Morocco Overland Number III (Winter 2014-15)

[XCovlov70]

Overland to Morocco.
Winter 2014-2015

Espirit Nature Camp – Terre de Ocean

Finally back on the road today while not 100% sure that we can take the Coast Road to get to our next destination which is further South, however the alternative route which goes more inland is another 85 miles…

Just passed a Police Officer who advised us to take the road via Chichaua which is the longer way around, but as we have not been this way before then we will see what happens!

Not far along the main road after leaving the campsite and we are passed by several ‘Bikers’ all from Spain….



While next up is one of the road construction machines…..



Not sure whether this was storm damage, they are knocking it down deliberately or trying to put it back together!



Kerb stone laying….







One Intercity Bus and a large crowd of hopeful Passengers!



As we still find the after effects of the storm in some places….





What looks like a Farmers Market coming up, with a rather narrow passageway through the middle while I have to remember that I have the ‘TinTent’ on the back!…..





Progress through this part of town was not only a challenge but very slow, with cars and small trucks making ‘U’ Turns in front of us!

Notice the guy in the Yellow Coat?
He was quicker walking than we were for the next 800 yards which was roughly the distance between the next 2 pictures!





Having got through unscathed it was back into the countryside with these rather strange mounds in places by groups of houses alongside the road, we can only think that they were some form of storage bunker…..





Three Cows in the back of this truck who had ‘Hitchhiked’ a lift!….





Urban development with lots of new unoccupied houses…..





As we then pass the Spanish Bikers who had stopped for a coffee….



We then made our way to the Autoroute and Agadir which was good while the Police on the opposite side had a ‘Checkpoint’ set up and were stopping vehicles to check papers etc….

I must admit I was ‘tickled’ with the name on the sign as broken into syllables ‘Im in an t’oute’ it sounded a bit strange!



Then our ‘wonderful’ TomTom (GPS) decided it had had enough of the Autoroute even though the sign still said ‘Straight On’ for Agadir, so off we came onto the National Route, which I must admit was much more interesting…

















While the Intercity Bus had just passed us going the other way towards Marrakech these passengers had got off and had presumably by using their Mobile Phones had arranged ‘Donkey Transport’ to get their shopping home!



As we travelled further we could not help be amazed at the different contrasts and colours of the countryside….







Then as we got over the top we saw the SNOW on the Atlas Mountains in the distance….





While a bit further along you come back to reality with the rockfalls that affect the road….



While this rather large rock has been brightly painted by someone and contains all sorts of information written on it by different people!



The Autoroute…







As we came around the next bend going downhill we saw this 1 Cow in the back of this truck as the driver had no option but to go slow as the Cow moved from side to side we thought at one point that the truck was going to roll over!

I’m just very glad that the driver did not scare the ‘sxxx’ out of the Cow before we managed to overtake!



Large Dam/Reservoir which looked quite full…..



Road repairs…..



Now coming up to the outskirts of Agadir and another Police Checkpoint…..



Finally into Agadir and making our way to the Marjane for some shopping before we then head on to the campsite…



Compared to the ‘Farmers Market’ town that we passed through driving in Agadir is a real challenge, especially with the ‘TinTent’ on the back as the ‘Grand Taxi’ drivers don’t or won’t make any allowance for you, but I guess that’s life every day for them….





Shopping done, Gazole replenished and the cheapest so far at 9.46 Moroccan Dirhams a Litre and we are on the last part of this bit to the campsite….



Agadir docks with what looked like 2 large Cruise Ships in port….



Oil and Gas terminal….



Flea Market which seems to be very popular even with Europeans….





Anyone want any Local Bananas?



Taghazoute beach….





Finally on the campsite and the end of a long day after driving 189 Miles passing 5 Radar Traps but staying legal as we did, and 6 or 7 Roadside Police Checks but arriving safely with a nice Sunset…..





That’s yer lot for today cos I’m knackered!

[XCovlov70]

Overland to Morocco.
Winter 2014-2015

Terre de Ocean. Laundry first then a 'shortened' walk from the campsite….

With a bright blue sky, a stiff Northerly wind and a temperature of 20C it was time to get the laundry done, and after it was, it was dry in less than 90 minutes, while after a bit of lunch we set off on a walk from the campsite going up into the hills surrounding the campsite on a pisted road which for reasons below did not last very long….

