Crossing the High Atlas

The bus times were not particularly convenient to get to Ouazazate - CTM (the best carrier) didn't leave till after dark which would make my arrival at the starting point for the cycling relatively late (no problem since I knew that those flying from London would not arrive until midnight or later).  More importantly it meant not having the opportunity to see the splendour of the High Atlas.

The concierge in the Riyad suggested that the local agent/manager could organise me a car and arranged for her to tome to the Riyad to discuss what I needed and what it would cost.  She proved to be an absolute stunner - not just a beautiful woman, but with a lovely personality as well - but could not see a way of providing a car at a sensible price given the need to take the bike - so it looked like it would have to be the bus.

Next morning (the day of travel) I checked out one last possibility - to take a Grand Taxi.  Typically these are shared taxis running along fairly standard routes.  Once they have six customers (or less if the customers will pay for the empty seats) they leave.  Clearly, with the bike, I would have to pay over the odds.  I reasoned these guys would hang out at the railway station (and my bike was in left luggage there) so went over and negotiated a deal for one of them to take me (and only me) to Ouazazate.  I paid a small deposit and arranged to come back at 13:00 to start the journey.  Everyone seemed happy.

Back to the city for one last explore, then to my Riyad to collect my bags and, by Petit Taxi (the normal in town runabouts) to the station, first for some lunch then to meet up again with my driver.

He obviously knew the road like the back of his hand.  He was fast but always appeared safe - more than you can say of many taxi drivers around the world!!