Overland to Morocco. Winter 2015-2016

[XCovlov70]

Overland to Morocco.
Winter 2015-2016

Our second and last day in Kenitra

‘Good Morning’

We decided to go for a walk around a part of the town that was new to us and quickly found that the town seems to be compartmentalised for different ‘activities/businesses’ as we soon saw that we were in the Automotive area with all sorts of outlets as this one and the next one ‘specialised’ in ‘Part Worn Exhausts’ (On the other side of the Pond they call them ‘Mufflers’ but they don’t keep YOU warm!) ……





While if you breakdown and need a ‘Tow Truck’ you could end up with one of these guys rolling up!.....





While ‘Auto Accessory’ shops abound it this area as well as outlets selling anything from Light Bulbs to Complete Engines with the Radiator still attached!….



While up the street was this Bore Hole machine currently consigned to ‘Unemployed’ as new Water Wells were off the Winter Menu Chart……



The main rainwater channel through the town centre, seems to be a repository also for all kinds of rubbish!…..



Formerly seen in a glass jar decorating a Hotel Bedside Cabinet when the guest checked out and forgot them, they were on display in a Dentists window for anyone who was short of an Upper & Lower Set, and the price was very competitive!….



Oh the wonderful driving! As three Buses completely block the main road as they offload and take on passengers while the other motorists get completely frustrated with loud honking of their horns!!!.....



While we then notice that a number of the Buses seem to have been in the wars as windows and doors are covered in metal panels!!!…..



As we got back into more or less the centre of town we took a bit of time out and sat on a bench to do a bit of ‘People Watching’ as there is nothing as fascinating and totally relaxing!

Then I looked up and saw this line of 3 Satellite Dishes pointing straight up while the one on the right was pointed to Astra 19.2
(I was able to check it out thanks to an ‘App’ I have on my Mobile!)

I looked across to the shop underneath the dishes and the owner was outside, so I pointed and smiled, and he smiles back, so I though OK here goes and we asked the question if they were lined up for a ‘1 to 1’ and he said with a BIG smile ‘No’ he thought it was with the USA, till I asked if it could be the USSR at which point we both burst into fits of laughter and typical Moroccan handshakes!

Oh what a luvverly afternoon, totally stress free, but that is how to enjoy yourself!....



While off to our right in the centre of the next picture as we sat on the bench is this lady who is selling the bread (Hobbs) that she made this morning….



As we then move out and into the Vegetables area of the market…..



While the man to the left in the next picture, between the two cars is getting ready for his 2 hour ‘Siesta’ on the bed he made up earlier!.....



Back on the road tomorrow as we have come to the end of our time here in Morocco so it’s time to head back to Tanger Med and the Ferry to Spain, but more of that tomorrow…..

Good night!

[XCovlov70]

Overland to Morocco.
Winter 2015-2016

Kenitra to Tanger Med and back to Spain

‘Good Morning’

As I have been hit with what we think is an influenza ‘bug’ a few days ago which has grown steadily worse in providing me with all the symptoms associated with the ‘Flu’ we decided to head back to Tanger Med and see about a ferry back to Spain a day early as we had planned to spend our last night in the Port, so off we went……

Leaving the campsite in Kenitra at 08:00 and heading back to the Toll Road we see that the Storks are now once again taking up residence on nests in various places…..



While back on the Toll Road we more or less follow all the way a new road construction taking place which for quite some distance the level of the road is being raised in places by heights going into double figures which is interesting to see as it entails moving thousands of tonnes of earth to build up the base….







Remember those Strawberries we enjoyed a few days ago? Here is where they came from as we see more Strawberry Pickers out in the fields….



Open plain and the local horses left to roam and feed……



Houses up on the hillside with a view across the open plain…..



A new bridge under construction to carry the new road which seems to be going into Tangiers from the direction of the bridge….



Not far now.....



As we got into the port we heard that there was a ferry due in in 30 minutes which was interesting as we thought we had missed the 11:00 sailing and would have to wait until 17:00, but maybe this was the 11:00 running late which would not be very surprising!
As we then went through the Police and Customs checks in for us record time we then get on the ramp to have the outfit ‘X Rayed’ while you are not allowed to remain in your outfit, and all outfits have to pass through this check …..



As we then travel on down to the embarkation area we see the ferry arriving, and after unloading they then start to loading of the vehicles going back to Spain watched over very carefully by the Police….

