mountain pass to Chefchaouen.    We were lucky the pass had dried out.   It was basically compacted earth with loose gravel.   Appart from the potholes the biggest problem was the ruts going across the road made by the rain run off from the mountains.  It looked a bit tough and then I remembered seeing a YouTube video by Clinton Smoot, an adventure bike rideing trainer, and his comment was that if you are in doubt as to if a peice of trail is passable or not then just send someone else in front, if they can do it then you can as well.  So with his words of wisdom ringing in my head I pulled back and let 5 others go in front of me.   This really helped as I am still getting used to the more tough bits of trail and still building confidence in the bike

And my abilities.  The CB500X with the Rally Raid Level 3 upgrades took the ruts in its stride.   Still a bit hairy on loose gravel hairpins hitting ruts at an angle on inclines so steep I was in 1st gear,  but the suspension took the punishment and the bike road true.   To help the bike I stayed standing most of the time, all that working out at the gym is paying off.  

Great views from the pass. Oh, and as you can see I failed with the colour coordination with the sunglasses.  

Lots of fruit and veg sellers by the side of the road everywhere in the Rif Mountains.   Most curious was that when ever we pulled over to take photos chaps would approach us and ask if we wanted to by some herbs, can not remember what they called it.   I kept having to explain that there was no point in me buying some as we were not doing any cooking.  Anyways, there luck was out as no one was buying any.  

We are now in our hotel in Chefchaouen.   The hotel is set on a hill with a great view of the town.   We are all wandering into town this evening to eat and stretch our legs.