Our little ‘patch’ as we are overlooked on the right by a 14 Tonne ‘Camper’ which we affectionately call a ‘Truck with Beds’ while this one ‘spits out’ a Smart Car which is behind ‘Flamenco Red’ from the ‘Garage’ at the back!



As we set off on our walk we climb above the campsite…..







As we then get a bit further along the pisted track we spot this Mobile Comms Mast way up above us….



While I nearly trod on this little fella which we think is a Dung Beetle….







We had maybe gone about a mile when we see the first ‘effect’ of the storm on this little used pisted road as the rubble should have gone right across, but the rain washed the middle away along with a large section of the hillside, while there is still just enough room left to drive a small vehicle across, but some of the remaining soil is very soft and moves even when you just step on it…..



Then a short distance further along we come to the second place where the hillside has gone along with a section of the pisted roadway…..



While around 800 yards further along we reach the point at which you can go no further with a vehicle as the piste has completely gone….



While just to the left of the chasm is the remains of a large pool of water from the rainstorm that took out the piste….



Had we been able to walk the complete pisted road we would have eventually got to this beach as the piste went around the hill and down to this beach,



But it was not to be as we did not feel safe even just walking across the chasm as you could feel the soil moving under your feet, so it was an about turn and head back along the road to the campsite…..

Tomorrow we are planning to get into Agadir for a look around…

[XCovlov70]

Overland to Morocco.
Winter 2014-2015

Terre de Ocean and a visit to Agadir….

Glorious blue sky morning, so after a nice hot shower and breakfast we head off from the campsite into Agadir for a ‘look see’ as we missed the chance last time we were here….

Needing a few more litres of mineral water for the ‘Human Flushing System’ so we decided to head back to the Marjane to get the bottles of water and make use of their parking then set off on foot for the walk into the city….

As we pulled into the car park we could not help notice the 3 Campers that have now been there for the last 3 days and possibly longer while the Marjane large sign says that you can park from 19:00 till 08:30 each night….



While a bit further over were these ‘Campers’ and the Yellow one is a converted Volvo, the first one we have seen in all our travels…..



Mineral water purchased so we set off on foot back into the city…..







As we get to Souk El Ahad….



As we come to one of the 11 ‘Gates’ into the Souk…..



With some rather ornately carved wooden doors at the entrance…..









While just a bit further inside is this ‘Mouse Hunter’ getting some well earned sleep after being on the ‘Night Shift’!



The Souk is very large but is set up in sections, with Vegetables in one with some household items stalls at the end, then in another section are clothes and shoes while in another area is woodwork and cabinetry….











Outside you get some idea of the size of the Souk as this in one wall and there are 3 others of the same length with some additional ‘offerings’ along the outside….



After the woodwork is made up, then comes the transport to the customer….



While this outside stall produces ‘Sugar Cane Juice’….



As we pass another of the Souk entrance gates…..



While ‘Cobblers’ are offering their repair services along another wall on the outside of the Souk….



A bit more upmarket was this Chandelier that we saw in a shop away from the Souk but I don’t think our ceiling could take the weight of it even if we managed to get it home!



Heading away from the Souk and more into the centre we pass a couple of rather strange shaped buildings and not sure what they were used for…..





As we passed by this Mosque as the Call to Prayer was being broadcast from the speakers at the top of the minaret….



While just around the corner we found a small café for some local food….
Lentils in spices and Beef with beans….
The lentils were very tasty, while the beef was rather fatty with not much meat, while the spices sadly did not add any taste to the beans, however both meals were very filling….



The ‘Grand Taxi’ rank! All of them were rather old Mercedes of various models and there must have been well over 100 of them all waiting patiently for passengers, then when full the drivers took off like a rocket…..



While just a bit further along was the Tyre Shop specialising in Part Worn and Puncture Repairs….



Finally we head back to the Marjane and start the trip back to Terre de Ocean as we then pass this man on his Moped with a couple of spare vehicles strapped to the back in case the primary machine breaks down on his way home….



As we went over this bridge on the way to Agadir I wondered why we could not use one side, so stopped to have a look on the way back….

It turns out that the Rain Storm and volume of water took out the soil underneath the pillar that was built by French Engineers which caused one side to collapse.

The Moroccan Geologist was then very proud in telling me that the other side which was completely OK was built by Moroccan Engineers.
He reckoned that the ‘broken bit’ would take 6 months to fix….





While back at the campsite as the Sun goes down we get another nice sunset….

