17 March 2023, Souira Kedima, 30.81km
L’Arganier Solitaire R629.05 [DH350]

Our very pretty pre-booked room in Souira Kedima, the colour of spices in market stalls (see photo from El Jadida market below), sports a balcony overlooking the mosque (brief recording below) and a view of the town and ocean, but no hot water.
Our first 12km of just over 30 were a pleasure. They were largely flat, except for a blip over a railway bridge. Between our hotel and the industrial area, we cycled a purpose-built cycle path. Then through factories, productive and belching smoke. We chatted briefly to a security guard involved in the phosphate industry. According to ChatGPT: "Morocco is one of the world's largest producers and exporters of phosphate. Phosphate is a mineral that is used primarily as a fertilizer in agriculture. Morocco's phosphate reserves are estimated to be around 50 billion tons, which represents more than 70% of the world's known reserves."
Then someone placed a mountain in our path. OK, OK, a sizeable hill. But our day was pleasant and we have had time to rest before two 40-plus km days to Essaouiara.
Friday is couscous day in Morocco. We did not eat much during the day and find ourselves ravenous at an earlier hour than the Moroccans eat dinner. We managed nonetheless to track down a traditional couscous, veg and chicken dish, leftover from lunch, at a small streetside café, beside the vendor's modest home. We told them the dish was too big for us. They countered with "it is cheap and you can give the rest away"!