Hello Ouarzazate Morocco

Today I left Marrakech at 11.30am and shared a private bus ride with some fellow Aussie Marathon des Sables competitors in Markus, Uri, Stephen and Becky. While a six hour journey across Morocco may seem a little long with the scenery before us this soon went quite quickly. It was really amazing seeing the wider Moroccan landscape where along the way the locals were selling unique artifacts to the area including some little children that were seemingly looking to sell something that looked like herbs or grass ... There were areas rich in minerals and sweeping roads that were at times quite dangerous with large buses speeding through and often not taking any notice of where the middle of the road may have been. We made a stop along the way for a authentic Moroccan vegetarian meal which was not too bad at all. It is real important to stay healthy at the moment being so close to the start line! As we fianlly approached Ouarzazte it was a little like a scene out of the movie "Total Recall" or perhaps like seeing scenery from Mars. The richness of the desert was clearly calling and I must admit to feeling some butterflys in the stomach. The only similar feeling I can relate this to would be going away on rugby tour for a massive game with the Marathon des Sables set to be my personal Grand Final now only a matter of days away ...