Paris Dakar Stage 43 to ??

Stage 43 of 60, day 51 of 71: 163.5 km, 1310m, 5:55, 290 shifts, ave speed 27.6, max speed 70.2

The alarm went off at 7 and we quickly packed up in our Airbnb and walked down to the campsite. Bike shoes on, bags in the truck, then breakfast.

People seemed nervous about today’s long stage, 170 km. But as soon as we started it was pretty nice. I finally saw some agriculture, cactus 🌵 plants being grown. But I’m not sure what they are used for.

Setting a pattern for the day, Wytze pulled us from about km 15 to the town of Guelmim at 50. It was really lively and bigger than I expected. It seemed like most people were wearing robes rather than western clothes. Cars looked newer and it had a surprisingly prosperous look. We stopped at a café with Jonny and Kris. Wytze and Daniel immediately disappeared to find you know what. We got drinks and sure enough, in a few minutes they returned, each with staggering amounts of pastries, quite varied. A fudge one had actual gold leaf!

We had a good long stop, savoring our “last” pastries. It seems like we’re always thinking it’s the last chance for good whatever but so far we’re always wrong. We couldn’t eat everything so had to stuff it in and carry for later.

We headed out and the road changed direction so that the wind was now really an annoying headwind. Wytze just pulled us the whole way though, so no worries. Lunch was unexpectedly early at km 82, not even halfway. We were all still full of pastries so only ate a little but drank a fair amount and I took electrolytes.

Then back at it. There was a rumor of drinks at km 125 so we headed there. It was a bit tedious, boring, not great riding. But “soon” we pulled in to where the trucks were stopped for water. Just ahead there was an actual café where we had mint tea.

Then, the final 40 km was mostly flat with some little hills. The road was amazing, usually very smooth and two lanes each way so we could draft diagonally which the wind required. I finally did have to ask Wytze to tone it down a little, he was so gracious. Toward the end, the wind shifted, almost a tailwind, and we blazed at 45-55 on the downhills easily.

Then we came upon two of our trucks at the turnoff to the campground. Turns out one truck had got stuck and had to be pulled out, so the new plan was to bush camp 500m ahead instead of continuing to the campground. It suited me fine since it shortened both today and tomorrow by 5 km. We set up tents, relaxed a bit. I had a “1 bidon” shower. Now the fact that the water we carry gets warm finally works in our favor. After that and some snacks and cold water, everything seemed better. Thanks to Wytze I think I arrived an hour or more earlier than I would’ve and with lots left in the tank vs probably nothing. Night and day.