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#NeverStopExploring

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After few days of calling, messaging, and reaching out to various shops in Morocco and Melilla, we realized that our best option was to return to Spain. Importing high-quality bicycle spokes would be both costly and time-consuming, with shipping times ranging from 4 to 7 weeks—and that’s if the package didn’t get lost en route. Additionally, import taxes could reach up to 60%.

Faced with these challenges, we made the tough decision to head back to Spain. Fortunately, we know a skilled wheel builder in Granada—the same expert who had previously rebuilt Mirko’s wheel. It felt strange to turn around, but we knew it was the right thing to do. We packed the bikes, bought some supplies, exchanged money to pay for our accommodation, and took the northern road out of Guercif, heading back toward Nador. #cycletouring #cycling #wanderer #exploring #bicycle #bicycletouring #adventurecycling #cyclinglife #cyclingnomads #traveldiaries #biketouringforever #pedalpower #travelstories #travelbybike #bikewander #bikelife #biketouring #fromwhereiride #worldbycyclingù #worldbybike #pedaljourneys #humanpoweredadventures #neverstopexploring #biketocamp #worldbycycling #BikeTooter #biketouring

We woke up very early to a perfect weather—clear skies, sunshine, and no wind. Excited to finally cycle toward the snow-capped mountains we had seen in the distance the day before. We ordered some tea, made oatmeal porridge, and took some local bread for the road. We said goodbye to the guys in the restaurant who had hosted us, and even the policeman stopped by to wish us a good journey.
Back on the road, we took a right at the roundabout onto a smaller road toward Midelt. It felt so good.
We only made few kilometers, when I heard a familiar sound—one I definitely didn’t want to hear. I stopped, checked my bike, and saw a broken spoke. This was bad news. In all our years of cycling, I had never broken a spoke, and now it had happened twice. It really felt like something was trying to keep us from moving forward. I called Mirko, who was already a few kilometers ahead. When he returned, I broke the bad news to him.
With no other choice, we turned around and cycled back to the restaurant once again. Finding high-quality spokes in Morocco wouldn’t be easy, and I also needed a skilled mechanic with experience in building a Rohloff wheel properly. We decided to head to Guercif, where we could find a place to stay and research our options. We were needed to find some spare spokes so we could temporarily fix the wheel.
There weren’t many accommodation options in the city, but we managed to find the only reasonably priced hotel and got a lovely room on the first floor. The staff was very kind— even bringing us a gas bottle so we could cook.
#touring #cycletouring #cycling #wanderer #exploring #bicycle #bicycletouring #adventurecycling #cyclinglife #cyclingnomads #traveldiaries #biketouringforever #pedalpower #travelstories #travelbybike #bikewander #bikelife #biketouring #fromwhereiride #worldbycyclingù #worldbybike #pedaljourneys #humanpoweredadventures #neverstopexploring #biketocamp #worldbycycling

Not long after leaving Taourirt, we noticed a car following us again. It was almost funny how they tried to make it seem like they weren’t—driving slowly behind us, then stopping to let us gain some distance, only to start following us again. It was the police. I heard that in this region, it’s quite common for them to keep an eye on travelers.
Dark clouds surrounded us, and in the distance, we could see freshly fallen snow on the mountains ahead—a breathtaking sight against this arid desert landscape.
At the next gas station, we stopped for a tea break and noticed that the car following us suddenly turned around and left—probably because we had exited their area. Exhausted from cycling against the wind, we looked for a place to rest but found none, so we decided to keep going.
The storm seemed to be moving in and daylight was fading, we reached a crossroads where we would turn toward Midelt and the mountains. We stopped at a small roadside restaurant for tea and food and asked the owners if we could camp in their garden. They were very kind and welcomed us to stay.
Soon, a different policeman arrived. He was very friendly and asked if we needed anything. When we told him we planned to sleep in the garden, he instead arranged for us to sleep inside the restaurant. He even gave us his phone number in case we needed anything during the night.
We drank more tea and waited for the restaurant to close. Once it did, we set up our sleeping spot on the first floor, grateful for the warmth and shelter.
#cycletouring #cycling #wanderer #exploring #bicycle #bicycletouring #adventurecycling #cyclinglife #cyclingnomads #traveldiaries #biketouringforever #pedalpower #travelstories #travelbybike #bikewander #bikelife #biketouring #fromwhereiride #worldbycyclingù #worldbybike #pedaljourneys #humanpoweredadventures #neverstopexploring #biketocamp #worldbycycling #BikeTooter #biketouringmike

We made our way to Taourirt, a small town just a few kilometers from the gas station where we had spent the night. Needing to restock on supplies. We stopped for coffee and breakfast. But just as we were about to set off again, the wind picked up, and dark storm clouds rolled in.

Realizing the weather was only getting worse, we checked out the town’s two hotels and decided to stay at Hotel Riad in the main square. Our room was simple but spacious, with a balcony and a good hot bucket shower. What we thought would be just an overnight stop turned into a longer stay—more bad weather was on the way. After a few days of crazy winds and rain we were happy to hit the road again. It felt special to witness rain in the desert—a rare and beautiful sight. #cycletouring #cycling #wanderer #exploring #bicycle #bicycletouring #adventurecycling #cyclinglife #cyclingnomads #traveldiaries #biketouringforever #pedalpower #travelstories #travelbybike #bikewander #bikelife #biketouring #fromwhereiride #worldbycyclingù #worldbybike #pedaljourneys #humanpoweredadventures #neverstopexploring #biketocamp #worldbycycling #BikeTooter #biketouringmike

The wind gusts came and went, and whenever they weren’t too strong, we kept cycling. As it started getting dark, we began looking for a place to camp when we noticed a car following us. Checking the map, we found a campsite, but when we arrived, we saw that it had been closed for a while.

We turned back to a gas station we had passed about a kilometer earlier, where we took shelter from the wind. The staff there were very kind and showed us a spot in the car wash area where we could set up our tent. At the back of the station, there were toilets and even a shower. But soon, the car that had been following us arrived—it was the police.

They told us we couldn’t stay at the gas station, saying it was dangerous. We were completely exhausted and really needed some rest. We ate the takeaway dinner we had prepared in the morning, drank some tea, and tried to figure out what to do next. The wind was picking up again, blowing sideways, making it quite dangerous to be on the road.

We explained to the officers that cycling in the dark with such strong winds was simply not an option and that we would stay put. After some phone calls back and forth, they finally allowed us to spend the night there. So, we ended up sleeping in the car wash area of the gas station—grateful to be sheltered from the wind and rain. #cycletouring #cycling #wanderer #exploring #bicycle #bicycletouring #adventurecycling #cyclinglife #cyclingnomads #traveldiaries #biketouringforever #pedalpower #travelstories #travelbybike #bikewander #bikelife #biketouring #fromwhereiride #worldbycyclingù #worldbybike #pedaljourneys #humanpoweredadventures #neverstopexploring #biketocamp #worldbycycling #BikeTooter #biketouringmike

Der #serengetipark in Hodenhagen/Niedersachsen ist auf jeden Fall ein Besuch wert. Wir waren mit dem Wohnmobil dort - das passende Video gibt's hier:
https://youtu.be/ThJ1bxZaNgs
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