Rain, thunderstorms, hail, muddy pistes, and headwinds. Rich takes on Morocco’s wild side and finishes 969 km of the first Mines & Dunes!
The first edition of Mines & Dunes turned out to be quite different from what we had expected. Morocco had received more rain over the summer than in previous years, and from day two onward, the riders had to deal with some seriously challenging weather.
What followed was a real adventure, with flooded roads, difficult pistes, strong headwinds, and decisions that could make or break the journey.
1,150 km Was the Plan
Riders could choose between two routes: 969 km or 1,150 km. Rich had his sights set on the longer route.
Things were looking promising until Wednesday evening, when a message arrived from Rich. He was just 50 km away from the Ahouli Mines checkpoint when one of the biggest storms of his life hit.
Here’s what he wrote:
I just got hit by one of the biggest storms of my life. Big lightning, hail, gale-force winds. Flooded roads. Fortunately I found a shelter. There is still big weather all around me and I think it would be foolish to take the junction and head off-road, especially at night. I’ve found a derelict building with the roof still intact, just before dark. Again, it would be foolish to ride past it. Tomorrow is another day! Cheers, Rich
Sometimes, the smartest move is to stop, find shelter, and wait for the right moment to continue. Out there, good judgment is every bit as important as endurance.
Peanut Butter on the Pistes!
The storm was only part of the challenge. The heavy rain had turned sections of the pistes into thick, sticky mud – the kind of peanut butter that clings to everything and makes riding hard work.
Add strong headwinds to the mix, and progress became painfully slow.
Then, on Thursday afternoon, more heavy rain made another route change necessary. A detour on the paved road from Missour to Boumerieme was required.
With the conditions taking their toll and Friday evening approaching, completing the full 1,150 km route in time was no longer realistic for Rich. He adapted his plan and continued on the 969 km route.
It was still a huge ride, and the adventure was far from over.
Friday, 18:43 – Finish!
On Friday evening at exactly 18:43, Rich rolled into the desert camp at Chez François Rekkam Boudnib. 6 days, 10 hours and 43 minutes.
He had made it!
After the storms, hail, flooded roads, muddy pistes, and relentless headwinds, Rich completed the 969 km route and reached the finish.
Jonas had arrived a few hours earlier and was there to welcome him at the camp. Jonas hadn’t ridden the full route, making Rich the only rider to complete his chosen route all the way to the finish.
What a way to arrive!
“I Loved It!”
The first Mines & Dunes was a reminder that adventure rarely goes exactly according to plan. Sometimes the weather decides the pace, the pistes have other ideas, and the original goal has to change.
Rich had set out to ride 1,150 km. The conditions forced him to rethink that plan, but they didn’t stop him from completing 969 km and reaching the finish line.
And when asked about the experience, his response was beautifully simple:
“I loved it!”
Congratulations, Rich, on finishing the first Mines & Dunes!
969 km of adventure, some seriously wild weather, and memories that will last a lifetime.
What a ride. What an adventure!
At Mines & Dunes, the distance is only part of the story. The real adventure is everything that happens along the way.
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