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  1. #1
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    Default Overland to Morocco. Winter 2015-2016

    Overland to Morocco.
    Winter 2015-2016


    Preview

    As this is not our first time overland to Morocco, then maybe when we get there we will pluck up the courage this time to do that ride on a Camel!

    Meanwhile as we will be going through a few countries in Europe here are the flags of those for our way Out & Return….



    While from a program called Tyre, that uses Google Maps here is the route we will be taking firstly to get to Morocco, which to be honest is virtually the same as our previous trip, except for a small diversion that we will be making to what seems to be an interesting city…



    Then after we get across the Mediterranean Sea is our route in Morocco that again was provided by Tyre, while we do have a few new places to spend some time in and have a look around this time!



    After that we come back across the Mediterranean Sea for the route back up to the UK which includes a diversion to hopefully an interesting place in Spain and a small diversion into Portugal…



    So now all that remains to be said as we make sure all the things we need are packed including the 10Kg of Porridge!

    There is nothing like a breakfast that is definitely ‘Central Heating for Seniors’ especially when there is ice outside, and possibly inside on the ‘Tin Tent’ windows while the temperature is very low in the morning in Europe!…..

    Then finally…..

    A warm ‘Welcome’ to previous and new ‘Travellers in the Third Seat’ which we hope you will find comfortable in ‘Flamenco Red’ (That’s the Swedish ‘Tug’) and enjoy the tour as we haul the ‘Tin Tent’ (That’s the Caravan) across Europe and South to maybe find that Camel for a ride!

    Next Stop is Eurotunnel and France, so let’s hope the road is clear, while the weather forecast is of cold weather and the chance of Snow!…..

  2. #2
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    All the very best Ian & Jan, healthy back, please.

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    who needs porridge? .... don't forget the mince pies and christmas pudding(s) and brandy sauce. You'll have to take your own chocolate this time! :-)

  4. #4
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    Overland to Morocco.
    Winter 2015-2016


    Roullet - Sauveterre

    Interesting to see the number of ‘Campers’ that arrived at the halt in Roullet last night in the dark after we had gone to sleep, but we saw as we set off this morning…..



    Back on the road towards Bordeaux and the weather was not good, while it seems to be affecting the camera as well as the pictures are not coming out at their best….



    Lots of spray being thrown up by both vehicles passing and those in front who seem to take no notice of speed requests while a fair number travel with broken or no lights turned on!....



    As we come off the main road we see what looks like a winter storage hut in the middle of the traffic island except it has no floor….



    While below Bordeaux we follow the Michelin ‘alternative route’ to avoid a high toll for a short section of Autoroute and go around the toll booth and through the countryside .....









    With a diversion also through Dax it isn’t long before we are getting close to Sauveterre as we see with the road sign at this traffic island fountain…..



    Get parked up and off for a stroll into the town…..





    Stepped into one café as we fancied a nice coffee, only to find that the machine had broken down.
    The owner advised us to go to the other café on the other side of the town square, which we did and ended up paying €6 for 2 Grand Café’s which was rather bitter in taste, so that café (picture below) has been stored in the memory banks to avoid for future visits….



    Next trip tomorrow sees us coming out of France and into Spain, while the rain continued to come down all night long!

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    Quote Originally Posted by pe1agp View Post
    All the very best Ian & Jan, healthy back, please.
    Thank you Aad.

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    Overland to Morocco.
    Winter 2015-2016


    Sauveterre - Navarette

    Once again up with the Larks and before the Alarm Clock caught me so as we left Sauveterre it was very dark and just getting light as we got to the French – Spanish Border where thanks to all the rain that has been falling the river was ‘fast & furious’!…..



    While the ‘Policia’ vehicle on the Spanish side of the border, near the centre of the next picture was all alone with no sign of any life around it….



    As we temporarily parked up in front of the closed souvenir shops....



