Overland to and then a tour around Morocco. Winter 2016-2017

**XCovlov70** · 02-07-2017, 01:35 PM

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!

**XCovlov70** · 02-08-2017, 01:28 PM

Overland to Morocco.
Winter 2016-2017

Stage 21A – A day in Meknes

As we set off this morning to get the Public Bus into Meknes, as we came down the road from the campsite this was the scene……
The road up to the campsite was being dug up to be replaced!.....

While after the Bus Trip into Meknes we set off into the city......

The main square……

Heading off to the main Souk (Market)……

A lights and household items shop……

One of the entrance gates to the Medina, with very nice Strawberries being sold on one side of the gate, while Avocados were being sold on the other side……

Dried Herbs……

Inside this part of the Souk there were men using sewing machines who were stitching track suits together with rather well known names on jackets and leggings!……

Wood machinist making table tops……

Metal Bed Frames being made and painted……

While this CNC Routing Machine was producing some very nice designs out of sheets of hardboard……

I think the next section of the street could be called ‘Metal Working Alley’……

As we then pass through this next gateway……

We then turned left and in a few yards came to a gateway into a yard that we saw sheep’s wool lying on top of concrete tanks……

We had stumbled on a Tannery in Meknes that we did not know existed,and were invited to ‘Go in and have a look’!......

Pink Leather skins on the left and mounds of other skins waiting to be processed on the right……..

It was explained to us that after the skins are put through 3 different treatment baths the men in the next picture use long double handed knives to remove the hair from the leather skin……

The ‘grey’ colour is the hair, the ‘bluish’ colour is the leather after the hair is removed, while after three or four ‘sweeps’ with the blade, the blade is then re-honed to keep its effectivness……

Don’t know what was done with it, but in the middle of the next picture is broken up ‘Stale Bread’ being offered for sale……

A second hand ‘Aladdin’s Cave’ and there were plenty of other like this one!......

In a very small ‘workshop’ this man was producing on a wood turning lathe ‘Table Legs’ and ‘Room Dividers’ that you could build up to any height with lengths of dowel through the holes in the wooden pieces (Right side of the picture)……

Some of the narrow ‘alleyways’ that led to residences in the Souk......

A ‘double’ sized doorway that allowed the inner door to be opened to see who was there but due to its size, it was difficult for the person outside to get through if they were intent on doing bad things to the people inside…..

The ‘Charcoal Shop’ and the product is made in the shop……

An old Mosque……

While the detail and finish of the door and overhead canopy of the Mosque still looks in excellent condition……

Lunch Menu that cost us 93MAD including the service charge! (Exchange Rate was £1 = 12.4MAD)……

1st Snake Charmer……

2nd Snake Charmer……

While as we had finished lunch this ‘Honey Bee’ landed in the small dish that had the Tomato Sauce & Mayonnaise in which we dipped the Pommes Frites in! The ‘Honey Bee’ then tried a number of ways to clean its legs and body which was rather comical to watch, and then flew off with a little help of a launch from a piece of paper shuffles under its legs!......

As we then spotted a Tourist who had been ‘caught’ by Snake Charmer No 2 to have her picture taken with the snake around her neck!......

Anyone fancy a ‘Posh Horse Drawn Cab Ride’?......

Another ‘Tourist Attraction’ while the little monkeys did look to be well cared for……

Multi colours of Cotton Bobbins……

Time to get the Bus back to the campsite while this young chap seems to think he wants the ‘Upper Deck’ which was a bit difficult on a single decker……

The one and only here in Meknes……

Bamboo stems drying out, which are sold and used for a variety of things…..

We counted no less than 17 Storks Nests on this Mobile Comms Mast!......

The ‘road digging’ had certainly moved on when we got back and we wondered if we were going to be able to get out!......

While after the digger went off for the day, this is what was provided to get from the campsite to the main road tomorrow!......

I hope we don’t have to manoeuvre around the digger and trucks as well to make it out!......

Not I’m afraid a very spectacular sunset tonight……

Back on the road tomorrow to Kenitra which we stayed at on our way out, and we hope the campsite is not full!......

Good night!

**Da Tow'd** · 02-09-2017, 10:37 AM

another full day of interesting sights
looking good
cheers
Hank

**XCovlov70** · 02-09-2017, 01:11 PM

Originally Posted by Da Tow'd

another full day of interesting sights
looking good
cheers
Hank

Thanks Hank,

BUT hang onto your Seat belt as the next stage for the first part is rather 'BuMpY'!!!

**XCovlov70** · 02-09-2017, 01:15 PM

Overland to Morocco.
Winter 2016-2017

Stage 22 – Moulay Idriss to Kenitra

Up and away by 08:00 this morning as we did not want to find ourselves ‘stuck’ while the ‘Digger’ removed another section of the road up to the campsite!
However as we pulled out there was another ‘surprise’ waiting for us!
This Donkey was ‘squatting’ right in the middle of the entrance and made no attempt to move as we squoze past to get by and out!!!......

