Paris Dakar Stage 50 to Tchika

Stage 50 of 60, day 59 of 71: 133.3 km, 185m, 4:18, 46 shifts, ave speed 30.9, max speed 55.5

It was another hot night in the hotel in Dakhla. I stayed up late watching a movie for the first time on the trip, About Schmidt. We woke up at 7:30 and packed up. At the hotel café breakfast was going to take a long time so we walked across the street again and had the same as yesterday, tasty and with a view.

We didn’t leave until 9:30. We had to retrace 40 km from yesterday which meant riding into the wind, but it turned out to be light and no big deal. There were a couple of dirt, under-construction sections along the road. I didn’t stop until a shop/gas station at 77 km where I bought drinks for lots of riders. The owner was really nice, bringing us extra chairs and some dates, all the while smiling and saying “USA good, Biden crazy”. He seemed really happy.

We had a text from Ype sounding maybe a little mad that we rode too fast, but he moved up and put lunch at 82 km. We waited a long time then went there and had a good lunch.

It turned out we were camping at 130 km instead of the planned 151, so we had a short tailwindy ride. The gas station/shop at the turnoff had cold drinks. I was really hot from riding with the wind. From there we followed the Bike Dreams chair marker down a sandy dirt “road” that eventually ended. Off to the north, Bob spied the vehicles so we headed there cross-country. It was mostly rideable, but with lots of sharp obsidian-like rocks. Our tires did an amazing job as usual.

There are sand dunes around camp and we’re finally pretty far from the road. It seems like one of our best campsites yet. Snacks and soup were on. Then I set up my tent, using my bike to anchor it down in the wind. I had a semi-modest 1.5 bidon shower then sat in the shade to write. It may seem like a crazy place to camp but I predict we’ll be missing stuff like this in two weeks when this trip is over.

I had a bit of a nap in the afternoon, then dinner at 7. We had lots of wine since alcohol is strictly forbidden in Mauritania; we cross the border day after tomorrow and have to use it all up. Then I retired to my tent to relax out of the wind.