I'm sitting in a small guesthouse in Tiznit, Morocco, just at the beginning of the Sahara Desert. The internet is less than dependable so this might be a short blog with the story told mainly through pictures. Morocco has been a very incredible experience for me so far, with tall peaks and low vallies, I am just beginning to understand what it means to be riding a bicycle in the desert, in a country where i do not speak a word of any of the official languages. The sand, the heat, the cold, the wind, the constant assault from the white man hunters in tthe cities, all of it combines to create a somewhat harsh environment, especially to learn in!! On top of the environment, one is never really sure exactly where one will sleep, when or what one will eat, or even how to go about finding any of it!! quickly we learned that if you have a destination and a route to get there, you will be getting lost!! guarenteed!! So as to ensure we don't spend all our time feeling or being lost, we've learned that one must simply let go of the entire concept of "knowing where you are" and instead embrace the vastness and the freedom that comes with accepting the fact that you do not know where you are, where you came from nor where you are going... you have NOWHERE to be.... and like this, the mind relaxed with the acceptance of whatever may come, one no longer feels "lost" or "late" in any way. Taking away the reference point, one cannot be going the "wrong way", because any way IS the right way!!! one is never lost nor late because without a time or destination you arrive exactly where you are, exactly when you intend to!!!

The bike has had a number of small issues. Bolt that holds the seat post solid snapped off in Tangier... Impossible or extremely difficult for a white man to find one... ended up being saved once again by the incredible kindness of the Muslims and Moroccans in general... owner of ancient, crumbling hotel we were staying in gave me a heavy duty replacement without any thought of return.. Again in Agadir another mounting point snapped on the rear rack where it attatches to the frame... not the first time... had to find a local repair artist to weld it back to the frame.... not at all a pretty job but obviously now the strongest weld on the bike!! ...

A thousand thank yous to Wade F for the donation of a Brooks saddle... as it gets broken in I come to love it more and more... A thousand more Thanks to Pete, without his very generous donation of the bike, the racks, front bags, sleeping bag and a whole lot of time, it would not be happening like it is... More thanks to Tim at Summit City Bikes in Fort Wayne, this wouldnt be happening without his keen knowledge and experience in building bikes, as well as his kindness in going a bit above and beyond to ensure i have the best possible rig for what i'm doing...gives me a lot more confidence knowing his experience has deemed this bike road worthy, as i have absolutely zero experience with bicycles!! Overall the bikes working great man!!!  there are lots of other people that deserve and have my appreciation as well.... and of course as always the biggest thanks of all goes to my mother, who without nothing wouldve been possible!

reading over that it feels like an acceptance speach of some kind! haha but i do give thanks!!

tomorrow we move onward...