After last night’s shinnanikins I finally got to sleep 1 or 1.30. Then woke at about 7 and riding at 7.50. I was hoping for an easy day today and when way things started it seemed it would be. Mostly down hill. Then the Komoot curse hit me and I was diverted off road. Walking, walking so much walking.

I got some food, I topped up with water.

And what a contrast to yesterday’s lunar landscaping I had lush, verdant grassland. This carried on for most of the day. Lots cultivated.

I had in my mind that I wanted to get about 50kms from Fes making an easy ride in tomorrow morning. But last night still heavy in my mind I struggled to find a camp spot, also in this area there are so many people,everywhere men on donkeys, men looking after sheep, children everywhere.  So I took the heavy decision to ride to Fes and rock a 3 night stay.

No sooner had I made this decision than it started to rain, it went from bad to torrential. I had already done 95kms 1111m climbing at a slow 14.5kph. So the next  28kms 439m of climbing at 13.3kph in the rain were purgatory.  I stopped numerous times and just looked at the road ahead. And the Raid I booked was only for one night…  impossible to find, nowhere to store the bike.  I was shivering with  (contrasting) cold. I finally ate still in my cycling clothes at 7.30pm.