    As we passed the Avia Garage on the Spanish side of the border I was surprised at how much cheaper Diesel was than in France as the Avia were asking €0.97/Litre while the best we saw in France was €1.05 at E’Leclerc in Chatelerault….

    As the Avia was a main garage, it will be interesting to see what the prices are in the Supermarket Garages in Spain…..

    Meanwhile once again it’s off we go hill climbing…..





    Passing a rather nice waterfall, that was more than bubbling along!



    As we reached the top of the hill and the small church we stopped at last time we came this way, it was rain and low cloud this time as opposed to the snow we saw last time….



    While going down the other side we come to a big monastery which travellers on the Santiago de Compostella Pilgrimage can stay at….



    While just around the corner is another small church and restaurant…



    Next we were passing through the narrow streets where speed is reduced to 40Kpmh and where as we did you pass by a Pilgrim on their way to Santiago de Compostela…..





    Finally pulled in to have breakfast and found this water outlet in a picnic and BBQ area which was nice but to wet to even consider cooking up a couple of slices of bacon with a fried egg, so we settled once again for our daily porridge!....



    While on the other side of the parking area was this map of the area, but we could not make out where we are!....



    Then it was back on the road towards Logrono and Navarette…..



    As we spotted this Rainbow!......



    While a bit further on was Navarette….



    Not long after we arrived at the campsite, then got set up with the TinTent, while the first job after that was a nice HOT Shower as 4 days of getting washed with a Flannel in Warm Water is no fun when it’s Brass Monkey Weather outside, and it was luvverly to feel nice and clean again!!

    Meanwhile a trip back into Logrono is called for tomorrow as a front side light bulb has failed on ‘Flamenco Red’ which needs to be replaced before some nice BIG Traffic Cop with Eagle Eyes spots us!....

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    Overland to Morocco.
    Winter 2015-2016


    Bonneval - Roullet

    WOW! Was it cold last night!
    Even with half a tonne of blankets on the bed and our Thermal Hats on we were still not very warm, while this was the sight that greeted me when I went outside to get ready to set off….



    Not long after and rolling along the road as the sunrise started to appear but today was somewhat different due to the damp and mist that was hanging around….



    As the sky seemed to go on fire!....





    As it finally dies away to another cold miserable day.....



    Even the initial traffic was light considering it was the time of people making their way to work…..





    As we spot once again the large statue on the corner of the tower looking over the town of Veigne….



    Then back on the N10 and we run into the maintenance crew who were cutting back the weeds and plants that had grown under the crash barrier on the nearside of the road, causing the traffic lane to be closed off and a very long queue of traffic to build up….



    While a bit further this was the tail end of around 2 miles of traffic going the other way but through the same thing…..



    As we came off the N10 a little early which I thought strange, the TomTom (GPS) had planned to take us through the small town of Roullet which could have been a bit hairy as the main street is rather narrow!....



    While we made it through the town and down to our night halt, we decided to take a walk and stretch the legs with a stroll back into the town centre to see if there were any changes from our last visit, while this was the view from our place to the town……



    First thing we see is the General Grocer Store has closed down, which means that the town now does not have one…..



    While there are still 2 Boulanger & Pattisier in business along with 2 Boucher’s….



    On all our visits here the church has been closed and locked but today…..



    It was open and surprisingly quite plain inside…



    The other Boulanger on the left while the Pharmacy is on the right…..



    Main road surface looks like it has just been put down while there is a lot of property on both sides which is unoccupied, falling apart or up for sale ….



    Including this large house not far from the town centre……



    Time to get back to the ‘TinTent’ for a bowl of soup to try and warm up again, then some sleep before we hit the road again tomorrow for the next bit…

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    Overland to Morocco.
    Winter 2015-2016


    El Jadida – Essouaria

    Interestingly our one night halt at El Jadida was nearly the same price for our two nights at Kenitra while I don’t think we will be going back there, while last night it got very misty in El Jadida…..

