Overland to Morocco. Winter 2015-2016

[XCovlov70]

Overland to Morocco.
Winter 2015-2016

A day in Icht

‘Good Morning’

Luvverly quiet night last night so a good night’s sleep was had! Then after breakfast and a couple of chores we decided to head off to take a look at a nearby dam & reservoir that we walked over to last year and had quite a large amount of water in it, only this year it was bone dry!……



So come on as we walk around some of the lake bed and see the deep cracks that in some places must be 12 inches deep, but Mother Nature still manages to grow new life in this place that we are told is lucky if it sees rain every 10 YEARS! …..







































After 3 Miles each way to get there and back to the campsite, with no cooling breeze and an outside temperature of around 25C! Even taking bottles of water to drink, by the time we got back we were looking forward to putting our feet up for a rest …

Back on the road tomorrow to Tata!…..

Good night!

[XCovlov70]

Overland to Morocco.
Winter 2015-2016

Icht - Tata

‘Good Morning’

07:20hrs this morning, opened the ‘TinTent’ door to find Sunrise happening!....



Then after breakfast and packing up the rest of the bits it was time to hit the road as we went off down the short piste from the campsite back to the single track road and on our way to Tata….



As we got onto the road the wind which had started last night and got stronger was creating some ‘mini tornadoes’ as we just caught one with the camera as it disappeared behind a bush in the middle of the next picture!.....



While the clouds and the sunshine did something extra to the scenery this morning…..











Then we came to the roadworks as the road is widened to a two lane complete with white line, but while they do that you are on the ‘piste’ and that was for around 5Km (3 miles)!....



The ‘piste’ had been sprayed with water to keep the dust down, and after a short distance I looked in the rea view mirror to see 2 brown lines of MUD climbing up the front of the ‘TinTent’ one on each side of the front!.....









Finally got back on the ‘proper’ road, which was the new 2 lane, while the ‘road crew’ were removing by hand the surplus chippings from the top coat that had been laid and rolled into place…..



As we came into the next village called Tizgui, which after the first 500yds the road width gets quite narrow!....



While this time it was even narrower as even more roadworks were being carried out!.....





Not sure what the low channel was for but it made the tarmac very narrow….



And then we see the Truck coming towards us which was then overtaken by a car!!.....



OK got that sorted out, and then it was ‘Which way now?’ as we came up behind the ‘Chippings Truck!....



Tried to stay on the ‘old road’ as I could see the fresh tar along the edge of the chippings, but I had to eventually go around so we ended up with a few tar spots mixed in with the MUD from the previous ‘piste’ section!





Then we get back on the 2 lane road and up to the Town Gates for Akka, which after a short conversation with the Gendarme at the Check Point we made or way into and through the town….







The back out into the countryside and while we are close to the Sahara we see the sand build up against the mountain ridges along the road…..













As we then get to the Town Gates for Tata and the next Gendarme Check Point….



As we then enter the town….



After a few hundred yards it’s a hard left and a short downhill …..



To cross the river, which is nothing but a trickle now….



To turn left again and into Camping Hyat and after getting the steadies down we get the MUD off the front of the ‘TinTent’ from the ‘piste’ run which had set hard in the wind and sun!...



As the campsite manager and assistant made us a ‘Welcome’ cup of Moroccan Tea, which was very refreshing….



Exploring tomorrow in the town centre….

Good night!

[XCovlov70]

Overland to Morocco.
Winter 2015-2016

Our 2nd Day in Tata

‘Good Morning’

As today was quite calm after the blustery wind from yesterday I was able to get some good pictures from the view that we have here out of the back window of the ‘TinTent’ in Camping Hyat which is very nice!....

So moving left to right we can see the following 4 pictures…..









Then I tried a little trick to make a Panoramic picture using the satellite dish tripod to rest the camera on to take the same pictures that could be joined together to make a Panoramic, and the result nearly worked!....



We then set off into the town and the outdoor market….







Then made our way around to the main square….



Having then sampled the coffee we made it in time to a small café for some Moroccan Fish & Chips, which are Sardines, with a portion of Pommes Frites, Bread, freshly made Tomato Sauce and a couple of bottles of Sprite! Cost was 36MAD (£2.45 or $4.00) for 2 persons. WOW and the food was wonderful, but we did see all the locals in the place before we went in!....

P.s The Pommes Frites were had not arrived when I took the picture, they were still in the fryer for another 15 seconds!



