2 hrs, 5.0 kms



Aguerd is town with a weekly market, making it a "hub" town .   Today there's no market, so things are pretty quiet. Afterwards the road veers away from the riverbed off into the open desert. It looks like the riverbed narrows into a gorge up ahead with some cool looking cliffs, which are enticing—but I decide I’d better stick to the plan, so I continue on down the road across a serene, barren landscape.

When I find a little cliff to provide me with shade, I sit down for a snack and to play my official Aguerd concert.   Suddenly an SUV drives by and stops. The guys waves to me, I wave back. But clearly he’s insistent on talking to me, so I walk over. Turns out he’s the q’aid, or responsible of this entire area and is a little concerned seeing a white guy all by himself in the middle of the desert. I explain that, yes, I’m walking to Toundout just to enjoy the scenery and, no, I don’t need a ride. He’s a helpful fellow and mentions that there are some caves down the gorge that are interesting—although I might need a guide to see them. He gives me his number and tells me if I need anything to call…