I felt a bit of strangeness of the wind in the morning. The north wind got died down. I was just hoping for it to get strong again in the afternoon otherwise It will be very difficult to cycle the distance to the next safe place to camp. I planed for 145km today to the next service station.

この日は風がおかしい。北風が止んでいる。まぁすぐ強くなるだろうと思いBoujdourを出発した。今日は145km先にあるガソリンスタンドまでは何も無いらしく、何とか走り切らないといけない。

より大きな地図で Cycling West Africa 2 を表示

Moroccan crape in the morning. This might be the last Moroccan crape.
朝食にクレープ。たぶんクレープはこれが最後かな






After taking off and have cycled 50km, the north wind was dead and started south east wind which was a head wind. I had carried 14 litters of water and food for couple of days. My bicycle was super heavy. It was very very hard work.
出発して50km、北風が吹くどころか南東の風が吹き始めた。スピードが出ないし、出そうとするといつもの倍力がいる。今日は水を14ℓと食料を2日分積んでいるから自転車がかなり重い。


I thought i would turn back to Boujdour. However, other side of my mind told me that this head wind was like a sort of a challenge from a god. I decided to keep on going.

Boujdourにいったん引き返す事も考えた。でもこれは何かしらの神様からの試練だと思い負けずに進む道を選ぶ。


I was playing badminton when I was a high school student. We had many many practices everyday. Especially, when the school was on summer Holliday, we had a very hard summer camp in Karuizawa.
I was thinking of these summer camp when I was cycling. "I can do it, I can do it"

自分は高校の時、体育会系のバドミントン部で毎日辛い練習に耐えた事がある。夏休みの軽井沢合宿なんてゲロを吐くくらい辛いもんだった。それを考えればこれくらい走れると自分に言い聞かせ走り続けた。


It would be easy for 145km with strong north wind but without, it's very difficult.
The average speed became 11km up to 18km/h. I was pushing hard to make it by the sun-set.

追い風が吹けば145kmなんて6時間あれば行ける距離だが、弱向かい風で時速は平均11km～18km前後。日の入りまでに着かなければというプレッシャーでやたらと疲れる。

I didn't have time to sit down and have a lunch.
昼飯もゆっくり座って食べる暇が無くて立ち食い。


After the noon, it's started raining. This is Sahara. I don't think there were any cyclists who had cycled in rain in Sahara desert.

昼を過ぎてからは雨も降り始めた。サハラ砂漠に降る雨を浴びて走ったサイクリストはなかなかいないだろう。もう踏んだり蹴ったりだ。


Kept pedaling for 9 hours and a bit, I finally arrived to the service station. When I saw the buildings on my way, it looked a shining oasis.

ペダルを踏み続け走行時間9時間弱、疲労困憊で145km地点のガソリンスタンドが見えて来た。どんよりとした雲の下でキラキラ光るオアシスのように見えた。


I was like a knocked out boxer when I arrived. People welcomed me, and there were coca-cola at the restaurant!! What a nice coca cola it was!!

ボコボコのボクサーのような状態でガソリンスタンドに到着すると、フレンドリーなここの兄さんが出迎えてくれた。ちゃんとレストランもあってコーラがある。あぁ～最高！


Moreover, unexpectedly, they had a stock room for workers so let me sleep in comfortable room. It was like a prize from the got to the winner.

さらにはここの2階に使っていない寝室がいくつかあって、そこで寝かせてもらえる事になった。神の試練を克服した物だけに与えられる至福の一時。

The room I stayed. Very clean and nice. Truck drivers and other local people stayed downstairs, so the second floor was all for my space.

使って無いから町の宿よりかよっぽど綺麗。一般客は下のフロアにある仮眠室で寝るから、2階は誰もいないし静かで最高。


At the dinner. the Chicken plate.
夜は鳥肉プレート。

Congratulation for the day.
一日本当お疲れ様でした。