[XCovlov70]

Overland to Morocco.
Winter 2014-2015

Terre de Ocean and a visit to Tamri….

As another nice morning emerges but today will be hotter as there is no wind, we decide to have a run up to Tamri to see what all the concern was about as this was the place on the coast road that was closed for a period of time after the storm as being impassable….

As we sat eating breakfast this morning firstly the Fishmonger made a visit to the campsite and he was followed by this man offering Solar Panels which would also be installed but as we already have them we were not approached so did not find out the cost….



OK, off we go on the coast road…..







As we come into a development of holiday flats while at the rear is a very large campsite called Atlantic Park….



As we go to have a look around this campsite, it actually sits on both sides of a road that goes off to a village in the hills….



One of several brightly coloured facilities blocks with showers, WC, dish washing etc …..



While like a number of the campsites in Europe they are bringing on site more and more permanent Holiday Chalets and as we walk around they are being occupied by people who arrive in not only cars but also very large Campers (RV’s)…..







OK, enough of that as we are not impressed with very large campsites, even though they might look nice they lack the atmosphere that you find on the much smaller sites, so we get back on the coast road…..







As we pass this Lighthouse at Cap Rhir….



Then on a small beach are quite a few ‘Surfers’….



Finally coming into Tamri we pass a Banana Plantation, so I hope you can see the small green bananas among the very big leaves on the plants, and the bananas are a very sweet variety that you do not find in the large stores over here, but more in the small local shops….



Tamri…..













On the far side of town is the bridge with the river running below, and from memory we think that last year at more or less the same time the river had no water in it….



As we head up the hill out of Tamri to the next village…..





We then turn around and start to make our way back with the view of the river in the valley which goes off into the sea, and making our way back through Tamri we did not see any signs of large mounds of soil or sand that had been deposited by the river which would have stopped traffic on the road, so can only think that it was the force of just the water in the river which closed the road at the bridge….







After getting back to Terre d’ Ocean we see this rather nice looking 4x4 small Desert vehicle that has arrived….



As we get to the end of another very warm sunny day and the light starts to fade….



Then the Sunset takes over…..



Going…..



Going…..



Gone!



That’s it for today!

While for some of the folks back home in the UK who like a bit of a read before blowing out the candles, pulling down their Thermal Hat then snuggling down under the Duvet as it’s a few degrees below freezing in some parts of the country we wish them…..

Night Night, sleep tight, and don’t let the Bugs bite!

[XCovlov70]

Overland to Morocco.
Winter 2014-2015

Terre de Ocean…a lazy day then Oops!….

It’s a bit ‘strange’ but nice here in that after the Sun goes down a few hours later the Moon comes up, moves across the sky and then goes down like the Sun, so this morning as I opened the door of the ‘TinTent’ in front of me….



So after breakfast and getting a couple of chores out of the way we decided to head off down to the beach and try a bit of fishing as the tide was coming in…..





As we climb down, there are no such things as ‘pathways’ here we see large chunks of cliff face that are composed of what look like Oyster Shells…..





And the ‘rocks’ are quite sharp due to the angle of some of the shells….









So I set up my fishing rod and made a start….



As my good lady saw another ‘angler’ further along the coast who had also come down from the campsite…..



We then saw a snorkel dry suit swimmer in the water trying to catch fish with a spear-gun, but due to the ‘dirty water’ that is still around after the recent storm his visibility was drastically reduced so no dinner for him…..



I then tried to get a bit closer to the ocean having lost my first lot of fishing tackle (weight, bait and hook) and in moving over the rocks I stumbled, lost my balance and took a nice chunk of skin out of the front of my right leg along with some scratches higher up and bent my big toe in the process as well! OUCH!

That was the end of our ‘trip to the beach’ so we headed back to the campsite, cleaned up the damage including a large dose of antiseptic cream, then went off to the campsite restaurant for a Couscous Lunch which was much easier and very nice!

The dish in the picture below was more than enough for both of us even though it does not seem that big…..



Next day….

While the leg has been rather sore today we have decided to move on tomorrow so we are back on the road to Tiznit and hopefully a new campsite on the South East side of the town….

[XCovlov70]

Overland to Morocco.
Winter 2014-2015

Terre de Ocean to Tiznit

Must start off with an apology as I forgot to include this picture of a little French ‘Bow Wow’ on Terre d’ Ocean, who was having her bath but did not look very happy about it!….



