The terminal at Ouarzazarte is little more than a large shed, no facilities and even at midnight hot as hell.Due to a mix up at Cassablanca I had to que for over an hour to get an immigration stamp. Met by Jon and Sue from Moto Aventures for a five minute ride to the hotel to meet my roomy, Martin from Sweden, who having arrived at 4pm was in bed fast asleep when I rocked up at 1 am, what a way to meet the guy I have to share with for a week.His kit had been mis loaded and so had arrived on our flight so Sue asked me to take it up for him so at least a positive.

Early brekkie and get kitted up, choose a bike all brand new KTM450 EXC mine had 8Km on the clock. A quick photo call then off. 6 Km out of town and a left turn on to the first of many rocky desert tracks. A very quick breif from Jon to take it easy and get used to the bike and terrain and to bed the bike in scrub the tyres etc then off and five minutes later we're screaming along a rock strewn trail at around 85 km an hour back end all over the shop and front suspension working full tilt. This sets the scene for the whole trip! Jon's idea of taking it easy is about 5 KPH off full tilt!! A slight problem at the end of the day, we got caught in a sand storm visibility down to about 1m and the bikes wheel to wheel at about 5 KPH for the last 30Km

First up an 8Km trip on road to the Todra Gorge a fantastic natural rock formation with walls towering upto 300m above the river.The only casualty of the trip John's bike blew all it's oil from the oil filter gasket. A quick pit stop with all the support team around the bike to replace the filter and gasket and an impromptu coffee stop for the rest of us the back into the desert for the first small Dunes around 1 to 3 meters but really tricky until you get the hang of it.

Look out here I come!Grin factor off the scale

A short day on mileage but big fun in the dunes a chance to tackle the highest Dune in Morroco 125M high 45 deg on the way up and 60Deg down and you have to keep the throttle open to stop the front wheel burying itself and launching you over the bars down the Dune.Fantastic fun and a real adrenelin rush ear to ear grins over a beer and war stories.

After a night under the stars at the auberge, there was a bedowin style tent but the weather was good and it was easier to stay put on the matts that were laid out, on to Zagora following the Dunes our first tatse of Wadi's dried out river beds with very fine soft sand the bike takes on a life of its own and you have to keep the throttle open and trust the bike to find its way a few spills today with the only injury of the tour Andy cracked a rib in the wadi a touch of over enthusiasm.

Starting the day with a beutiful desert sunrise, then striaght off in the dunes for about 60Km, then into the fesh-fesh, Bull dust very soft and gets in all the litle nooks and crannies lunch stop at a small palmarie, villiage where the locals were amazingly friendly and were proud to lead us to their Coke machine(even in the desert)! The kids were all really excited to see the bikes and our (dirty) white faces the girl in the picture helped me put a plaster on a blister and when I gave her 2 dirham(20 cents Euro) I thought I'd brought the villiage! The last leg out of the desert and on to the most imaculate tarmac road, for a very fast 60Km back to Ouarzazrte for tea and medals.A load of beer and another fantasic meal later and the war stories are honed to tell once back home.

Left with a feeling of sadness to be leaving Morroco so soon having met some of the most wonderful people, who despite the hard conditions of their desert home were always ready to help or to offer a mint tea and place to sit and rest. A short trip out in Casablanca( 6 hrs to wait for a flight) and I saw a different side to Morroco, more commercial, noisy market places and lots of beggars chasing the tourists- not sure I liked the city but then thats the same the world over I think lots of fond memories and the experience lived up to and exceeded all my expectations. Got the bud and intend to try some more now