Overland to Morocco.
Winter 2016-2017
Stage 21 – Azrou to Moulay Idriss
Up and away by 09:00 this morning as we tried to miss a bit of the traffic around Azrou, but came a bit unstuck as there was a Souk in progress on the Meknes Road that slows you down quite a bit as you work your way through all the vehicles and people!……
While just up the road was this Prison......
Then nearly opposite was this large Hotel with 11 Storks with nests up on the roof……
As we start a short climb on the road the scenery is quite stunning to look at……
As the road levels out and we get into the Cedar Forest……
Roadside Fresh Water Outlet, and there are a lot of these here in Morocco……
We are crossing the Moyen Atlas as we see this information board at a viewing point on the road……
Tourist items for sale on the roadside……
As we pull into the side of the road by a car park and get out then walk over to the edge of the car park this is the view that greets us……
Then further down the road this is how they are cutting up another mountain for chippings used in road construction……
A dwelling of Mountain Top dwellers……
Winter crop storage rows……
As we look closer there are lots of Onions hung along the outside of the storage row and we think that this is to stop any wild animals attacking what is being stored underneath…..
Down the road and into El Hajeb, that has some very nice properties along the roadside……
A Stork and nest on top of a memorial……
Out of El Hajeb and after a short distance we turn right down a ‘Country Lane’ which for quite a way was a nightmare to drive with all the Potholes in it, as you tried to zig-zag your way around them!!!......
With a number of Vineyards and Fruit Orchards along the lane as well……
The dwellings of the workers but each with its own Satellite Dish!......
Clearly he is getting his daily exercise!......
Fruit Trees……
Some of the ‘Potholes’, while a lot were much closer together and deeper which meant you crawled along at a snail’s pace……
Another section of workers dwellings that appear to be permanent……
The fresh water bowser making a delivery to each person who brings their own containers to fill up……
A bit further on and finally off the ‘Country Lane’ some Sheep had wandered into the road, while the cyclist was giving the Shepherd some grief because of it.
We stopped as the Sheep on the left started to cross back to the right and the rest of the flock, and as they did so a few of them started ‘jumping’ off the ground!....
As my good lady ‘caught’ one just right of centre in the next picture, as all four legs and the body went up in the air!......
This load was off to a factory on the Industrial Estate we passed through as there were a few more Trucks similarly loaded just inside the gates……
One of the complexes on the Industrial Estate……
Residential area as we came into the outskirts of Meknes……
Orange Trees in the centre of the roadway, but they are not picked as they are bitter……
As we pass through part of Meknes......
Looks like a ‘Bad Hair Day’ on wheels going down the hill!……
Entrance Towers to an area just outside Meknes!......
A broken down Truck carrying a load of wood, while his ‘Warning Triangle’ was a Red Plastic Engine Oil container!......
Taking home the animal feed……
Could not get over how green and fertile the fields looked as we moved away from Meknes……
While a couple of miles further on and we are in Camping Zerhoun Belle Vue, at Moulay Idriss……
In looking around, it looked different from our last visit, and then I got it! A fresh coat of paint on the place while the facilities in general work but a number of the showers have no fittings, and no improvements have been made, but the price has increased!......
While good old Mother Nature did it again tonight with a brilliant Sunset!!…….
Bus trip into Meknes tomorrow…...
Good night!
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