We Cross The Rif on A Motorbike | 3 Months Of Motorcycle Trip In Morocco

We take the R419 and the road zigzags through mountains and valleys. The portions of good tarmac gradually turn into not very pleasant road tracks because we constantly have to aim for the right portions. Then, a few kilometers later, this damaged road turns into a real track and it's a pleasure to slalom between the neat pools at an average of 36 km per hour. So, let's think about the situation. We were riding and there was a spider, a big one, which was there and so Nathal chased it. Ah, it fell. Shortly before the city of Tabuda, we turn west on a mini-road and cross the Berber market of Calat Bukola. We are clearly the attraction of the Souk, the greetings and encouragement give us the big smile. We then join the P4104 and P4573, which will lead us to the El Ouada dam. We are in the Rif region, which is famous for its hashish production. We enter a valley where cannabis fields are dispersed between wheat, oats and barley. It gives a nice colorful patchwork and a good ambient smell. But hey, we're not going to linger there with our cameras. We are looking for a dam that we have seen on the net, but which has no precise address. We try to call it, but it speaks Arabic and the line does not stop cutting. We scrutinize with our four eyes wide open to find this building and after a long time, we spot at the top of a hill a building that looks like it. We then try to get to the top by taking small tracks, but each time it's a failure and we have to turn around. We try to ask around us, but no one speaks French or English. We continue on a track and morale begins to drop. We feel that we have lost our time and that we are really lost in the middle of nowhere. We are a little lost, there is no precise address at all, so we are on this road. We really find ourselves on a track where we don't really know what's going on and I don't know, it makes you want to go see. It makes you want to go see. I'm going to go see anyway, just to see if it joins the road. And so there we arrive a little at this dead end and we say to ourselves, it's no longer possible. But I say to myself, I'm just going to see at the end of the road, see if it joins the main road so as not to have to go all the way back. But there I saw someone who is actually at the place where we would like to sleep. Incredible. In short, happy end. We are welcomed by Tuamy, the proprietor, Fatima and Omar and we will spend the rest of the afternoon discussing in this new eco lodge built in front of the family house and offering a magnificent 360 ° view. We are so charmed that we decide to spend a little more time in this little paradise. And so, as you are starting to know us, we become friends with Tuamy and his family and the more the days go by, the closer we feel to each other. We start with a complete visit of his property. And we continue with a walk in the village. Oh, there is the wind, there is the wind! Our last day at the Belle Étoile is magnificent. It starts at 8am with the delivery of a stock of fresh figs from the garden. To taste with the view, it is always a perfect combo. We continue with a beautiful walk in the surrounding villages. We will spend a moment moving forward on our video projects, taking a few breaks with Youssef, the cadet of the brotherhood, for some racket games. In the late afternoon, we leave with all the Smala to go swimming in the famous lake of the El Ouada dam. We're going to the lake, we're going to swim, we're so happy! Let's go! The track that leads to the lake is magnificent and the water is ultra refreshing. Yes, we forgot to specify that it has been two days since we reached 38 degrees at maximum temperature. Suffice to say that swimming was more than essential. In short, a magnificent afternoon with this family and accompanied once again by Mar and Saïd, our roommates. On the way back, we meet for the third time of the day a man who speaks Arabic to us and who wants to invite us to follow him every time, we don't know where. This time we accept and we will drink a pressed orange juice on the central square of the village in front of the amused and curious eyes of the children playing football in front of us. We will end this last evening with a devilish part of the game of Parches, the national game. Thank you friends for this unforgettable day. If you are around, do not hesitate to visit Tuami and stay at La Belle Etoile. You will leave for sure with stars in your eyes. The next day is the departure. We set off for the south, to discover our first work-away experience in Morocco. But all this is another story. To be continued...