Overland to Morocco. Winter 2015-2016

[XCovlov70]

Overland to Morocco.
Winter 2015-2016

Sidi Ifni - Guelmim

‘Good Morning’

WOW!
What a night last night was. Gusting winds of around 70+ Mph from the hills to the Sea had the ‘TinTent’ nearly bouncing on the steadies, while the dust/sand particles in the atmosphere was very heavy at times like mist.

A few campers tried moving on the campsite to find some shelter as we got up to an angry but very nice Sunrise !….



While not much sleep was to be had we could hear the odd plastic bottle or other item go skittering past and then heard the flapping as the temporary ‘wall’ was pushed out of place by the wind!.....



While behind the far area, the storm from 2012 has washed away 25% of the campsite ground, we could also see some of the damage left behind…..



While water from the flood was still in ponds inland from the sea…..





As we then got out of the campsite and made our way out of Sidi Ifni towards Guelmim we went along road that had been rebuilt in places as you could see the concrete on the sides where the river had cut away the walls with new tarmac on top …..



Making our way out into the countryside but quite close to the river bed ….



We come to bridges that had been destroyed and new road that had been built in place of the bridge…..







Then the head wind came from the side as did the dust and sand…..



With some of the road signs now being blown over with the force of the wind coming through…..



Highway repair vehicles still working on sections of the road…..



As we pass through this village…..



We see this Water Dam at the top off to the right, which we think is one of the two that sent the flash flood down the river into Sidi Ifni after 16 hours of continuous heavy rain…..



More winding road as we go up and down the mountains! …..



As we get closer to Guelmim....



Then we reach the town gate….



Passing the Palm Trees whose big leaves are bending in the high wind that has not stopped…..



One Bedford (General Motors) Truck/Lorry which we guess must be around 40+ Years old…..



Guelmim Tourism College….



As we then get to the town centre…..





All the Coaches on the left in the next picture would be on the road taking tourists to different destinations if there were any tourists here, but business is very poor at the moment…



WOW! A set of traffic lights, and they are working…..









This was a very large water fountain on a traffic island, and while it had water in, with the high wind the pump had been turned off, but it did not stop the water from lapping over the edges…..



As we then pulled into the Marjane Supermarket Car Park, this empty trolley took off in the wind and went straight across the car park, while it was a good job we parked in another place to prevent being hit…..





Then back on the road after getting all the provisions we turned right and once again the dust and sand came flying across the road…..



Through the next small village which has grown a lot since we came last year and the road has also improved…..



Sunday football match even in the dust and sand in the village…..



More dust and sand as we come back out of that village and head for the next one…..



Then we turn right onto the short ‘piste’….



Arriving at the campsite…..



After a very warm welcome from Hassan & his family as we just finish getting set up Hassan brings out to us his ‘Welcome’ of a Cous Cous meal each, which was very nice and tasty…..



While Sunset tonight was something different as the wind had died down and we had a nice blue sky to end the day….



Even though there was not much sleep last night due to the high wind, today seems to have rolled past very quickly, in fact all the days have so far…..

Good Night.

[ssicarman]

As always thanks for the pictures. Wide range of weather. This campsite looks nice with the green trees. Hope that you two had a nice Christmas.

[XCovlov70]

As always thanks for the pictures. Wide range of weather. This campsite looks nice with the green trees. Hope that you two had a nice Christmas.

Hi ssicarman I will pass on your thanks on to my good lady who is the photographer when we are rolling along the road.

I am just glad that we have not seen the rain that the folks have been enduring back home!

This campsite is nice as it is on the edge of a Palmerie which you can spend hours walking around, without getting lost!

We had a very nice Christmas and the Brussels Sprouts were excellent with the Turkey and other vegetables!

[XCovlov70]

Overland to Morocco.
Winter 2015-2016

Our 2nd & 3rd days in Tighmert near Guelmim

‘Good Morning’

At the end of our second day at Tighmert and Camping L’Oasis which was spent sorting out a few minor problems in the ‘TinTent’as well as removing the sand and dust we collected on the trip against the high wind we found ourselves watching a very nice Sunset!….





While behind the family home, are the Palm Tree ‘stairs’ up the outside of the family home to the roof ….



A short while later when the darkness was complete we go behind to the rear of the campsite and get this next picture of the Palm Trees lit up by a street light with the stars of Orion’s Belt at the top right…..



Then today we decided with some friends who came to join us at the campsite to have a stroll through the Palmerie with the following results….





Then in this field we see grass being grown for animal feed….



While on the other side of the pathway we see a cultivated field but not sure what was being grown but it looked like potatoes…..



With the water being supplied via this irrigation channel……



Then a few yards further on in a break in the trees we see the village Mosque…



Bet your back garden doesn’t look like this?…..



Moving out of part of the Palmerie we see other buildings just along the track…..



Front doorway on the right with the Electricity Meter in the wall next to the doorway while the doorway on the left seemed to be the entrance to the rear area…..



While the ‘Old Residence’ which is falling down is on the right hand side…..



While at the bottom of the slop is this water channel with some fast flowing water running through…..



Continuing along the pathway…..