While this morning we set off to make our way to a campsite which was a new one for us on the South East side of Tiznit, and as we got to the main road from ‘Td’O’ we see these Goats working their way around this low tree after the fruit in the branches…..



While a few miles down the main road is this rather ‘Wobbly’ white van!....



The flattened fencing is from the violent storm while the camels arrived later to graze on the greenery that grew after the water came down….



Working our way through Agadir was a nightmare thanks to a number of the 3 wheeler load carriers like the one on the right of the picture who would come up on your nearside, then having got there did not have a clue who was behind them or alongside as they had no rear view capability….



While a bit further we have this chap taking his Horse for a walk….



With the usual overloaded truck going very slowly as the engine had insufficient power to keep up in the traffic…..



We then have to move over and get totally out of the way as this Horse & Cart comes across from the other side of the road, crossing the double white lines while expecting all the traffic to nearly come to a complete stop to let him get across to the inside lane….



‘Defensive driving’ with your eyes everywhere is a definite requirement over here!.....



As we passed this 3 wheeler, the guy on top was just having a normal conversation with the driver below who was oblivious of the traffic around him ….



As we get to the far side of the city we pass over one of the rivers that is normally bone dry but this still has water in after the storm but no damage was seen as we pass over…..





Now entering another district having left Agadir....



Restaurant specialising in Tajine cooking…..



Strange but true….The Sheep and Goats over here have got more road sense than a lot of the pedestrians who insist on walking in the road when there is a perfectly adequate pavement for their use…...



Water Tower with hand grasping a stick on top, but not sure of the significance…..



Nice garden of a house alongside the main road….







Pink & Purple Buses nice colour scheme….



More wrecked fencing from the recent storm around land that is being developed…..



As we enter another district and find more storm damage…..



The heavy machinery still working to clear up this area which is very close to a river and bridge that was affected….







Now who put the order in for a ‘Garden Tree’ and what was the delivery address?



Another Police Check Point coming up as we finally come into the outskirts of Tiznit…..





Turn right if you want to go to the Municipal Campsite and Medina, but we took the 3rd Exit on the traffic island to the campsite we wanted….



Just passed this hotel I spot a Bank with an ATM (Hole in the Wall Cash Dispenser) and swing in to use the facility, I would be gone for all of 3 minutes and can see ‘Flamenco Red’ and the ‘TinTent’ while I am at the ATM, but it didn’t stop one of the locals asking me if I wanted him to look after the outfit while I was away…..

I think that guy is what you call a ‘Business Opportunist’?



Three miles further on from Tiznit we see the signs for the campsite and turn right down a short ‘piste’ road, around the bend in the road and there in front is…..





Check in and then get onto a pitch with the brand new ablutions block directly behind us, while we are the only outfit on the campsite….



My good lady was that impressed with the ‘facilities’ that she went off and took a few pictures which I hope are self explanatory……













The view from the ‘washing lines’ which are on top of the building…..





Solar Water Heating Panels for the showers and wash basins, which are not performing well as they could really do with a bucket of soapy water to clean them up….



View from just inside the entrance. The place is HUGE!...



This will be the swimming pool when it is finished….



Quite a lot of hard standing pitches behind us designed for large heavy campers…..



Being so far away from the town, the campsite is very quiet while it would be also superb for stargazing if they turned off the lights on tall poles, but I guess you cannot have everything, but at just over £7/Night ($10.50) including Electricity and its 226V whose complaining!

Especially as it was around 25C outside here today….

[XCovlov70]

Overland to Morocco.
Winter 2014-2015

Tazerzite, a visit to Tiznit

Sunrise this morning but I didn’t quite ‘stitch’ the 3 sections of the picture together correctly with the camera, but I hope you get the picture….



So after breakfast with a bright blue sky and a temperature on the up to a very nice 24C we set off for the short trip into Tiznit parking just up from the Taxi Rank which was on the opposite side of the road…..



Next up was the traffic island where all the roads meet while in the middle of the picture is one of the two gateways into the Medina…..



As we go around the traffic island we pass the Tourist Information Office which once again is closed…..



Once inside the Medina we head on down the main street passing various fruit & vegetable, butcher, patisserie and general housewares shops ….



Then turning left of the main street down a side street we see all these different doorways......



While off on our right hand side is this alleyway…..



As we get to the end of the side street we come to the inside of the Medina wall….



