Another chilly start.

Livid with the soot coming off the trangia. White spirit is not the right stuff!!

Kept stopping to add layers. First outing for the gloves and coat. Stopped for snacks in M’semrir. Hoped to stop for lunch before the enormous climb but everywhere closed. Last chance was the cool looking backpackers gite at the foot of the climb. Car there but door locked. Up the climb I went. Popped the Swiss gel, didn’t do much! Had to stop and break out my second and final emergency ration pack. Nearly set fire to the whole mountain. Need to ditch the white spirit. Again the ration pack didn’t cook properly. Raw pasta. Yum. Should put in pot next time I guess.

Climb kept going. Beautiful though. Glad I stoped to eat. It was far! Descent was rocky and technical. Was loving it though! Into a cool bowl with a nice spring and a shepherd with his sheep at 9500’. Through the stream then got sprayed in the face, thought it was water but it was sealant! Hole in the front tyre, what a place for a puncture!!
Taped it, stuck some more sealant in and crossed fingers! Seemed to hold! Onwards. Ridiculously rocky descent. Tried to take it easy on the tyre but still had some heavy rock hits. Amazing ride, but really needed food/coffee! Made it to Agoudal, annoying guy waiting for tourists at the entrance to town. Chased me on his moped. Gave in and spoke to him, sorted me out with amazing coffee and a tuna sandwich. Luuuush. It was 17:30 so relented and went to good hotel, turned out to be decent. The head wind had picked up. Really glad I didn’t push on!!