Overland to and then a tour around Morocco. Winter 2016-2017

[XCovlov70]

Some desolate looking country side you passed through on this section.

Very much so, while Mobile Phone Signal was 'patchy' at times, and not seeing many vehicles and even less people, it would have been one heck of a walk if you had any 'problems'!

BUT I guess someone would have said........
'Get on Yer Bike' and fingers crossed for no punctures as we rode along!

[XCovlov70]

Overland to Morocco.
Winter 2016-2017

Stage 15C – A few pictures from in and around Ouarzazate

The Camping Municipal site!,,,,,,



As we set off on a walk to the Supermarket to get some groceries we could see this ‘white backdrop’ in the distance!…..



So I zoomed in a little bit and nearly dropped the camera as we have never seen the Atlas Mountains with so much snow on in the time we have been coming here!……



This house with the strange roof is taking shape albeit slowly……



Looking over some of the rooftops……



While it looks like this family like collecting plastic bottles on theirs......





Nice building but seems to be unoccupied……



Army accommodation……



One section/block……



While this is all of them, as there is a large army contingent in this town……





Congress Hall…….



As we got to the far end of town this was the view that met us!……



After the bricks are built, then the rendering is applied by hand BUT don’t get to close as you could end up getting ‘rendered’ as well the way it is thrown onto the wall!......



Nice little town park……



Nice design on this front door......



As we then head into……







Then back at the campsite we take off in the opposite direction and find this business making tiles in the car’s garage!……



His ‘stock’ is across the road and is perfectly safe……



These steps are one way up to a Hotel Entrance, but they don’t tell you to bring a small lightweight suitcase!……



While a hundred yards further along the road is this……



Simple but effective front on this house……



The lake on the far side of the town while the water in it seems to be lower than last year……



Back we go towards the campsite along one of the streets……



As we very nearly got stuck in a ‘dead end’ with this strange shaped house ......



With the 4 tall metal chimneys this was either the Hamman or it was the Bakery of the Boulangerie……



The lady was cleaning the area around the front door and we could see really well inside, so I asked as it looked so nice if I could take a picture as we had never really seen inside before, and she said ‘Yes’!......



While a bit further along this door was shut but it still looked nice……



That’s it from here, we are back on the road tomorrow for the very short run to Skoura and Amridil Camping to spend a few days with our good Moroccan friend.

The Moroccans are also telling us that this is the coldest winter they can remember as the temperature drops to -3C tonight!
While the Atlas Mountains has reportedly had another 1meter of SNOW dumped on them as the temperature up there drops to -11C!!!
Currently the road from here to Marrakech is closed to large vehicles as they are only allowing cars to go through……

Good night!

[XCovlov70]

Overland to Morocco.
Winter 2016-2017

Stage 16 – The very short trip from Ouarzazate to Skoura

While it was -?C outside last night, when we got up and looked at the thermometer INSIDE the ‘TinTent’ this morning is was -2C in here!
It is no wonder the Moroccan people over here are telling us that it is the coldest winter they can remember……

When I went outside to start getting ‘Flamenco Red’ ready for the next stage this is what I found when I looked at the windscreen from inside which I think are the raindrops that came down yesterday afternoon for about 30 seconds!……



As we then got back on the road and went around this ‘traffic island’ (The computer voice in the TomTom keeps calling them ‘Rotaries’!) there was this sculpture in the middle …..



The open road on a FREEZING morning and the white capped mountains in the distance……



Up in ‘Them thar hills’ it was we understand down to -11C last night while the road over to Marrakech is closed to all but small cars as the passage that has been cut out in the snow is not very wide…..





It might be freezing outside, but it didn’t stop these lads from having their Sunday Football Match!……



Call in for a ‘Fill Up’ and it took 5 attempts to get the fuel pump running to fill the tank on ‘Flamenco Red’, The cold weather was affecting the electrics in the garage!......







Roadside stall selling various baskets made from palm tree leaves……





As we then arrived at Camping Amridil having got set up and the temperature had risen a few degrees I got up on the roof of reception to get some closer pictures……







Off to the Souk in Skoura tomorrow to try and get some items we need……

Good night!

[ssicarman]

Your mountains almost have as much snow as ours do.

[XCovlov70]

Your mountains almost have as much snow as ours do.

That's nice!
But I'm glad we don't have your much lower temperatures even though we have both the Gas & Electric Heaters running this morning!

The inside of the 'TinTent' was down to -5C (23F) at 07:00hrs this morning, and as my nose was the only part of me outside the covers it was rather 'fragile' with the cold before I got the heating on!

This is very exceptionally cold weather for over here though!

[XCovlov70]

Overland to Morocco.
Winter 2016-2017

Stage 16A Camping Amridil, Skoura

While the nights have been very cold with temperatures down to -5C we are enjoying our ‘lazy’ time here with our Moroccan friend in Camping Amridil!……

Three days ago there was a significant snow fall in the Atlas Mountains resulting in a covering that the people here had never seen before….