With another entrance gateway which we just have a quick look to see what is on the other side.....



Which was not a lot so we came back inside and continued along the inside of the Medina wall ….



Turning left down another street we come out in a small open area with some gardens down each side of a one way street, at the top of which are the Army Barracks…..



As we then make our way back to buy some bread and a few vegetables we pass this re-cycled camper or caravan awning now on its second life as a car cover…..



Having got the vegetables and bread we head back to the campsite while this afternoon the Volvo ‘converted bus’ with the other converted camper comes into the campsite and in the process of getting set up on their pitches the rear of each ‘camper’ opens up and an ‘Off Road Quad Bike’ is disgorged from the back end just like Jonah getting out of the Whale....



While then having had a nice relaxing afternoon it was time to get the evening meal ready, so we settled for Spaghetti Bolagnese, and it was very nice ‘thank you’…..



No plans so let’s see what happens tomorrow…..

[XCovlov70]

Overland to Morocco.
Winter 2014-2015

Tazerzite. A visit to the infants ‘School’ in the village of Idzaade
This is a LARGE update…..

In speaking with the young man who works at the campsite here I found out that the village he comes from has a small school for young children which does not have a lot of facilities for the kids, so after trying to find it on TomTom and failing he drew a route on a piece of paper which basically told us we had to pass through the villages of ‘Ighrem & Sibtnabor to get to Idzaade, and while the campsite manager could not let him come with us we decided to ‘Go it alone’ to give the school one of the small ‘gift packs’ we had brought with us, so after breakfast off we went and I hope you are well ‘buckled up’ as it was a bumpy and a bit of a hairy ride for the last 5 miles, with a lot of pictures!….

As we came to the main N1 road we waited until this overloaded van went past before turning right onto the main road…..



While a little bit further on we came up on a rather precarious load on a Hay Truck that was not sat squarely which meant giving it a wide berth as you eventually overtook it!







Found the signpost where we needed to make a left turn….



While it was not far to the first ‘Wadi’ where the bridge was still in place but covered in dried out lumpy soil from the storm......



Stopped to check we were on the right road after passing through a small village and then we started Mountain Climbing…..





With some rather nice buildings in various places as we travelled up the road….









Get to the top and its then down the other side via a few twists & turns into the next valley….

















As we reach the next ‘Wadi’ this bridge was not so lucky so the guys in the truck are in the process of making repairs to the surface of the bridge….



Over the lumps and bumps of that ‘Wadi’ and on to the next village while still on the tarmac road ….







Which didn’t last much further for us as we made a r/hand turn after asking directions to ‘Sibtnabor’ which took us onto this ‘piste’…..



Goat Herders ‘Home’ as he roams with his flock….







Then the nice flat ‘piste’ ran out and we are on a single track that felt as though we were going over the fields, with enough ‘lumps & bumps’ to sieve a bowl of ground coffee beans!....









As we carefully make our way along the road as there is NO Mobile Signal and NO sign of any Camels that might get you out if there is a ‘problem’!



We come to a couple of places where the road has been rebuilt as it fell away from the hillside in the storm….





We then start to climb up again and although we didn’t know it the school is ahead in the middle of the picture…..



Passing the school, we continue on down the other side for about 800 yards and come to the village of IDZAADE,



As we get to literally the end of the track and stop on some open ground, we find out that the school is closed for the rest of the day, which is why we get surrounded by quite a few children, so we get out an envelope with some items in for the children and the smiles were fabulous, but sadly no pictures.
We then learn as a man from the village who seems to have some authority manages to tell us in a mixture of English & French and hand expressions, that the school is closed for the rest of today.

As I then tried to find another of the envelopes, a little old lady of the village who had a fabulous smile comes up to my good lady and gives her a kiss on both cheeks with one of the smaller children alongside her, as the man takes a picture with his mobile phone!

As I could not readily find another of the envelopes, I got one of the ‘Gift Packs’ out and gave it to him explaining that it was for the school, which with ‘sign language’ he promised to pass on.

With lots of ‘Shukran’ (Thank you) hand-shakes and waves we then got back in ‘Flamenco Red’ manage to turn around and start to make our way back, while being followed by some of the children who cannot stop waving along with the villagers coming out of their houses to join in as we leave and pass the school on the way out with another villager who was tilling the field in front of the school entrance with a single tiller and his donkey….



