January 28th and its touching a blistering 30°C, the wind is hot as the bare earth heats the air that flows above its surface. You can imagine that in only a month or two the temperatures will be a life threatening 40°C, especially if you were foolish enough not to drink enough water or not cover your head from the debilitating heat that saps away strength and stamina very quickly indeed.

Imagine, just for a moment that you are here, a little thirsty and hot and wanting to cool down. As we enter the Draa Valley there is always the promise of water from a river that started its journey high in the Atlas 1,000 km away near Imini. The lake that you can see ahead of you shimmers in the sun, the few trees reflected perfectly off its smooth surface, it looks very inviting so you head towards its promise, only to find that the distance between you and the lake stays the same, you walk a yard or two and the lake recedes a yard or two-the truth dawns on you that it is a figment of the deserts imagination, very beautiful it is, but the promise of water evaporates in front of your very eyes and you will never get to this lake.

Our cars race across the flat expanse of salt only to find that where the lake was is just dry earth with small dust devils that twirl and dance in the wind. Luckily for us we carry water so our life does not depend on natures whims.