7th April - 23rd April
Spot Adventures link;
http://www.findmespot.com/spotadventures/index.php/view_adventure?tripid=321461
Some video clips;
Tizi n Tichka Pass; http://youtu.be/eMcyOZSILdY
Todra Gorge; http://youtu.be/OBvFc-w1vDA
Dirt track to Dades Gorge; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iNqpNid8GZE
Erg Chebbi; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjmy6hmu924
Sunday 7th;
Up early, far too excited, finalised packing, picked up my mate and on our way. Tied up with the “Bushpigs” and met Steve and Andrea at the port, arrived in plenty of time and checked-in.
Ferry sailed on time and we’re off. A lovely afternoon, slurping wine, chatting and catching up.
Monday 8th;
Awoke, a lovely breakfast, a relatively calm crossing and docked on time. Drove down through Spain with no problems and arrived at Caceres Campsite still in daylight a little tried. A lovely Bushpig Braai in the evening along with great company.
Tuesday 9th;
A long day ahead, plenty of driving, through the rest of Spain, got tickets, met the famous Carlos, got to port with 30mins to spare and with the help of Carlos got on the 14:00hr ferry which sailed at 15:30.
Thankfully with help from Carlos at the dock and Morocco (always stays on GMT) 2hrs behind Spain, we made our campsite at Moulay Bousselham at a good time, early evening, and although cloudy, it was warm, a nice campsite, friendly, good amenities.
Weds 10th;
A nice relatively lazy day, drive on toll roads to Marrakech, shop at a Majane supermarket, re-fueled, and pitched tents at Relais de Marrakech in glorious sunshine. A lovely evening with a good bbq, great company and a glass or two.
Thurs 11th;
Up early, packed-up, into town to get the front wheels balanced and back to camp to meet the others, 30 mins later we’re off only Grunt didn’t want to start, lights work, no noise at all when starting, checked a few things. After some deliberation narrowed it down to a wiring fault. Bummer!
Phoned for an auto Electrican, someone came along and after a while someone took us to an Auto Electrican, who was excellent and worked with the minimal of tools/equipment and got grunt sorted.
It was decided it was too late to move by the time we got back 14:00hrs, so just enjoyed a swim in the hot weather, and an excellent afternoon by the pool and a lovely evening in Marrakech.
Fri 12th;
After a lovely evening around the BBQ, I awoke early, a mug of tea, showered, another mug of tea and off into the morning traffic through Marrakech, which was an experience!
A lovely drive all the way out to the Tizi-n-Tichka pass, the highest sealed road in Morocco, topping out at 2270m, stopped for a drink and a quick shop at the top and all the down into Ouarzazate, but not before stopping at Ait Benaddhou, which I've been to before but not inside, we went inside it, which was ok.
The camping at Ouarzazate was a nice enough site, cooked some food on the BBQ we’d brought earlier and enjoyed another lovely relaxing evening with good food, wine and good company, meet a lovely German couple who travelled with us for a few days, it was good meeting other travellers.
Sat 13th;
Up early as usual, although not many miles today, it was nice to start early to avoid the afternoon heat. And so it was all the way to the Todra Gorge and Camping Le Soleil, which is an excellent campsite, met an english couple in an Landrover Ibex, a fabulous machine.
A bit of shopping on the way, before getting pulled over for speeding, fortunately I was going that much over the limit and the police were friendly, I was let off. Followed by a lovely afternoon, catching up online, washing clothes, swimming etc and generally relaxing.
Sun 14th;
Up early for what was going a grand day, an 8hr stunning driving day, from our campsite Le Soleil in the Todra Gorge, all the way up the Todra Gorge, which is stunning because of the high sides and the river that runs through it. Arrived in Agoudal after a glorious drive, before turning down the dirt track to Dades Gorge, after a few hours bouncing around through mud and dirt up and down mountains all in gloriously sunny weather, we entered the gorge, a fantastic drive.
Back through Boumalne Dades at the bottom of the gorge and on to Tinghir and the campsite just north, a lovely day out, a great drive with great company. Got back and just relaxed the rest of the day.
Mon 15th;
A lazy start today to our campsite in Merzouga, Camping Sahara, where we stayed last time. A short drive maybe but a diversion up to and around the famous desert Sculptures, which were outstanding, and after seeing pictures and reading about them on the forums;
http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=107148
many thanks to Chris Scott and Tim Cullis from the HUBB forum for his help, I was really pleased to make them, though it was a good 2hr drive on sand and dirt, which was fun.
After a bit of shopping, got to the campsite late afternoon, gone are most of the dirt tracks, sealed roads and even an Afriquia fuel station just on the crossroads before the turning to the campsite, but still stunning scenery.
A good welcome and tea, pitched tents, showered, a swim and just relaxing in the sun.
