Next day we arrived at Bir Anzarane. This is mostly a road junction with a filling station. We could fill up with diesel and water. This was very handy. We carry a lot of diesel and water but it is always reassuring when we can fill up again. It also meant we could wash a few clothes. That evening we parked up by a very, very spikey tree. With care, I set up a washing line and a new record was set. A full sized, heavy towel dried in 20 minutes.
More Dakar mounts 
Bir Anzarane 
We followed the road to Aoussard without incident. At the police checkpoint, we asked about going further and were told we could drive all the way to Tichla. However, 40km further on, at a military checkpoint, the situation was very different. In fact, they were somewhat incredulous about our presence there at all. Once again we were turned around and escorted. This time back to Aoussard.
Next stop was Dakhlar to catch up with the modern successor to the Paris-Dakar race. We arrived at the junction with the main coast road, about 250km from Aoussard, and were accosted by a young police officer. He was indignant that we had been on the road to Aoussard at all. “It is not a road for tourists!” We thought it best not to explain that we just back from a 10 day trip.
Big desert 
Big sky