This morning, we all were refreshed from staying at the hotel in Ouarzazate. Knowing we had flights out the next day, showers for all were a luxury. Since being in the van so much, it was a sunny day to discover this city and what it has to offer. I would say we walked every bit of 10km throughout the day. We ate breakfast at the hotel and then shopped and shopped and shopped. We then ate dinner at the square that literally took 3 hours from start to finish. As the night approached, Steve wanted to leave knowing that the peak of the Atlas mountains showed snow and that was the direct route he wanted to take back to Marrakech.
We were stopped in a town hours into our trip where we were told we would probably be told to turn around due to ice and snow. If we did another route we would add about three more hours to our trek back to Marrakech for the girls and I to catch our flights to Portugal. Although Steve wanted to attempt crossing over, I was very nervous. Normally not afraid of much I have seen images of the roads of the atlas mountains and admit I was scared to death. We were stopped at two police checkpoints, one coached Steve what to do and put my mind at ease that we might be OK.... did I mention might?!!!!!
It was slushy, tour buses passed us like they could do this with their eyes closed, trucks drive with hazards on. If the ice wasn’t enough, twice we came around a bend with HUGE boulders (size of a smart car) in our path that I can only assume fell tonight. The sand (or salt) trucks were out in masses...
Steve rocked it!!!! and loved it!!!! He loved the switchbacks of the roads and curves. He said it reminded him of his buddies stomping grounds in the Shenandoah Mountains called Thorton's Gap, but much longer and more technical. And with each scary bolder and obstacle begged me to try to capture it on video while I was literally praying for my life... kids sound asleep oblivious to what was going on.
I keep forgetting the girls and I still have a camino (s) to do. The boys were originally on our flight and we’d split in Casablanca they head to DC we head an hour up to Europe. AirMaroc has changed our flights so much (via email notification) that they now fly out tomorrow.
I spent months think my all things Camino, devotes little to researching Morocco, my last two weeks in the States the Camino was put on the back burner has I had to prepare 8 for Morocco, 3 to be in Europe for 2 1/2 months and secure all details for boys to be home alone in the states without the girls. So much to plan.... and a new chapter is two days away. I feel too exhausted to Camino, but I can only hope when my feet hit the ground my minds dedication will return.
No comments:
Post a Comment