We go down a bit further and come to the river bed…..



Then climbing back up we continue along the top of the oasis….



As we see a Goat & 2 Cows come out of the bushes with a lady looking after them, as we all say ‘Hello’ and get a reply and a nice smile from her…..



As we get to the Pond we see this brightly coloured small Dragon Fly on the wall around the Pond…..



Then zooming in while hoping it didn’t take off again….



Then nearer still…..



Then there is the Pond in which the growth in the water we think has increased since we came last year…..



On our way back to the campsite we pass this small field surrounded by a Palm Frond fence that sadly is falling apart…..



Another disused old building in which you can see the stones that were used between the sections that built up the walls…..



We have seen both Brown & Yellow Dates, but these were our first Green Dates……



While sunset was not very far behind, and it happens quite fast over here….



Good Night.

[XCovlov70]

Overland to Morocco.
Winter 2015-2016

Tighmert and the last Sunset of 2015

‘Good Evening’

Just tried to get a flavour of the last Sunset in Morocco in 2015!….

The ‘burning’ Palm Tree as the Sun drops away and sunset comes in….



Then we are left with the golden glow for a few minutes…..



As the sky takes on a much lighter ‘daylight’ like colour as the Sun drops further over the horizon ….



While then a nice shade of blue starts to appear…..



Then a dark orange colour starts to move in at the bottom of the sky….



As it then gets darker…..



And darker…..



Then a couple of minutes after this last picture it was very dark and the sky was full of stars…..



While that afternoon we made a trip to the Marjane Supermarket and found this rather large and quite delicious sponge cake, which was just right for the 6 of us Brits on the campsite! Yummy!! ……



As we made it past Midnight then I can truthfully say we saw the New Year in!

Interestingly we were also joined by 6 Gendarmes (Police) for security and protection who came to the campsite at around 20:30 hours and stayed all night.

A Happy New Year to everyone & Good Night!

Back on the road tomorrow to a new destination and getting closer to the Sahara Desert!

[XCovlov70]

Overland to Morocco.
Winter 2015-2016

Tighmert -Assa

‘Good Morning’

Back on the road today after a nice break in Tighmert at Camping L’Oasis but it’s not a long trip to Assa which is a new destination for us and after we made it we hope you will sit back and enjoy the scenery which I must admit once again that the camera does not do justice to the panoramas you see as you travel along..….

But first a quick trip to the little shop just a short walk from the campsite for a couple of ‘Hobs’ (Round Loaves of bread) as we pass the crumbling house of Hassan’s Grandfather…..



With the view of the mountains by the little shop…..





We then hit the road for the run to Assa….









Bridge building and a small diversion…..



With the construction crew’s accommodation, cement mixer and bags of cement along the roadside……





As we get to the next new ‘Wadi’ where the concrete is still drying out, so the short diversion is still in place….







Back on the road and into the scenery again, while the road was in very good condition…..



























As we come into a small village there is a ‘High Load’ vehicle in front…..



As we get close we see the Sheep & Goats both inside and on top!.....



Overtake the ‘High Load’ and back to the scenery as we also get out of the village….









The we start ‘Hill Climbing’ up the ‘Col Amezloug’ and the scenery got even better!....











Through the gorge while hoping no rocks fell off the sides!....















The ridges of the mountains look like the back of dragons as you get closer….



Good place to put the mobile comms masts but it does impact the view…..





Finally get over the top and see this little ‘Outpost’ as there is a high military presence in the area….



The we are going down the other side of the Col….







As we came around the hairpin bend, the view we had on our side just made our mouths drop open, it was stunning as it went across the valley, so you have to try and visualise the next 3 pictures as one Panorama!....







As we looked down into the valley we could see the road and the Truck making its way along which looked no bigger that a ‘Dinky Toy’ but that was the road we needed to take…..





As we came to Assa Town Gate and the Gendarme ‘Check Point’…



After a short conversation with the Gendarme we made our way to the ‘Campsite’ in Hotel Nidaros ….



After waiting around 20 minutes for a person to appear in Reception we found after asking for the price that to stay overnight in their ‘Car Park’ with no facilities we had to pay 4 times as much as we have paid in other places, while the Hotel is not owned by a Moroccan person which was not surprising when we were told the cost.
So we declined and got back on the road and went into the town for some lunch and a look around…..

Hotel Nidaros Reception….



But the ‘Good News’ will be told in the next part…..

Good night!

[XCovlov70]

Overland to Morocco.
Winter 2015-2016

Tighmert -Assa

‘Good Morning’

Having left the Hotel Nidaros after we found out how much it was to stay, we made our way into the centre of Assa passing this LARGE Teapot & Cups on a traffic island near the Hotel……



The pulled into a small car park opposite the ‘Gendarmerie Royale’ (Police Station) and as my good lady prepared some lunch I went over to see if I could get some directions to find a large area with some Camel Statues in.

Having been met by a Soldier from the Military who was on the gate, I asked if it was possible to speak with someone who spoke English and they asked the Chief of the Station to come and speak with me.