Having taken pictures of the Snow on the Mountains as we came from Ouarzazate to Skoura, I thought it would be interesting to try and see if there was a difference in the amount of snow that was still visible after 3 days as the temperature rose each day by a few degrees.

While I didn’t quite manage to get in the same position to take the second set of pictures 3 days later I think you can still see the difference……

22/01/2017……


25/01/2017…..


22/01/2017……


25/01/2017……


22/01/2017……


25/01/2017……


Then this evening we were treated to a rather nice Sunset as there are not that many in this neck of the woods!......







Tomorrow we are hopefully going over to see a small village that is in an Oasis with we understand some rather nice scenery along the way while the route is over 23miles of ‘Piste’ but at least the ‘TinTent’ is staying behind on the campsite! ……

Good night!

[XCovlov70]

Overland to Morocco.
Winter 2016-2017

Stage 16B Over the ‘Piste’ to Bou Skour

OK, so off we go to a place called Bou Skour to visit one of only 2 Gold Mines here in Morocco, and the road to get there is all ‘Piste’……

The ‘Piste’ commences directly as you make a right turn from the main road going through Skoura as we then pass the new Skoura Souk that is being built and will be ready next year as the current Souk is too small……



As the piste rolls off in the distance……



The first little Oasis but not the one we are going to……



Then a little bit further along we come to this rather nice area……



As we cross the bridge……



The scenery either side is really very nice……





While just around the bend in the river is this small village……



Outside this house in the village as we go through is this Belarus Tractor that looks quite new……



Someone’s old deserted house, set back as the new houses have been built in front……



Another small village a bit further on with new houses……



While on the outside of this village are areas of land that are cultivated……



Back on the open piste, while the ‘washboard’ effect on the piste cause vibrations in ‘Flamenco Red’ that are significant so you have to slow right down!.......



Nice to know we are on the right track!......



We ended up pulling over as 3 very large Trucks (40 Tonners) went past causing the large dust storm as they did while the wheels on the trailers were wobbling up and down a bit like jelly on a plate!......







Then 2 more Trucks went past, with more dust blowing all over the place!,,,,,,







As we then came to a large area with the Trucks in while the small yellow CAT was filling them with the grey coloured rock, which was from the Mine……



Not much further on and as we get around a bend we see part of the Mine in the valley below……



So off we go on the piste around the side of the hill to get there……



As the large Grey mass comes into view……





It looks a bit like ‘slurry’ from part of the Mine Operations, as it completely covers one part of the hillside and comes very close to the areas of land that are used for growing things as a small river runs between the two……



As we travel along the track, the ‘slurry’ is on the left side behind the trees in the next picture……





Part of the village of Bou Skour……



As the ‘slurry’ hill gets bigger!......



We pass the Mine entrance which was guarded so kept the camera down and carried on to a small shop where we bought some Bread (Moroccan Hobs), a couple of tins of Tuna in Tomato Sauce, small bottles of Orange Juice and a couple of packets of cream biscuits. Total cost was under £3 ($4.50), then carried on a bit further up the ‘piste’ to look for somewhere to stop for a ‘picnic’!……



As we pulled over in a nice large area, broke the bread which was very fresh in half and then opened up each half to put the Tuna in Tomato sauce inside to make a sandwich, this herd of Goats came walking across the face of the hill……



They were really showing us how surefooted they are climbing up and going across the face very high up……







As they moved off, we finished a rather nice ‘picnic’……



Then set off a little bit further along the ‘piste’……



Coming into view of the Pithead, with 3 small rail wagons on their tracks just in the centre of the next picture ……



The small rail wagons are loaded into the cage and lowered down the mine shaft to be filled with the ore and then brought back up to the surface, then go off along the track from the Pithead ……



As we had reached the end of the ‘piste’ for us we turned around and started to make our way back as we spotted what looked like an ‘Open Cast’ part of the Mine?……



OK, so being inquisitive I had to go and have a look……



WOW! It is a very BIG Hole but I don’t think it is an Open Cast section……





‘Flamenco Red’ looking a little ‘grubby’ with all the dust flying around……





The view as we went back with the grey ‘slurry’ clearly visible……



Up in front is the accommodation for the Miners……





Back to the ‘slurry’ hill while the Mine main entrance is on the right of the next picture, just around the corner……



It looked like this was some kind of ore washing facility or gold panning shed……



As just outside were a lot of wooden trays with slots in that seemed to be drying out, while the Mine entrance is just on the left hand side of the small tower……



Trying to put some perspective on the height of the ‘slurry’ hill……



As we travel back to Skoura we see this man on a platform on the river bed with a diesel engine that was ‘Chugging’ away as it was connected to a water pump that was extracting water from a bore hole in the river bed……



The town of Skoura in the distance with the Atlas Mountains as a backdrop……



As we got back to the campsite this was the view as I went to open the back of ‘Flamenco Red’
So someone is having a good wash tomorrow!……



At the end of a very interesting trip with some very nice scenery it’s time to say……

Good night!