Then we are on our way with another ‘lumpy bumpy’ bit in front where the track got washed away….



The brighter ‘brown’ patches in the next picture are sections of land that have been tilled using Donkey ‘Power’ and a single tilling tool as there are definitely no tractors up here….



As we take a final look back at the school….



Just behind ‘Flamenco Red’ is another section of the track that fell away in the storm which the villagers had to repair as there is no other way in or out….









Smaller Cacti growing in among the rocks….







Then get off the single track and back on the flat ‘piste’….









While the river up here still has flowing water in it…..







This ‘Wadi’ survived the storm while there is still flowing water coming through 2 of the concrete tubes….



Then having turned left back onto the tarmac road we reach the ‘Wadi’ that is being repaired by the guys in the truck from the earlier picture and this is the view coming the other way…..







When you go ‘Mountain Climbing’ this is the view you get when you are getting to or have reached the top….







Herd of Goats with their herder….





Strange shaped conical rocks on the other side of the valley….





Another school, different small village….



As we pass another man and his Donkey tilling their land…..





Move over and stop to let this fella up the hill as we don’t want to be sliding off and into the middle of the gully, for which we received a nice friendly wave from the truck driver….



Down to the next ‘Wadi’ which showed us some serious erosion because of the force of the water….



As the water carved away the opposite bank….





Then took the soil from under this tree leaving it in the river bed….



As we reach the first ‘Wadi’ before the main N1 road which also shows a lot of soil has been moved to clear it up….



With still deep ruts on the bridge itself…..



As we turn onto the N1 we pass this ‘Hole in the Mountain’ which is a small quarry….



With a clean/clear N1 back to the campsite….



After getting back to the campsite we find that ‘Flamenco Red’ is rather dusty on the back end….



While the rear wiper has enough dust along it to grow some seeds!...



After one very interesting day, we are back on the road tomorrow, firstly to see if the campsite in Bouzikarne has re-opened, if not then we will continue on to El Ouatia and see how Guelmin is coping as we pass through as it was badly hit by the Flash Floods…..

[XCovlov70]

Overland to Morocco.
Winter 2014-2015

Tazerzite – Bouzikane – Guelmin – El Ouatia

Time to move on again and as we enjoyed our time at the campsite in Bouzikane on our first visit to Morocco we decided to call in and see if it has re-opened, if not then we will continue on to Guelmin where the Flash Floods caused some devastating damage as well as claiming a number of lives, and on to El Ouatia ….

As we left Campsite Tazerzite and headed off along the N1 main road it wasn’t long before some ‘bendy’ hill climbing was needed but with overloaded and under powered trucks also climbing the hills progress was slow….





While some trucks like this one on the left in the picture were using significant amounts of ‘Engine Braking’ to really slow down on the descent…



While the view looking back was quite impressive….



With a rocky terrain there were plenty of smaller cacti to be seen….



Entering the town of Akhssass with its nice pillars….



With some road damage from the flash floods….



While the lines of the rocks in the hills are intriguing….



As a Policeman seems sceptical about our being able to get through the ‘roadworks’ one of the road workers is happily waving us through, and we had plenty of room on both sides as we went through this landslide that was being removed…..



More wonderful lines in the hills….



As we came to the first ‘accident’ where a trailer came away from the tractor unit and the container fell off the trailer right on a bend in the road!!





Continuing on down the hill….









Next was a broken down truck and trailer while another tractor unit was hooked up to try and tow the breakdown up the hill…..



As we now get into Bouzikarn….





As we get into the town we find that the campsite here remains closed, so we head on to the next place which will be Guelmim but first we have to get through Bouzikarn….





As we make our way through we find it is ‘Market Day’ with lots of people and vehicles all over the place….





While finally we are clear with a nice wide road….



As the road again narrows we see the left over water alongside from the storm….



As we then reach to city gates of Guelmim…..



We then spot the sign for the ‘Marjane’ and head off in that direction which causes TomTom to re-plan our route but we have not deviated that much, while the road is very new and very wide…..



With a couple of people passing the time of day sat on the central reservation….



While further on down we see some boys having a football match with rocks that we drove between for the goalposts….



Continue to the next traffic island and take the 3rd exit….



Crossing one of the bridges which is normally very dry underneath…..



We come to the Marjane which it turns out has been open for 3 days, but has an Electrical Power ‘problem’ …..



So the supermarket is running on Generator Power…..