As the Truck moves forward ready to drive onto the Ferry the Policeman checks the passport of the driver…..



Then he goes around the back of the Truck to make sure the rear doors are secure, which is good as security at the port was seen to have improved since we came out! We even had to open the door of the ‘TinTent’ to prove we had no-one inside, which was OK as we saw panel vans doing the same thing….



After around 90 minutes of a bit of a wallowing crossing we are berthed in Algeciras and exiting the ferry on our way to to passing through the Spanish Border checks which have also tightened up as we had our passports scanned this time, which was a first in 4 trips…..





As we clear Spanish Immigration & Customs we pass the Post Side Flats as we make our way back to Palmones to stay overnight after getting some supplies from Mercadonna and get some medicine inside me…..



Passing the Port Container Cranes that never sleep…..



While the overcast skies look a bit grim…..



Good night!

[ssicarman]

Sorry to hear about your flu. Hope that it disappears quickly.

[XCovlov70]

Sorry to hear about your flu. Hope that it disappears quickly.

Thank you!

I really could have done without it as it makes driving 'fun' when you sneeze a couple of times in succession and then try blowing your nose after digging out your handkerchief while at an arkward moment like going around a traffic island!!!

[Forkster]

Is the Spanish security at the ferry more than normal? Don't seem to recall all the extra policía in photos from your past trips to Morocco.

[XCovlov70]

Is the Spanish security at the ferry more than normal? Don't seem to recall all the extra policía in photos from your past trips to Morocco.

In a word 'Yes' and it is very pleasing to see.

We have never had our passports scanned before as we have come through the Customs/Border Control Point, all we have had previously is a slow wave telling us to pass through.

This time after that there were several Civil Guards watching all vehicles and quite a few were being pulled over for a full inspection.

While the security on the other side of the water in Tanger Med was also more focused and diligent as the Gendarme refused to allow one Truck to board the ferry to which the driver was definitely not a 'Happy Bunny'!

[XCovlov70]

Overland to Morocco.
Winter 2015-2016

Palmones – Castro Verde

‘Good Morning’

After a rather rough night of coughing and going through a lot of tissue with the runny nose we set off from Palmones to Conil de la Frontera in Spain and a relatively short run, but a bit short of nice scenery for pictures while we did see a few places that were clearly ‘waterlogged’ with all the rain that they have had over here……



As the Sun finally came up over the horizon of the industrial area we passed by….





Got to the campsite, checked in, found a pitch and got set up and then after taking more medicine decided to go ‘incommunicado’ for the next 36 hours to try and sort out this medical condition, so all we got to see while we were here was a nice Sunset, even though we had planned to do more….



While I did manage to clean up ‘Flamenco Red’ on the outside and in the engine bay which was absolutely filthy, which left around 1.5lb of Moroccan ‘mud’ to slide off down the car wash drain during our stay here, we then set off for our next stop which was going to be a campsite in Olhão (Portugal)….

So it was back on the road once again as the medical condition receded and became less of a ‘problem’ but still there….

Heading back to the Autovia we are soon passing Cadiz….



Going towards……



As Jerez appears very soon…..



Then we see some of the vineyards on either side of the Autovia….



Farmhouse.....



Interesting as we saw this Solar Panel field of which there are many in Spain, but this was unique as it seems that the panels did not know which way to point to get the sunshine! …..



The we get off the Autovia as it becomes a Toll Road a number of miles outside Sevilla and continue with a normal road through the town of El Cuervo….





As this small church appears in the centre of the town alongside the main road…..



Back out in the countryside and we pass this very large farmhouse…..



With a mixture of young Olive & Orange trees growing in the fields alongside…..





Then just a few miles further on, for no apparent reason we run into this bank of mist, while every vehicle unlike Morocco was seen to be showing headlights & foglights turned on!…..



Cleared the bank of mist as we see this large house at the entrance to a vineyard…



While this was the sign for the local Car Breakers Yard!.....



As we then get to the outskirts of Sevilla and prepare to go over the one and only road bridge across the river which carries a very large volume of traffic 24x7x365! Any bridge repairs to the road surface can and do cause real nightmares for drivers and very long tailbacks of traffic…..



Couple of views into the Port but made difficult with the safety barriers…..