[XCovlov70]

Overland to Morocco.
Winter 2016-2017

Stage 16C A clean up, lunch and a nice Sunset

Well from our trip yesterday it was definitely time to give ‘Flamenco Red’ a good wash and clean up, so after 1.5 hours the results were quite good and I did not use the laundry on the line to dry off the paintwork!......



Then at lunch time we had this very nice Chicken Cous-Cous cooked by the lady of the campsite in her new kitchen which is part of the new restaurant, and it was truly delicious……



After consuming that, it was time for a nice rest and to let lunch settle down, which we did as the wind outside the ‘TinTent’ started to rise in terms of gusts and speed.
We understand that the North of Morocco is seeing significant amounts of rain, while some more snow is dropping on the Atlas Mountains!……

Then the Sunset started to roll in……







In just a few minutes the colours change as the Sun sinks lower on the horizon which you hopefully can see between the next two pictures……







So as it’s quite dark outside, it’s time once again to say……

Good night!

[XCovlov70]

Overland to Morocco.
Winter 2016-2017

Stage 16D Skoura. Sunrise 07:00hrs on 28-01-2017!

While the title says it all here are the results, Enjoy! I did......













Time now for breakfast and another coffee!

Good Morning!

[XCovlov70]

Overland to Morocco.
Winter 2016-2017

Stage 17 – Skoura to Tabesbast

I think the saying is ‘Tempus Fugit’ while our week’s stay here in Camping Amridil certainly seems to have passed very quickly!

So we had to say a fond ‘Bislema’ (Goodbye) to Karim and his family while we hope to return next year ‘Inchallah’! ……

With a few final pictures of the campsite……

The new swimming pool, evening social area and restaurant building……



The Pool and Room Accommodation…..



Inside the new Restaurant which provides very nice Tajines & Couscous as well as other Moroccan dishes……



With our final Sunset over the Atlas Mountains……



As we then heard this lone motorcycle arrive but could not make out which country it had come from……



Then as I got closer I could see it was from Quebec in Canada!……



Then the following morning, it was back on the road for us and the trip to Tabesbast and Camping Tizmoutine which is a campsite we have not stayed at before…..











As we pass through the ‘Gates’ of one area to another in the country……



Someone had been up early and cutting down the bamboo, then leaving it at the side of the road tied up in bundles……



As we then pass this small shop selling different items made in the bamboo……



Seeing the mainly deserted old houses while the new ones had been built in front or behind……













As we come into the first large town of Kelaat M’gouna……



A long time ago the town had a prison which was seemingly notorious for torturing its prisoners, now the town specialises in all kinds of Rose Petal products, as depicted by this statue in the middle of a traffic island, while the former prison has been closed down and is now a ruin……





Then at the other end of town is another Rose Petal statue on another traffic island……











As we stopped in a service station for a coffee we saw this ‘MONSTER’ parked up on the opposite side of the road, that was that wide it looked as though it would take up both lanes of the N10 road!
The café owner told us that they had a very large group of Moroccans in a couple of night ago to watch the football between Morocco and Egypt and one of the crowd asked if that was the new coffee machine waiting to be installed as the machine they have could not keep up with the coffee orders!





As we then pass into another area……



The people in the next picture were not ‘Backpackers’ on a hike, but ladies carrying once again HUGE bundles of firewood after collecting it up……



The riverbed is on the left of the road as we came down the hill……









Right the way along this section of road we see this difference and contrast in the colours of the land……



While high up on the top of a hill is what is left of the old buildings of a small village……



As we entered the town of Tinghir, we thought the ‘Overhang’ identified on this truck was rather novel! At least it was partly red!......





















Not a lot further along the road and we get to the entrance to Auberge Camping Tizmoutine, which due to the pile of rocks in the entrance we just get through…..



The go along this narrow entrance driveway…..



Passed the ‘facilities’ block of which the European toilets have no water connected, while the Moroccan toilets are in a heck of a state, and the Shower compartment is completely useless…..



As we have our own facilities we decide having found a level spot to do what we always do, stay for 1 night and drop back to using our own facilities as the disposal points for any waste generated were OK……



In fairness to the Berber owners they are doing their best to improve the campsite, but their only source of income to be able to achieve what they want is from campers who stay and pay the 70MAD/Night (£5.65) that includes a 220V Electric Hook Up.



Their ‘future home’ is the building which is just left of centre in the next picture that is not yet complete for them, although the ground floor has 3 rooms which are rentable accommodation and quite nice, while the family live in two rooms behind the palm trees on the right hand side of the picture……



We took a walk into Tabesbast a little later in the day, but more of that later as we once again received some fantastic kindness, and generosity from a complete stranger…..

Good night!