Todra Gorge
Trip Start
Feb 07, 2009
1
28
41
Trip End
Mar 19, 2009
Todra Gorge,
Morocco
Saturday, March 7, 2009
We started climbing and I think this was more difficulty than the previous night as not only was the sand really soft and almost impossible to get a grip in it, it was hard in the dark to get our bearings and work out which dune to climb. I had to stop so many times for a rest and I was pretty scared climbing along the ridge of the dunes in the dark. I was also finding it difficult to more wearing so many layers and was feeling a little faint and dizzy from lack of food, lack of sleep and exhaustion
Sun starting to appear
. Mike waited with me though and talked me along (thanks honey) and we caught up to AJ and Mike at the top of a dune. Another massive climb, freezing cold and a bitterly cold wind was blowing constantly getting sand everywhere again, but it was such an exhilarating experience. We took heaps of photos and stayed up there for about 45 mins waiting for the sun to appear. Finally it did and the colour started to change on the dunes.
We made our way back down to camp about 6:45 as we were leaving early. We packed up our stuff, climbed on our camels (Mike walked the whole way this time) and headed back to the auberge to collect our luggage, freshen up a bit (no shower) and have breakfast.
Left in the bus at 9am again, driving through more desert type terrain (glimpses of snow covered mountains in the distance). Coffee stop was at Erfoud where there seemed to be 1000's of teenagers on their school lunch break riding pushbikes. Lunch stop was another 1 ½ hours. Sat in the sun which started getting very hot.
Continued on to our hotel at Todra Gorge, a fantastic place tucked into the mountains
Cuddling on top of the dune to stay warm
. It has a pool and lovely terraces where there is always a good view. After having the best ever shower, I sat on the terrace in the sun reading and catching up on my travel journal. Most of the others had gone into town to get money and supplies for our hike. AJ braved the cold water for a quick swim. At 5pm we left with Abdul (minus Aussie Mike whose cold was worse) to walk to his family's house in the nearby village. We walked through the crop area at the base of the mountains, arriving at the village in about 30 mins. Met his mother, father, brother, sister and 2 cute little nieces. They offered us mint tea and snacks and we chatted to them through Abdul's interpretations. After admiring their carpets, the brother pulled out lots more and laid them on the ground in front of us. Sandra and Sharon each bought one and Mike was able to get the price down for them.
By the time we finished it was dark and we started walking back through the village. One of Abdul's friends gave us a lift back to the hotel where we had dinner and straight to bed.
