Another country, another change of scenery; this time from the flat savannah of South-Eastern Senegal to the mountains and rainforests of Guinea.

By the time I got to Senegal, I was getting worried about my rear tyre. I had tried to find a replacement in Gambia but had drawn a blank, and at my first stop in Senegal, the sizeable city of Ziguinchor, I had equally little success. I took a ride out to Cap Skirring on the coast, the tourist hub…

I think Gambia may have just replaced Laos as the friendliest country I have ever visited. It helps that after several former French colonies I am now in a British one, so English is spoken by almost everyone and suddenly can communicate beyond the level of an inarticulate 5 year old.

In terms of the general population, I think that Senegal might be the best looking nation I have been to. Everyone is tall, with fantastic bone structure and perfect posture. The men are broad shouldered and athletic, the women are slim and elegant, and everyone dresses to impress. And me, rocking…

The border between Mauritania and Senegal, specifically the Rosso border crossing, is according to legend one of the most corrupt crossings in Africa, so I was somewhat apprehensive as I escaped the chaos of Nouakcott and headed south. Stories tell of swarms of hustlers and touts in league with sh…

Mauritania used to be a hub of the old caravan routes across the Sahara, and towns like Oudane and Chinguetti were a big deal back in the 13th century. They are also a long way away from Nouakchott and so I set off for another long day of driving to get there.

The country is one of the emptiest p…

The transition between Morocco and Mauritania is quite abrupt. Halfway across the 3km no man's land between the respective border posts, the tarmac ends and becomes....nothing. You have to pick a route across unmarked rocky ground and hope for the best. I almost stacked it at one point, and th…

I arrived in Agadir early afternoon, and rather than do my usual trick of just pressing on for another couple of hundred kms I camped up for the night (in Aourir rather than Agadir itself) and spent a couple of hours relaxing at the beach, reading and watching the sun go down. The town itself was …

From Hicham's place I headed south towards Er Rachidia and the Eastern desert. The ride was unbelievable - winding roads through the mountains and spectacular scenery; so much fun on two wheels. I took some photos but they hardly do the scenery justice. I was aiming for Ouarzazate, but with my…