    So it was up and away just before 09:00 today making our way through the mist that was still hanging around albeit a bit slower than normal as there were a number of cars who had no lights showing at all as we headed for a Campsite that is a few miles outside Essouaria, and as we get further South we think the scenery gets more interesting…





    Roadside stalls selling wicker bags and baskets….



    While as this was the ‘N1’ road, initially the road surface was good….



    Then as we got into each town/village, the road suddenly got wider!….



    The back outside the town/village it became narrower with the sheep or goats grazing at the roadside, and a shepherd looking after them to stop them running into the road…







    While the further South you get the more people still rely on a Donkey or Horse and Cart for their transport…..



    With this rather nice looking property at the roadside….



    Glad we didn’t get stuck behind this on the narrower sections of the road…..



    As we then start to pass through the centre of the town which as we found out was heavy and slow going as the market was in full swing….



    While on the other side of the town we come into our first section of road in need of repair!......



    Animal feed being harvested from fields just up the road and being transported by Donkey and what looks like an overloaded cart…..



    While this tractor driver was really keeping an eye his rear view mirror as he moved over to let us pass him in plenty of time…..



    Left over puddles from the rain that came down a few days ago in the area….



    Heading into another town that was in the middle of market day…..



    And it got more congested…..



    And even more congested……
    But around here ‘That’s how life continues’ so you just have to slow down and go with the flow…..







    Aahh! Back on the open road, and it was a nice surface again….



    As we then caught up this little truck in front with 3 Cows in. The BIG guy was on the left, the Middle size was on the right, and the little fella was in the middle while going around the bends was not much fun for him in the middle!...



    As we then spot this Donkey having a ‘snack’ on some juicy grass at the front of the garage!…..



    Yippee another market to squeeze our way through at around 3Mph!....







    Well we saw the Gas Truck with a couple of Spare Wheels while now we see a Donkey Cart with a Spare wheel on the side! The owner has possibly suffered with punctures in the past, especially when we see the condition of some of the tyres on the carts!…..







    The large light coloured area in the next picture is a MASSIVE Plastic Sheet Greenhouse, and considering it was 24C outside as we travelled along I would not like to be working in there in Summer when the outside temperature can reach 45C+!



    As we then get into the nice scenery in the countryside….









    As we came to the next town/village it was close to 12:00 so lunch time and everyone parking on the main road while they went off for something to eat.....



    While on the far side of the town/village were all the Donkeys no doubt having a well earned break and some food…



    As we then pass a group of men who are ‘trimming’ the trees at the side of the road, except they remove all the branches!....



    The campsite we were heading for was supposed to be not far away now, but when we got to the location provided by the website of the place it was nowhere to be found, while people at the roadside could not help point us in the right direction, so it was forget that one and head for another which took us down our first ‘3 Wheels On & 3 Wheels Off’ road to Kaouki Beach!….



    The ‘3 Wheels On & 3 Wheels Off’ comes about when you meet a vehicle coming towards you, as you slow down and then with your right hand indicator going slowly put your nearside wheels onto the ‘piste’ as the drop from tarmac to piste can be a couple of inches unless you spot somewhere lower to carry out the manoeuvre. The tarmac is not wide enough to allow you to stay on with all your wheels and pass each other…

    Sometimes drivers, both Moroccan & Tourist like to play ‘Chicken’ and will pull over at the last possible minute in the hope that you will get off completely and let them stay with all their wheels on the tarmac so they don’t cause any damage to their tyres, as they will not slow down….

    Then it is not very long and we are Camping Kaouki Beach, which when we came last year at the same time of year, there was 18 inches of rainwater from the very bad storm in the entrance, while the campsite had no electricity or fresh water, but they are now back up and running and the facilities are nice with Wi-Fi available as well.....



    All set up after an interesting day in getting here…..



    The start of Sunset….



    The end of Sunset….