Having got a few bits and pieces we made our way back to the campsite taking in a few views as we went……







Were we then saw the flowing water in the river, and heard the Bullfrogs ‘croaking’…..



Having got back to the campsite we realised that we had forgotten a couple oif bits that we needed so hoofed it back to town to get them and saw this Sunset by the main square…..



Walking back again to the campsite we get the last of the Sun as it goes below the mountains....



While dinner tonight was a Meat Tajine which was very nice, nearly causing a trip to the Civil Protection and a fire hydrant as we ate a Pepper that still had its seeds inside!.....



BOY! That was HOT!!!

Good night!

[XCovlov70]

Overland to Morocco.
Winter 2015-2016

Our 3rd & Final Day in Tata

‘Good Morning’

As we started out with a bright blue sky, no wind and a temperature that was rapidly climbing we cleared up some clothes washing and some housekeeping in the ‘TinTent’ before heading off into town for lunch.

As we did we passed this lady on the river bed in Rubber Boots gathering animal feed to take home….



Next stop was that Café/Restaurant for some more ‘Fish & Chips’ except this time they also came with an Apple Fritter that had Cinnamon spice added which was very tasty as was all the meal and especially at 30MAD (£2 or $3) for both of us!....



After lunch and getting a few things in the town as well as a Gazole fill up for Flamenco Red we then headed back to the campsite to have a look at the Berber Tents that you can stay in when here for a price!



While at the end of the campsite you can get a close up of the village on the other side of the river bank which is over 300 Years Old and still inhabited as it was here before the town of Tata….



While on the river bank someone is drying their washing!....



As we then turn through 180 and look back along the river bed towards Tata & the distant mountains of the Anti Atlas…..



Then across the river bed, which is not flat by any means, to the Governors House…



While down at the river water’s edge is this Ibis or Heron looking for food….



A bit further downstream is this herd of Goats....



Then we see the second Ibis or Heron further down again…..



Then up stroll a couple of Donkeys for a drink, well it was rather hot!.....



The river water is not very deep but quite wide in places….





As this very large rock stands high in the middle…..



Not much later and sunset starts coming in…..





Back on the road tomorrow to Foum Zguid and a new campsite….

Good night!

[XCovlov70]

Overland to Morocco.
Winter 2015-2016

Tata – Foum Zguid

‘Good Morning’

I could have sworn we had a few drops of rain last night as I thought I heard raindrops landing on the roof of the ‘TinTent’ as the black clouds rolled in as the sun set, but there was no signs this morning as we packed up to set off for the trip to Foum Zguid.

As we got out of Tata and into the countryside we could see that it was quite misty and a lack of sunshine did nothing for the colours and swirls we could see on the mountains as we passed by….







As we get to the start of a very large Oasis with a village alongside it….







As the Oasis slips away to our left, some of the colour starts to come back into the roadside and mountains…



As we pass this small Mosque and village, while you cannot see it but there is a deep valley at the edge of the land in the bottom of the next picture separating us from the Mosque & village as we pass by on the road ….



We then drive over a wide Wadi…..



Which has water flowing across it at the far side which is a couple of inches deep…..





As we see more and more sand from the Sahara lying against the rock formations as it was blown in by the wind ….





New road to a new Wadi that replaced a broken bridge …..



Then around the next bend we start to see Foum Zguid appear …..



Not long and we pass through the Town Gate…..



Then down the main road through the town…..





To the traffic island which is under re-construction and surrounded by green mesh….



Through the town and out the other side with not far to go to the campsite….



School has finished so the majority of pupils are cycling home as there are no School Buses or Mum’s doing the ‘School Run’ over here…..



Next little village….



With an older village on the other side of the river bed….



Passing through a small Palmerie…..



We then pass over via a Wadi, a very wide river bed….



With a Hotel very close to the edge on the other side…..



Then 500 meters later we see Bab Rimal, the Hotel & Camping which is a new place for us to stay….



Hard earth formations at the side of the road, which I suspect were the result of material being removed and mixed with straw for strength during the construction of the buildings in Bab Rimal as all the walls are the same colour!….



Moving over to the left of the road and then turning right to get through the gates…..



We get into the camping area and get set up….



While we were in for a very nice surprise!
But more about that tomorrow…..

Good night!

