Morocco Madness Day 8

Leisurely start but inauspicious as the coffee machine is dishing out instant coffee - horror of horrors, first world problems. 

Loading the bikes seems easier, maybe because we're not pushed for time or maybe practice. The Action Challenge group have landed and we've agreed to meet them at a restaurant for lunch, which is a short ride away. We struggle to find a parking space and a local agrees to watch our bikes - that's worth a few dirhams.

We rock up to the restaurant in our dirty biker gear, making quite the entrance and meet our fellow 'competitors' (yes, in the spirit already) and have we lunch. I meet Lynsey again, who was our AC rep in Jordan, and Hamid, who was the paramedic at that event.  Since then Lynsey's been all over the globe on different tours with groups - quite the life. 

Lunc,h then we set off for Oukaimeden. It's Marrakesh mayhem at first then thins out and speeds up. Then the climb begins and the scenery changes turning from dry and dusty, to alpine with some fir trees lining the road. The road winds with lots of curves and hairpins. It's also being repaired as large sections have collapsed and long queues form in places. In fact the road is generally not in good condition and it's muddy and dusty so we take care on the corners.

Then we reach the top and the terrain opens out into a bowl surrounded by low peaks. Oukaimeden is a ski resort in the winter so there's a collection of ski related buildings, lifts and what looks like a radar station on the peak above the bowl. We find the camp area and park up.

The others eventually join us. We settle into our tents, dinner follows, then an event briefing, and bed. Tough day ahead.