From the rural countryside to the mountain people

17th: Went for a run in the park outside the Kenz hotel. People looked a bit weird at me, but at the hotel I exclaimed that Algeria had many famous runners, and all was well. The park was for kids; but clearly once a French place for meeting and light entertainment, now pretty run down.The cold shower afterwards did not reflect the 3 start status of the hotel; but otherwise the best we have seen for some time.

I needed a new bulb for my headlight; and at a petrol  station a proud Motorway copper on a Beemer pointed us in the right direction. Then, after the customary checkpoints, we got going.

Headed West from Setif avoiding the main highway.
This is an impressive engineering job, but not much fun on the bike.

Slowly the country is changing from agricultural to more mountainous. Less waving and attention too. Almost indifferent.
Had the usual Shorba and chicken meal after noon and on we went into the mountains.

Serious stuff here. Narrow roads, deep ravines; no guards, washed out roads, deep ruts everywhere, heavy duty.
Saw very large bolders on the road - meters cube- and we went nice and slow. Especially the ravines were intimidating. On  occcaision you would see q person just walking up or down and certainly they were not concerned if their software shipments were arriving on time.
The tarmac was molten in some places making it even more tricky.

But all is well, and we are getting close to the capital now. People are business like here; still friendly but certainly different. French signs everywhere also, so they still have this love hate relationship I guess.


Cow doing mountain climbing*

Tizi Ouzou and ran into another checkpoint.
Andre was asked for his papers but this chap asked me to open all my luggage. Not good by the side of the road.
Fortunately, I overheard Andre ask directions for the hotel and it was the other way, so I told him technically we did not have to pass the checkpoint, so he did not need to check my luggage.
Makes sense right?
Anyway, I guess he did not see a high risk, so after the apologies for stopping us; we turned and found our way to a Hotel.