    We will take a look at the beach and other areas tomorrow as we are staying here for a few days….

  9. #9
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    Overland to Morocco.
    Winter 2015-2016


    Our time at Kaouki Beach 4th and last day.

    A very grey sky greeted us this morning with a corresponding drop in temperature of initially 6C, but by 11:00 it was back up to 20C and the Sun was breaking through as we set off into the village of Sidi Kaouki for our first ‘Berber Whiskey’ otherwise known as Mint Tea.....

    As we get to the centre there is this Donkey having a fine time rolling in the dust!....



    Then as we take our seats in the café we see this little kitten having a fine time with the bigger cat whom we think was its mother….



    Looking out towards the sea from our seats we have this good view of the ocean…



    While there is a distinct lack of visitors this morning in the village as we see one lone surfer in the sea and a lone camel on the beach….



    As we head back to the campsite for some lunch and a totally lazy afternoon before starting to pack up and get ready for pulling out tomorrow and back on the road South to a new place to see for us at Tifnit…..

    A last look around the campsite this evening as we are joined by more campers with a couple of them telling us that they have been moved by the Police as Morocco now makes wild camping illegal in the country.





    Good night!

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    Overland to Morocco.
    Winter 2015-2016


    Tafraoute. Our 2nd day.

    ‘Good Morning’

    After breakfast we decided to head off to a place called ‘The Painted Rocks’ which we have been to before but wanted to go back, and boy were we in for a surprise!....

    After a short drive we found ourselves on the ‘Piste’ which ‘Flamenco Red’ just rolled along, even though I felt one of the wheels occasionally ‘slip’ the 4x4 system worked very well….



    The scenery all around was in a word ‘spectacular’ and you could in all honesty take picture after picture with all the possible views…..





    Then we were in among “The Painted Rocks” that were painted by Jean Verame a Belgian Artist in 1984 with a team of Moroccan Firemen.

    They used 18 TONNES of Blue, Red, Violet & White paint, taking 3 months to complete the job.











    While a few have been ‘added to’ and made into funny faces….









    While the Blue Rock (left and a bit lower than centre) in the next picture does not look that BIG …..



    It is when you get up next to it to have a closer look at the paint!….



    As you look even closer you find that the texture and finish varies from rock to rock…





    While this one looked like the head and neck of a Camel….



    Then came for us the BIG surprise as we had not seen this part of the area before….

    The gates were at the entrance to a large fenced off area with what looked like young Olive trees being grown inside with 2 water taps just outside, while that wasn’t the only thing as you will see later…..



    Inside the gates and following the wide pathway we see in front some steps and a blue wall with a large sun bleached violet rock at the back……



    Then standing in front.....



    While after climbing the middle steps I see the first shallow water reservoir….



    At the back of that reservoir and to the right are two more, each connected to the other by small water channels…..



    The water channel is on the left allowing water from the top reservoir to cascade down to the lower reservoir.....



    Which is on both sides of the main steps



    Off to the left hand side is a very nicely cultivated vegetable patch….



    While to the left hand side of the centre steps is an area that looks like it has been designed for car parking as the spaces are numbered along the brown wall….
    The lights that are around the place are powered from a bank of Solar Panels on a building close by with the electricity being supplied from batteries inside the building.



    We then went off to a nice viewing place for a picnic lunch and finding a ‘human built’ mound of rocks we added our 1 rock contribution to the pile, on top of course…..



    Then it was back into ‘Flamenco Red’ for the piste section of the run back to the campsite…..



    The turning right for a different route back to getting there we get onto a better piste section….



    As we pass a weather worn rock alongside the piste…..



    The finally down a small hill into the village…..



    As we then turn right onto the tarmac road back to the campsite passing this very nice and colourful tree…



    Going through a small Palmerie before we get back……



    We believe it’s Market Day tomorrow in Tafraoute so will have a wander over and a look around….

    Good night.

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