After some shopping we get back on the road and head through to the centre of the town passing a new wall being constructed around the military barracks…..



While next we are into the sometimes narrow streets across town…..

















As we finally get back on the N1 main road to TanTan, we come to another bridge where we think a Taxi & Bus were swept away in the flash floods with a total loss of life from both vehicles….





Further down the road we see a number of the ‘Hay Lorries’ with their strange load that on some look like they are going to fall off…..



As we pass through the town gates on the South side….



Passing a group of Camels…..



We then pass one of a number of large ponds of water again the aftermath of the flash floods during and after the storm….



While the mud that was deposited on the road creates a dust screen as you drive over it….



Coming up to this Mosque with a large flat area in front we decided to stop and have some lunch…





The Mosque is also a school while outside by the roadside a man in the car that was behind us in the previous picture and speaks good English, comes over to us and after introducing himself and his 4 brothers he points out 2 fresh water wells near the roadside, he then tells us he is off to do some ploughing with his tractor, so they all get in a rather battered car with a large plastic container containing the diesel for the tractor sticking out of the boot and set off up the road in a cloud of dust!…..

So I walk over and open the small cover of the first well which would allow you to drop a small pail in to get water and see…..



While this is the outside of the second, however with all the storm and flood ‘problems’ the water looks quite brown in colour, so a pot of tea is not for us on this occasion…..



Back on the road with more mud/soil covered road being cleaned up in terms of removing the excess and let the vehicles do the rest as they drive along….



With the occasional large mounds of earth just at the roadside, I’m glad we don’t drive at night!



A little bit further down the road and we get ‘flashed’ by a couple of drivers coming towards us which normally spells ‘trouble’ or a Radar Trap up ahead, in this case it was a jack knifed truck the tractor unit of which had broken off the trailer and was pointing the opposite way….



While further on we have the ‘local’ out of town ‘Garages’ selling Diesel fuel in 5 Litre Plastic Bottles, but as we are not sure about the quality we decided to use a reputable garage in El Ouatia instead….



Oh for the ‘Open nice road’……



As we then get to one of the many Wadi’s on the DRAA River. This river is very long and after the storm it seems that for the first time in 27 Years it had running water in it continuously all the way to the ocean……



Last year when we came over the ‘Wadi’ it was dry, now over 2 weeks after the storm the water is just below the top and very brown, so the soil erosion must be massive….



Well bless my soul we’ve got another one in front, but at least his load is straight!.....



Next was the town of Tan Tan….







While after passing through these gates on the far side of town….



The DRAA river still continues, a bit wider and slower but still with force….



Up on a hill further along is this tall water tower….



Roadside ‘Service Area’….



Finally after 170 Miles reach the town sign for El Ouatia….



With the statues of the Fish on the traffic island as we arrive….



As we go down the hill and make a sharp right hand turn to get to the campsite, the sea here still looks ‘rough’….



On site and having got set up with the ‘ROAR’ of the pounding waves constantly in the background , we understand it’s market day tomorrow so that should be worth a visit…..

[XCovlov70]

Overland to Morocco.
Winter 2014-2015

El Ouatia…1st Day

Having been to the campsite last year I have to say that there has been very little if any maintenance or improvements carried out since then which is a disappointment….



Noticed a number of people around a car this morning and went over to see what was going on and found this which was easily 2 feet long, and I have never seen one so big!



As we set off to go to the weekly market we spotted this man painting the balustrade on the hotel but then saw that the bottom of his ladder was missing!…



While on our way to the market we could see the new building going on in the town….





As we enter the market we pass the housewares section ….



And make our way to the Fruit & Veg section…..







Indulging in 0.5Kilo (1lb) of Chilli flavoured Olives from this stall for about £0.60p ($0.90cents) and they tasted delicious as we could not help but try them as we made our way back to the campsite!….



As there was no Bread stall in the market we called into a small shop for 2 Moroccan circular loaves passing this rather nice house on the way….



Then after some lunch a little while later we went up into the centre of the town for a walk and out to a café near the beach for a nice Moroccan coffee where we watched the large waves come rolling in….



With the view from the café across the small bay….



Then we got a closer view of the ‘rollers’ pounding the beach….



Time to head back as we pass this nice residence as the sky is becoming very overcast with a forecast of a 40% chance of rain while becoming very windy which is also in the forecast for the next 3 days.



As I put this update together the rain has just started…..