[XCovlov70]

Overland to Morocco.
Winter 2015-2016

Foum Zguid

‘Good Morning’

Very surprised to once again find that we are the only ones on the camping area as it was the same in Tata at Camping Hyatt.



Having said that we were joined much later in the day by 2 girls from the Netherlands who are cycling their way around Morocco!....



Our surprise came a few minutes later as we went around the Hotel that is part of this complex, as the owner gave us a small tour.

Our first stop was the rooms shaped like Berber Tents with full facilities inside but no TV as he values the peace and tranquillity that is felt when you sleep in the room, while inside the room is a perfume comes out of the walls that is very pleasant and relaxing….







Or you can if you wish have a full size room with all facilities in the normal hotel style, but again there is no TV….





While in another area close by is a very large Berber Tent for large groups social events, so come through the entrance door and inside..…











Moving back inside the hotel we come into the Bar/Lounge…..



With this rather nice small coffee table…..



Then in the passageway up to Reception is this wooden door which is around 2 meters high, made from 3 thick planks of wood that were then carved for the design.
The latch is a slice of wood that moves across, inside the face on the left side about 12 inches down from the top.
The door came from Burkina Faso in Central Africa…..



While on the opposite side of the hotel is the Dining Room…..



While the ‘Piece De Resistance’ which we can use along with a wonderful view while swimming is this…..





Then at night it looks spectacular…..









Now you will excuse us while we relax for about 48 hours in this place before moving on ….

Good night!

[XCovlov70]

Overland to Morocco.
Winter 2015-2016

Our 3rd Day in Foum Zguid

‘Good Morning’

Decided today to backtrack about 50 miles to a place that was mentioned by another couple we met while we passed it but did not see much as we travelled from Tata to Foum Zguid, so off we went while our first surprise was this man on a Moped ‘towing’ a rather large Camel at the end of a rope!....



As we get to the road sign for the place…..



Then as we get onto the piste road and go down the slope and around the bend it becomes very clear why you do not see much as you pass on the main N12 road….



As we continue down the piste road and into the valley bottom the walls look like they are about to collapse on top of you!!!....

So NO sneezing in the back please!







As we reach the very wide Wadi over the river….



As we climb up from the Wadi on the other side we pass these houses that are falling down, no doubt after being there for a very long time..…



As new property is being built quite close to the edge of the gorge as we also see this lady going up a path in the wall of the gorge with a sack on her back possibly with animal feed foraged from the river bed….



Then we see the view up the other gorge and other river…..



We decided to follow the piste road across the smaller Wadi and travelled for about 5 miles before we decided to turn around as we did not know how far the piste road went…..



While the scenery all around us was breath-taking…..









Just at this point we were met by 4 school pupils all on their way home on bicycles, and one of the boys asked us for ‘Pencils’ so I held my hands out and asked him where he thought I had the pencils? His friends understood this and started laughing as they saw the funny side, at which point there were handshakes all around with ‘Welcome’ from all 4 followed by big smiles as they had enjoyed the meeting of strangers and the laughter we had made together….









As we continue back along the piste road we pass more old buildings sadly falling down…..





As we get back to the smaller Wadi we can see clearly how the opposite side of the gorge to the village is crumbling down…..



While we then park well away from the gorge face to walk back down and take our time with the views….













We stopped to watch this Heron who was literally ‘dancing’ in the water trying to catch the small fish that we saw in the river….





As we managed to zoom in on these two ladies who were in the process of washing the household clothes in the river…..





Back up to ‘Flamenco Red’ and up out of the gorge, then back on the road to Foum Zguid as we pass these camels, who have no road sense whatsoever and so it is always wise to slow down when they are close to the roadside…..





Getting back to the campsite we were told that there was a new arrival in the animal area, so walked over and found this newly born goat….



Back on the road tomorrow to the Sahara Desert….

Good night!

[XCovlov70]

Overland to Morocco.
Winter 2015-2016

Foum Zguid – M’hamid

‘Good Morning’

Time to move on again and get down to the Sahara Desert.

As we get out of the campsite at Bab Rimal it is not very long before we are out in the countryside, or to be more specific in a valley that we last came through 2 years ago when there were large sections of the road missing as they had been washed away by the river after it rained and we ended up going ‘Off Road’ in a couple of sections to continue to Zagora!....

This time was much better, while there is still work to be done on the road as you will see later…..

Agriculture in the valley has certainly grown with large fields being covered in plastic cloches to grow vegetables, with water being drawn from deep wells….



