We found Lars & Inge outside a surprisingly large supermarket near Guelmim. Obviously, we all went shopping after which, fully restocked, we set off into the desert again. We were aiming for the town of Tan Tan on the coast. We could have taken the main road but we didn’t and before long were bouncing along tracks again.
Along the way, we discovered some prickly pear farms. Prickly pears we introduced to Morocco from Mexico in 1770 and are now widespread. They are truly evil plants being covered in tiny sharp prickles that break off in your skin and irritate for days. A line of prickly pear plants makes a very effective fence and deterrent. Nevertheless, prickly pears are also a super food. They taste great and they are very good for you. Extreme care and thick gloves are needed for preparation. You need to carefully shave all the spikes off. Then they are good to eat.
From a farming perspective, their real value is in the seeds. The prickly pear is used to create pharmaceutical products and remedies. The oil derived from its seeds helps with high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and cancer. It is antiviral, antibacterial, antioxidant, eases ulcers and reduces cholesterol and obesity. One tonne of pears are required to make just one litre of oil. So it is pretty expensive stuff.
Prickly pear farm 
No idea what this is 
The Vikings are coming 
Gateway to the Sahara
Our arrival at Tan Tan was marked by two immense camels on a roundabout. Shortly after that, we arrived at the beach where the Vikings got very excited. They ran into the sea and then ran out again even faster having discovered how cold the water was. Despite being a long way south and at the edge of the desert the Atlantic Ocean is still really cold here.