As I asked the Chief about the directions to the Camel Statues, I also asked if there was a place we could stay for the night as we found Hotel Nidaros to be very expensive for the service offered especially as they have no facilities.

The Chief did not hesitate and told me we were very welcome to stay in the small car park opposite to the Police Station and if we had any problems to go and knock on the door, as he also welcomed us to his country! ..….

After offering him my thanks, I went back to the ‘TinTent’ with the directions to get to the Camel Statues and the good news about being able to stay the night before having lunch and then setting off into the town for a bit of exploring, and the results are following…..

Opposite the Gendarmerie Royal…..





The main road through Assa….



Some of the buildings on the main road through….







Continuing down the main road of the town….





We come across this ‘exercise’ in gluing a number of small pieces of wood together outside a cabinet makers shop…..



As we then get to the main square…..



We see the Camel Statues in the centre of the square….



Papa, Moma, Baby and the Water Well in the background….





While a bit further along the road is this building…..



Then at the back of the building in the previous picture are the houses set back from the main road…..



We think this is a war memorial as the town has a high Military population due to its close proximity to the Western Sahara….



Then across the road is a military building as it had a soldier on guard outside….



While to the right of that building was this curved doorway…..



Which as I got closer there was another curved doorway behind the first one….



One of two large Mosques in the town…..



Long row of shop fronts all closed as it was lunchtime….



As once again the Trucks waited for customers who needed them for work….



Interesting ‘shop’ selling Diesel in 5Ltr Plastic Water Bottles at 30MAD a bottle which is 33% less than the regular garages!
It seems that the fuel comes from Algeria across the Sahara.
While you are not sure of the quality of it or what it could do to a catalytic converter if fitted to your vehicle so we declined the offer to buy some…..



While further up the road was a shop selling this Honey produced by one of the Women’s Co-operatives in the area ….



In towns across Europe we can see cats ‘raiding’ the garbage looking for food, over here there is some competition for the cats from the herds of Goats & Sheep as people put their garbage out for collection…..



As we make our way back up the main road we pass some of the residential property....



Then we come to a small garden which was closed to public entrance as it is used to teach the schoolchildren about the flowers and different animals in the area…..













As the daylight disappears the street lights are turned on including the Christmas Lights fastened to the lampposts…..





With a selection of the different lights….



It was time to try and get some ‘shut eye’ but the downside of being opposite the Police Station was a ‘noisy night’ with all the visitors and traffic along the road and into and out of the car park…..

Next stop is the town of Icht and Camping Borj Biramane tomorrow….

Good night!

[ssicarman]

Looks like some nice new roads through the mountains.
More newer buildings in the town than older or did you just do pictures of the newer ones?

Might have been a noisy night but you can tell the folks back home that you spent the night with the local police. Should get a rise out of them.

[XCovlov70]

Looks like some nice new roads through the mountains.
More newer buildings in the town than older or did you just do pictures of the newer ones?

Might have been a noisy night but you can tell the folks back home that you spent the night with the local police. Should get a rise out of them.

The road through the mountains was excellent, while I think it was not long in being completed, which might be due to the large military presence in Assa as we were passed by 4 or 5 BIG Coaches (Like Greyhound Lines) going towards Guelmim all full of soldiers.

I didn't concentrate on what I thought were the newer buildings, but Government property is kept in good condition compared to shops and houses.

Thankfully the night with the local police was completely free of 'charge' Financial and otherwise!

[XCovlov70]

Overland to Morocco.
Winter 2015-2016

Assa - Icht

‘Good Morning’

07:00hrs and after around 90 minutes shut eye through the whole night, it was time to roll out of bed and get some breakfast before we hit the road as the Sunrise came along around 30 minutes later, as we then got on the road through the town……



Then the street lights were turned off which made it rather difficult to see Black Mercedes cars with no lights on, while the driver was not really bothered as I flashed him with my main beam…..



As the light from the sunrise went through different colours….



While again the road was good with a white line down the middle all the way to Icht!….



As the Sun finally snuck over the hills…..



As the camera ‘wobbled’ with the shock of being hit full on!.....



As the colours shifted and changed as we travelled along with no one else in sight, either in front or behind!….









As we pass this fresh water well at the side of the road….



While the colours continued to shift and change as we moved along….











Finally we see a sign advising us to look out for….



While after a few more kilometres, there they are!.....





As we then approached the town of Fam El-Hisn…..



While the residents took a great interest in our car & caravan combination as we passed through……



As we then passed through some of the quite narrow streets in the town…..



















Well maintained Government building…..



The small signs on the wall on the right hand side of the next picture show that we are outside the doors of an Auto Mechanic’s premises, but it’s a bit early in the morning for it to be open…..







As we turn left and go through a Gendarme Check Point which was just being set up for business we come into the village of Icht while at the top of the village is our next camp site for a couple of nights….



As we turn right into the entrance ‘piste road’……



Which goes down into a steep river gulley……



As we then get to the entrance gates…..



Then having got set up well before Reception opens up we get a view like this at the back of us…..



While this is the view looking from the ‘TinTent’ doorway……



Time to put the kettle on and make a nice hot drink I think!…..

Have a nice day!