Then a little further we see these young camels…..



As this youngster runs along to catch the others up…..



The ‘silver line’ going from the centre of the next picture across to the right is new crash barrier that was not there on our last trip down this road….



As we came to the first of 4 or 5 Wadi/Bridges that are still under construction….





Interestingly all the way along the road on either the right hand side or the left you can see the ‘Old Piste Road’ which is the backup for when the main road gets washed away!….





We were not sure whether this Donkey was lost, waiting for a lift, Taxi or Bus but he just stood in the middle of the left side of the road as we went past possibly expecting us to toss a carrot out of the window!….



On the left hand side of the next picture is a small school, while the larger building is still being built but was not there on our previous trip….



A short distance further on and on both sides of the road there are fields growing vegetables for the area…..



With another small ‘Deviation’ as another Wadi is rebuilt….



Then the city of Zagora comes into view…..



Turn right, but while it is off camera we have to wait for the traffic lights to change!....



As we then pass the Military Administration building….



Next up we see the ‘Tourist Office’ which we have never seen open!…..



As we then head out of town, being chased by a guy on a Moped telling us to ‘Turn around’ to follow him to a campsite he recommends in Zagora! No thanks, we still have 50 miles to go and that’s Southbound….



4 Years ago, construction on the new bridge in the next picture was just being started……



As we get onto the ‘Temporary Wadi’ we see the old Wadi alongside partly destroyed….



Then 2 miles further on we get into heavy roadworks and have to be careful as the oncoming traffic is all over the road!!!....









Single lane passed this ‘digger’ and you are on your own as you drive along….



More re-construction and another ‘Piste’ section to drive over….



As we climb out, at least the surface is firm but very dusty…..





2 lane road at last, but narrow Wadi approaching, while normally it is the other way around, the Wadi’s are wider than the road…..



First village past Zagora which is called Tamegroute…..



Then on the other side we get to the ‘Single Track’ road, which judging by the re-construction that we have seen and are about to see further down this will be rebuilt to a good two lane road….



The road did get a bit wider as we got to the next Wadi with another ‘Deviation’ on the far side of the Wadi as they were still building the second smaller Wadi, then it was back to the single track road…..







Then the road got a lot wider, but no white line yet!.....



Bus Stop with a Palm Tree (for Shade) growing up through the roof, while the people waiting for the Bus were sat on the other side of the road in the sunshine…



Next ‘Deviation’ and this one was a couple of miles long on piste….





As we get back onto the wider tarmac road….





Which didn’t last very long as we came to these locality gates….



Having climbed the hill, its time to go down the other side…..





As we then come to the village of Tagounite which has a large Military Barracks and Jeeps that look like they have been stretched sideways they are that wide, so we find wider and better road…..



Which continues……















All the way to M’hamid and the town centre…..



First right off the Traffic Island, then down the main road and out onto the piste while 300 yards off in the distance is ‘La Boussole’ the campsite in the Sahara Desert!.....





Get set up and we say ‘Hello’ to the other ‘Brits’ we saw a few days ago in Icht and camping Borj Biramane…..



Camel Rides to Tomboukto that will take 50 Days from here but they are not mandatory…..



As we finally see the Sunset over the campsite and the sliver of the Moon…..



With the final colours before it gets totally dark…..



Good night!

[ssicarman]

The place you stayed on yesterdays pictures (the pictures were enjoyed very much here) looked like a nice place. The owner seems to be taking a good bit of care to make a good place to stay. Today's campsite looks a bit desolate in comparison.

[XCovlov70]

The place you stayed on yesterdays pictures (the pictures were enjoyed very much here) looked like a nice place. The owner seems to be taking a good bit of care to make a good place to stay. Today's campsite looks a bit desolate in comparison.

The place itself (Hotel/Camping) was very nice especially the Hotel part.
However when all the guests in the Hotel went to bed they turned all the lights out which also killed the feed to the campsite and our hook up to the Fridge in the 'Tin Tent' which I found when making a call of nature at 01:00!

I then had a word with the Hotel Staff and after providing a Permanent Marker Pen to use on the part of the electrics that supplied the camping area our supply was not switched off again during our stay, but the campsite shower lights kept blowing light bulbs!!!

For the next campsite we are right on the edge of the Sahara Desert with brilliant Sunsets, Sunrises and Star shows which is superb and not many of us are here!