\nWe have woken to proper desert weather today. Clear blue sky and high temperature. We were up early……again…….to get into the huge dunes here before it got to hot.
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/jennings-bates.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/10\/IMG_1900.jpg\" "\\"IMG_1900\\"")
<\/p>\nAs Mark is not really able to type at the moment I\u2019ll continue with the story. Firstly and most importantly, Mark is definitely on the mend. He is in good spirits this morning and actually sat on his bike earlier. I dont think he will be riding again for a couple of days at least but it is good to see him recovering.
\nWe have woken to proper desert weather today. Clear blue sky and high temperature. We were up early……again…….to get into the huge dunes here before it got to hot. <\/p>\n
Mick spent an hour tutoring us on how to ride the dunes. Its pretty scary as you have to keep the bike speed up so it dosent sink into the soft sand, but reading the terrain is almost impossible – it just all looks the same and you can find yourself going over a crest to a 100ft drop quite easily. We had fun and I had a few offs – exhausting stuff, but what a thrill.
\nWe rode back to the Berber tent and had half a hour in the shade, then helmets back on and back into the cavernous dunes. I jumped onto Marks bike \u2018Betty\u2019 for this blast. Now Betty has a reputation. Mark wasn’t the first rider she had chucked off and injured. Still, no bother I thought. I can handle Betty…… Wrong. After 10 minutes of ripping around the dunes and having a fantastic time, I made the big mistake – I flew over the top of a dune, the drop on the other side was very steep. The front wheel dug in and I went over the handlebars violently. Betty hit me hard on the back and head completely knocking the wind out of me. I think I blacked out for a second or two. The next thing I knew I was spitting out sand and one of the other riders, Martin was running over. It took me a little while to get myself back together and I rode slowly back to camp to nurse my wounds. Nothing more than a painful back by the looks of it. Very lucky. I wont ride again today but we are heading out on Camels tonight to see the sunset from the top of the dunes. I might need to pinch a couple of Marks pain killers! ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/jennings-bates.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/10\/IMG_1883-300x199.jpg\" "\\"IMG_1883\\"")
<\/p>\n
On a totally different note – Congratulations to George who came first in a big dancing competition in Nottingham on Sunday (in the pairs dance with his mate Jack). Well done George, I cant wait to see the trophy.<\/p>\n
All is quiet here now and I can see the Berber tribesmen getting the Camels ready for our excursion. I\u2019ve only ridden an animal once (Pony trekking in Wales when I was a teenager) and I wasnt good at it. With my sore back I\u2019m not sure if this is a wise thing to do, but thinking about it, spending two weeks riding a motorbike through Morocco probably isnt a wise thing to do either and I\u2019m loving it, so what the heck!<\/p>\n
Pete<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
As Mark is not really able to type at the moment I\u2019ll continue with the story. Firstly and most importantly, Mark is definitely on the mend. He is in good spirits this morning and actually sat on his bike earlier. I dont think he will be riding again for a couple of days at least … Continue reading Day 2 in Erg Chebbi – Pete<\/span>