8 April 2023, before Telouet, 25.03km
Maison d’Hôtes Agdal R903.85 [DH500 dinner, bed and breakfast]

What a road we rode (and walked)!
When we reached the top of the pass at 2260m, I was greeted with a round of applause from the smattering of shopkeepers awaiting trade. Of the 15km we climbed, I probably walked 5km. There were around four restaurants on the way to the top, so we stopped regularly for sugar in one form or another. Then there was a 9km downhill run to our hotel.
Following advice from several people, including the shopkeepers mentioned above, we turned east off the N9 just 3km below the summit. The P1506 will take us through a more rural scene before linking back to the N9 and Ouarzazate.
When we reached the turnoff, two men stood there beckoning us. One was the "patronne" of the nearest hotel, the other his partner / worker. It is not often one is exhorted 6km before a hotel to come and stay. In fact, we wondered if one of the shopkeepers had called to say we were potential clients. As it happened, the hotel later received additional guests in the form of two young Englishmen involved in the TV trade. And a Swiss family travelling by bicycle, the three-year old twins in trailers behind their parents. Now that is tough cycling! This couple have done a lot of cycling including a five-year stint around the world which included spending a winter in Mongolia and doing Cairo to Cape Town.
Early on today a cream dog, cheerful but disheveled, decided to accompany us up the mountain and did so for over 3km. Although I was somewhat entertained by Charl's attempts to make the silly creature leave us be, he had a point. The dog ranges in front of the bike, but is given to sudden stops when smelling something noteworthy. This of course is dangerous, as is the careless running in front of cars which may need to take evasive action.
Our hotel deal offers dinner, bed and breakfast. Our delicious meal was served in a room with a gas heater. It is the first time we have been warm outside our beds in several evenings.
A very tiring day, but superb.