27 April 2023, Alnif
Hotel Palmiers R457 [DH240]

Today we travelled from Merzouga to be reunited with our bikes and bags in Alnif.
We walked a hot km from our hotel to the main road where we flagged down a Mercedes bus bound for Rissani. There we strolled again through the souk (see the camel innards for sale) to the side street on which the Alnif bus had dropped us, to be told the next bus was only at 6pm.
At the collective taxi rank to which we were directed next, we had no luck, except that a taxi driver confirmed what we had already been told by a passing cyclist: there was an 11am bus departing the formal gare (station). One problem: it was already 7 minutes after the hour.
We began to walk the 400m or so to the gare, not very optimistic about getting the bus, but not too stressed either, knowing that hitchhiking was always an option.
As we approached the station, an elderly ticket salesman, hovering on the sidewalk outside the glass doors, called out "Alnif?" It was then we realised that the young cyclist with whom we had engaged earlier, had cycled ahead, we assume to tell the staff that we were en route, and perhaps even to ask them to hold the bus. As it happens, the bus pulled in as we were paying for our tickets!
We have spoken often of experiencing the extraordinary kindness of strangers "on the road". It is a highlight of our cycle tours, and a mystery. It is not triggered by us, but by something inherent in many people from all walks of life in all countries, confirming our view that most people are kind, curious and generous.