Tues 16th;
A day’s rest is in order, just shower, swim, catch up on the internet and sit in the sun, though it was about 35C, so not too long. Followed by a lovely meal of Turkey, traditional Moroccan salad and, err chips and local coffee cake, the whole meal was lovely, served hot and fresh inside the Kasbar of Camping Sahara. Can't recommend highly enough this place, small enough to cope and care, yet in a prime location, but it's Mohammed and his staff that make it, and the new toilet and showers leave others to shame, including our campsite in Fez.
Weds 17th;
Up early as normal, and left the desert and our campsite, Camping Sahara and Merzouga for the long trip North to Azrou. We made good time, weaving our way over the Atlas mountains and into the cedar forests around Azrou, I really like this whole area, it’s one of Morocco’s hidden secrets. Sadly instead of spending a bit of time in the forests along with seeing the apes that live there and the Swiss alpine like village Ifrane, just outside Azrou and the winter ski area, some wanted to push on to Fez to shop.
Having been there I wasn’t that interested, but part of travelling in a group, you have make an effort to join in. One of the reasons I prefer to travel by myself, probably explains why I'm single! LOL! Got to camp late afternoon, tired, pitched tents and relaxed.
Thurs 18th;
A day in Fez’s campsite, a day in Morocco wasted sadly. But at least it’s still sunny.
Then I thought stuff it! One Life Live It! Packed away early morning, and set off for the mountains and dirt tracks.
And very glad I did, while the others enjoyed Fez, I spent hour after hour up and down dirt tracks, pass lakes, mountains, forests, shepherd’s lodgings, streams and fords. An excellent enjoyable day and on the way back spent some time in Ifrane, an Alp-like town, near the Moroccan winter ski area, some very nice houses here, I love this whole area. Part of why I like Morocco so much, it’s so varied.
After a good few hours, arrived back in camp mid-afternoon, and just relaxed. Unfortunately the campsite Diamant Vert has appeared to go worst in the 2yrs since I was last there, still no water in the pool, the showers in the new shower/toilet block only partly worked, i.e. no hot water and we awoke to the cesspit overflowing.
Fri 19th;
Up early, packed away, stocked up on food and fuel and headed towards the Roman ruins at Volubilis, nice, historic and although we didn’t wander around the small site, we had a good view, took a few pics and headed off to Chefchaouen.
Arrived in Chefchaouen mid-afternoon, pitched tents and off into town and the blue souk, a lovely walk around this lovely place, I really like Chefchaouen, even better is the lack of tourists and tourist prices, we all got some really good bargins.
Taxi back to camp, started the BBQ and enjoyed a lovely meal in the evening sunshine with a glass or two, another great day!
Sat 20th;
Up very early for the ferry, we hoped to get the early ferry, we hoped to get through customs quickly, we needed to because Spain is 2hrs ahead and we would struggle to make our last night in Santander.
We got to the port at 09:15, hopeful we’d make the 10:00 ferry, we got boarding cards, passports stamped, through customs and got vehicles x-rayed, through another customs check, down to the dock, only to be told we’re too late. But with a bit of Inshallah and patience, the Moroccan port staff were brilliant and allowed us on. So from start to finish we were on the ferry 35mins from entering the port.
A fantastic end to a fantastic trip! I hope to be back sometime.
We made blistering time up through Spain and got to Caceres campsite at about 18:30, a really good drive, grunt drove faultlessly, amazed she drove so fast for so long, 5hrs and a bit non-stop cruising at about 60-65mph for a box shaped 3ton 17yr old vehicle, that is good going! Really pleased, love driving her.
A bit of food shopping, made camp, pitched tents in record time, lit BBQ and relaxed totally.
Sun 21st;
Up early for the last push through Spain, an easy trip on great Spanish roads, some 6hrs later we rolled into Santander, heading for the port, whoops my mistake, re-load another waypoint, this time to the campsite Virgen del Mar about 15mins from the port, and got there mid-afternoon in warmish sunshine.
Pitched tents and relaxed, before a lovely wander down to the Bambara Tavern (highly recommend this place) about 300mtrs away and after a good meal and a couple of large G & T’s, we wandered around the beach before heading back to the tavern for a good few hrs, drinking even more large G & T’s before wandering back to camp. An excellent night.
Mon 22nd;
No rush today. Ferry at 15:15, head to port at about 12:00 and have a bit of breakfast and a wander around Santander.
And we did, boarded the ferry and sailed.
Tues 23rd;
Almost slept well, awoke early, had breakfast and just killed time until we docked at about 14:20, through passport control/customs, dropped my mate off, home and unpacked by 16:00hrs.
Another good day to a good trip, saw new places I wanted to see and enjoyed Morocco again, it's a great country!
