Goodbye Morocco. We cross our first official border tomorrow. Read Dave's blog for some final reminiscent thoughts of the place - He was always going to be the soppy one. This is no time for emotions from me, apart from extending sincere thanks to those who have donated thus far.
Our purpose remains to sail beyond the horizon. See you on the other side.
THE WAY
SOME NUMBERS
Monies raised to date for Key School: R7300
Modes of Transport: 4 (grand taxi, bus, train, feet)
Mileage: 3211km
Tea Consumption: 320 cups (1cup/10.3km - efficient)
Peaks: 3 (Jebdel Toubkal 4200m, Jebdel El-Kest 2750m), found 5 dirhams on the floor.
Troughs: McAlpine's cartogrpahy. Tough Guy's French. Moroccan peak socialising hour: 01:00. Flashed by the village loon (he also kissed Tough Guy's head).
Things thrown at us: 3 (banana, bottle, brick)
Long Drops Used: 9, Successfully: 1
No. of dirhams swindled: 250 (conservative estimate)
Times addressed as "my friend": 272
Actual friends made: 2
Public Bathhouses visited: 1
Verucas contracted: 2,5
Overheard
McAlpine (to Scott): "I'm realising more and more how great it is you came on the trip. Splitting costs is cheaper than I could have imagined."
Snake-charming hype man: "Behold the squirrel! Fiercest and most well-known enemy of the snake!"
Polish woman: "When I was in Western Sahara, I had a chicken tergine. But, the meat was not like anything I had ever tasted. Also, I had not seen any chickens. What I had seen lots of, were seagulls. I believe I had a seagull tergine. I was sick for days.
Here's a short movie of our first month. Play it loud with volume up. Look out behind Scott on the bus for some North African discipline. All photos by Dave, framed and signed if you can handle his formidable haggling.
It's nice to see your progress on a map--I hadn't got a sense of how much you'd moved around until I saw that. Looks like you're having the time of your life... hope it's as awesome as it looks from afar!
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