As we then skirt around the city we get to see a few of the views across the Autovia into that area….







Finally get on the Autovia to Huelva & Olhão and as we get outside Sevilla we see this horse going for a walk over the Autovia….



Then we take the turn for…..



At first I thought this next place was a small airport with the ‘Tower’ while in fact it is a high security prison, with a high concrete wall and then 2 wire walls with a good distance between them to the outside, while the ‘Tower’ can see across it all…..



Up comes the ‘exit’ for any visitors, while the ‘penetentiario’ is in the middle of nowhere…..



As we get closer to Portugal we start to see Windmills…..



Stop for a bite to eat at the last fuel stop on the Spanish side of the Spain/Portugal Border and this machine made a very nice glass of fresh Orange Juice after squeezing 4 Oranges……



Suitably refreshed it was then over the Bridge and the Border with no border controls or checks in place and into Portugal…..





Horse & Cart? Yes this is a way of life for some people here in Portugal….



While some of the road conditions are nearly as bad as Morocco…..



Water wheel on a Traffic Island….



Sculpture on another Traffic Island….



Nearly there now….



After a left hand turn into the side roads which are quite narrow…..





As we get to the campsite, it does not look good as we can see vehicles parked up just inside the entrance gate and not on campsite pitches with electric cables running all over the place!!
The place is not only FULL but it is JAMMED FULL, so we don’t bother going any further and turn around and get back on the road to our next stop Castro Verde as we pass this dilapidated and not sure what it did building a few miles up the road…..



3 large pieces of Steel set in another Traffic Island…..



This was the entrance to Font Ferrea which is at start of a National Park, but we sadly did not have time to stop and explore, maybe next time……



With the rolling hills of the park visible as we climbed the hills going through….



Passing through the small villages…..





As we come to one of the bigger villages called…..



With its narrow streets and ‘Speed Bumps’ to stop you going to fast through the centre……







Through the village and back on the open road…..



It wasn’t long before we see and recognise the outline and shape of Castro Verde up ahead……



After what felt like a very long day & 275 Miles from when we set off this morning we get to the campsite which has got plenty of places, so we get set up and ready for an early night after seeing the Sunset…..



Good night!

[XCovlov70]

Overland to Morocco.
Winter 2015-2016

Our first days at Castro Verde

‘Good Morning’

Firstly my apologies for not being able to place any recent update to the Blog.
The infection that I got became worse and also affected my good lady which basically put us out of action for a number of days, and we are still not over it yet! ……

Our first visit was to the local Pharmacy to see if we could get some medicine to help alleviate the constant racking cough and runny nose as well as a headache, as the supplies from the UK for ‘Just in case’ that we had brought with us had virtually all been consumed, but could have done with some more as they were having a good effect on the ‘problems’ .

At the Pharmacy, we ended up with a bottle of cough medicine and a packet of paracetamol which after following the dosage each day after 5 days of ‘Taking the medicines’ the condition was not getting any better.

So we decided to revert to ‘Grandma’s Remedies’ of a HOT Lemon ‘Toddy’ drink at night, commencing today after a quick visit to the local supermarket to get the items…….



This will be preceded by a Beef, Prune, Banana, Carrot & Almond HOT Curry which will not be cooked this time as we travel along by ‘Flamenco Red’ but inside the ‘TinTent’ while on mains hook up but still using the slow cooker….



As I came back from getting the Curry & Grandma’s medicine supplies from the Supermarket the rain started lashing us again as I then spotted this BIG fella taking shelter under the step outside the ‘TinTent’.
The markings along the bottom edge were interesting….





While the weather here has not been good it is supposed to improve in the next 48 hours, however ‘come hell or high water’ we have to be back on the road this coming Tuesday as we continue getting back home, while the prospect of Snow is a distinct possibility!…..

Good night!

[Da Tow'd]

I like your method of getting vitamin C
hope you are feeling better
cheers
Hank

[XCovlov70]

I like your method of getting vitamin C
hope you are feeling better
cheers
Hank

Hi Hank!

Oops! I hope you were not getting confused?
They were Lemons in that picture and not Oranges?

While the 'Hot Toddy' did work for my good lady I am not sure if it was the cause of a terrific headache (Migraine) that left me with no sleep and being physically sick at around 02:00 this morning!

Still musn't grumble we are making progress in getting rid of this sucker!!!