3,280mls approx
Spot Adventures link;
http://www.findmespot.com/spotadventures/index.php/view_adventure?tripid=321461
Some video clips;
Tizi n Tichka Pass; http://youtu.be/eMcyOZSILdY
Todra Gorge; http://youtu.be/OBvFc-w1vDA
Dirt track to Dades Gorge; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iNqpNid8GZE
Erg Chebbi; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjmy6hmu924
Sunday 7th;
Up early, far too excited, finalised packing, picked up my mate and on our way. Tied up with the “Bushpigs” and met Steve and Andrea at the port, arrived in plenty of time and checked-in.
Ferry sailed on time and we’re off. A lovely afternoon, slurping wine, chatting and catching up.
Monday 8th;
Awoke, a lovely breakfast, a relatively calm crossing and docked on time. Drove down through Spain with no problems and arrived at Caceres Campsite still in daylight a little tried. A lovely Bushpig Braai in the evening along with great company.
Tuesday 9th;
A long day ahead, plenty of driving, through the rest of Spain, got tickets, met the famous Carlos, got to port with 30mins to spare and with the help of Carlos got on the 14:00hr ferry which sailed at 15:30.
Thankfully with help from Carlos at the dock and Morocco (always stays on GMT) 2hrs behind Spain, we made our campsite at Moulay Bousselham at a good time, early evening, and although cloudy, it was warm, a nice campsite, friendly, good amenities.
Weds 10th;
A nice relatively lazy day, drive on toll roads to Marrakech, shop at a Majane supermarket, re-fueled, and pitched tents at Relais de Marrakech in glorious sunshine. A lovely evening with a good bbq, great company and a glass or two.
Thurs 11th;
Up early, packed-up, into town to get the front wheels balanced and back to camp to meet the others, 30 mins later we’re off only Grunt didn’t want to start, lights work, no noise at all when starting, checked a few things. After some deliberation narrowed it down to a wiring fault. Bummer!
Phoned for an auto Electrican, someone came along and after a while someone took us to an Auto Electrican, who was excellent and worked with the minimal of tools/equipment and got grunt sorted.
It was decided it was too late to move by the time we got back 14:00hrs, so just enjoyed a swim in the hot weather, and an excellent afternoon by the pool and a lovely evening in Marrakech.
Fri 12th;
After a lovely evening around the BBQ, I awoke early, a mug of tea, showered, another mug of tea and off into the morning traffic through Marrakech, which was an experience!
A lovely drive all the way out to the Tizi-n-Tichka pass, the highest sealed road in Morocco, topping out at 2270m, stopped for a drink and a quick shop at the top and all the down into Ouarzazate, but not before stopping at Ait Benaddhou, which I've been to before but not inside, we went inside it, which was ok.
The camping at Ouarzazate was a nice enough site, cooked some food on the BBQ we’d brought earlier and enjoyed another lovely relaxing evening with good food, wine and good company, meet a lovely German couple who travelled with us for a few days, it was good meeting other travellers.
Sat 13th;
Up early as usual, although not many miles today, it was nice to start early to avoid the afternoon heat. And so it was all the way to the Todra Gorge and Camping Le Soleil, which is an excellent campsite, met an english couple in an Landrover Ibex, a fabulous machine.
A bit of shopping on the way, before getting pulled over for speeding, fortunately I was going that much over the limit and the police were friendly, I was let off. Followed by a lovely afternoon, catching up online, washing clothes, swimming etc and generally relaxing.
Sun 14th;
Up early for what was going a grand day, an 8hr stunning driving day, from our campsite Le Soleil in the Todra Gorge, all the way up the Todra Gorge, which is stunning because of the high sides and the river that runs through it. Arrived in Agoudal after a glorious drive, before turning down the dirt track to Dades Gorge, after a few hours bouncing around through mud and dirt up and down mountains all in gloriously sunny weather, we entered the gorge, a fantastic drive.
Back through Boumalne Dades at the bottom of the gorge and on to Tinghir and the campsite just north, a lovely day out, a great drive with great company. Got back and just relaxed the rest of the day.
Mon 15th;
A lazy start today to our campsite in Merzouga, Camping Sahara, where we stayed last time. A short drive maybe but a diversion up to and around the famous desert Sculptures, which were outstanding, and after seeing pictures and reading about them on the forums;
http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=107148
many thanks to Chris Scott and Tim Cullis from the HUBB forum for his help, I was really pleased to make them, though it was a good 2hr drive on sand and dirt, which was fun.
After a bit of shopping, got to the campsite late afternoon, gone are most of the dirt tracks, sealed roads and even an Afriquia fuel station just on the crossroads before the turning to the campsite, but still stunning scenery.
A good welcome and tea, pitched tents, showered, a swim and just relaxing in the sun.
Tues 16th;
A day’s rest is in order, just shower, swim, catch up on the internet and sit in the sun, though it was about 35C, so not too long. Followed by a lovely meal of Turkey, traditional Moroccan salad and, err chips and local coffee cake, the whole meal was lovely, served hot and fresh inside the Kasbar of Camping Sahara. Can't recommend highly enough this place, small enough to cope and care, yet in a prime location, but it's Mohammed and his staff that make it, and the new toilet and showers leave others to shame, including our campsite in Fez.
Weds 17th;
Up early as normal, and left the desert and our campsite, Camping Sahara and Merzouga for the long trip North to Azrou. We made good time, weaving our way over the Atlas mountains and into the cedar forests around Azrou, I really like this whole area, it’s one of Morocco’s hidden secrets. Sadly instead of spending a bit of time in the forests along with seeing the apes that live there and the Swiss alpine like village Ifrane, just outside Azrou and the winter ski area, some wanted to push on to Fez to shop.
Having been there I wasn’t that interested, but part of travelling in a group, you have make an effort to join in. One of the reasons I prefer to travel by myself, probably explains why I'm single! LOL! Got to camp late afternoon, tired, pitched tents and relaxed.
Thurs 18th;
A day in Fez’s campsite, a day in Morocco wasted sadly. But at least it’s still sunny.
Then I thought stuff it! One Life Live It! Packed away early morning, and set off for the mountains and dirt tracks.
And very glad I did, while the others enjoyed Fez, I spent hour after hour up and down dirt tracks, pass lakes, mountains, forests, shepherd’s lodgings, streams and fords. An excellent enjoyable day and on the way back spent some time in Ifrane, an Alp-like town, near the Moroccan winter ski area, some very nice houses here, I love this whole area. Part of why I like Morocco so much, it’s so varied.
After a good few hours, arrived back in camp mid-afternoon, and just relaxed. Unfortunately the campsite Diamant Vert has appeared to go worst in the 2yrs since I was last there, still no water in the pool, the showers in the new shower/toilet block only partly worked, i.e. no hot water and we awoke to the cesspit overflowing.
Fri 19th;
Up early, packed away, stocked up on food and fuel and headed towards the Roman ruins at Volubilis, nice, historic and although we didn’t wander around the small site, we had a good view, took a few pics and headed off to Chefchaouen.
Arrived in Chefchaouen mid-afternoon, pitched tents and off into town and the blue souk, a lovely walk around this lovely place, I really like Chefchaouen, even better is the lack of tourists and tourist prices, we all got some really good bargins.
Taxi back to camp, started the BBQ and enjoyed a lovely meal in the evening sunshine with a glass or two, another great day!
Sat 20th;
Up very early for the ferry, we hoped to get the early ferry, we hoped to get through customs quickly, we needed to because Spain is 2hrs ahead and we would struggle to make our last night in Santander.
We got to the port at 09:15, hopeful we’d make the 10:00 ferry, we got boarding cards, passports stamped, through customs and got vehicles x-rayed, through another customs check, down to the dock, only to be told we’re too late. But with a bit of Inshallah and patience, the Moroccan port staff were brilliant and allowed us on. So from start to finish we were on the ferry 35mins from entering the port.
A fantastic end to a fantastic trip! I hope to be back sometime.
We made blistering time up through Spain and got to Caceres campsite at about 18:30, a really good drive, grunt drove faultlessly, amazed she drove so fast for so long, 5hrs and a bit non-stop cruising at about 60-65mph for a box shaped 3ton 17yr old vehicle, that is good going! Really pleased, love driving her.
A bit of food shopping, made camp, pitched tents in record time, lit BBQ and relaxed totally.
Sun 21st;
Up early for the last push through Spain, an easy trip on great Spanish roads, some 6hrs later we rolled into Santander, heading for the port, whoops my mistake, re-load another waypoint, this time to the campsite Virgen del Mar about 15mins from the port, and got there mid-afternoon in warmish sunshine.
Pitched tents and relaxed, before a lovely wander down to the Bambara Tavern (highly recommend this place) about 300mtrs away and after a good meal and a couple of large G & T’s, we wandered around the beach before heading back to the tavern for a good few hrs, drinking even more large G & T’s before wandering back to camp. An excellent night.
Mon 22nd;
No rush today. Ferry at 15:15, head to port at about 12:00 and have a bit of breakfast and a wander around Santander.
And we did, boarded the ferry and sailed.
Tues 23rd;
Almost slept well, awoke early, had breakfast and just killed time until we docked at about 14:20, through passport control/customs, dropped my mate off, home and unpacked by 16:00hrs.
Another good day to a good trip, saw new places I wanted to see and enjoyed Morocco again, it's a great country!
3,280mls approx