Still there as we looked back having successfully got past......

Then we had the section of road that had been removed by the ‘Digger’ but true to the Digger Drivers words from yesterday he had levelled it with a short ramp at each end and it worked very well, while we did not at that point know what was in store for us a few miles down the road!!!!!……

As we got to the main road it was a right turn followed a short distance later by this ‘left turn’……

It was 2 years ago that we came down this same road, and had we known that the condition had significantly deteriorated we would have been looking for an alternative route to Kenitra!......

For a distance of around 30 miles it was worse than our having to travel along river beds, as I am sure you will see in the next few pictures ……

As we pass over this narrow bridge we see a lot of white foam in the water……

Not sure what causes it as there was nothing clearly visible in the water or on the bank……

The Truck Driver pulled right over which allowed us to stay on what tarmac was available, for which there were hand signals of thanks to the driver!…..

Same again with these two vehicles possibly as we were going uphill and needed the ‘grip’ on the what was available on the tarmac, even though they did not know that ‘Flamenco Red’ is a 4x4 and works just as well on the ‘Piste’!……

Cows up ahead, so we slow down……

Then we see this smoke going across the road……

As we get closer we can see that the Hedge has been set alight, while the group of people on the left side of the picture watch it burn, I move as far left as I can to get past without ending up in the gulley!......

Much greener here than it was last time we came through……

Sadly while the building through the entrance gates looked like it was needing a lot of repairs, the 3 crowns on top of the gate were badly rusted and looked like they were about to fall off……

Interesting hill face as the Sandstone stopped abruptly as the rock then was white in colour!......

While this now obsolete building was on top of the hill on the next bend in the road……

Slowed down for this flock of sheep and the ‘thanks’ in hand gestures that were shown to us were fantastic as we rolled past slowly! ……

Elevated Water Supply Channel and boxes of Oranges as we come into the town of Sidi Slimane.……

WOW! What a load of firewood…….

Looks like this area has seen some rain recently……

OK, he didn’t have the lock on the wheels to get around in one move, but it didn’t stop other drivers pushing to get past!......

Even the Horse Drawn Transport cuts corners on the roads over here……

We could not believe how this coach was managing to go along the road! When you looked closely it was going along ‘crab fashion’ as even though it was supposed to be straight the offside front was further to the left than the offside rear corner!……

As we then get into Kenitra and the last short distance to the campsite……

While there is an airport nearby it is the first time we have seen any military aircraft overhead..…

Now on the campsite, but the forecast for tomorrow and the next couple of days is RAIN, so will have to wait and see what happens…….

Good night!

**XCovlov70** · 02-13-2017, 02:32 PM

Overland to Morocco.
Winter 2016-2017

Stage 22A – Our last few days in Morocco in Kenitra

The rain started last night with a couple of quite heavy showers resulting in some puddles in the part of the campsite where drainage was not that good......

While on our left side was this Camper with an extra large plastic box clamped to an Aluminium Cycle Rack Frame which in turn was clamped to the rear wall of the Camper.

Interestingly the outward face of the box was equipped with a home made warning sign, that looked nothing like the legal equivalent while actually inside the box was an 11Kg Propane Gas Cylinder, which should be vehicle be involved in an accident not of this drivers making, could have led to some very dire consequences as a result!......

While on our first day here it was a case of getting out inbetween the rain showers for a walk around, we were not to be so fortunate for the next 3 days as the rain kept us confined to inside the ‘TinTent’!……

We get to see more of these now ‘Vandal Proof’ Buses with steel sheets replacing broken/smashed windows!......

While this ‘Docker’ was being used as a ‘Taxi’ as we could see some seats inside the trellis walls!……

A ‘Gift Wrapped’ Concrete Mixer for some lucky man’s birthday no doubt!......

As we got back to the campsite before the heavens opened up again we see this ‘Camper’ at the far end of the campsite ……

From a distance it looked a bit like an old Bedford Truck, but was in fact a Mercedes Hanomag, kitted out for what looked like dessert travelling…..

As we managed to get out again for an hour the following day we spotted this Chicken that was for sale and the poor thing looked like it was having a really bad feathers day, as they were all over the place!……

A relatively new bus already with a vandalised front window that has been turned into a Spiders Web pattern as a sharp object thrown at the window left it like that after the impact……

Milk churns outside one of the places where you can go to buy fresh milk……

While here is a place with a stockpile of wood for bread baking……

Neat way to dry the laundry in one of the residential areas……

While 300 yards away is this ‘Home’ on the side of a lake on the outskirts of the city……

Then there is another ‘Home’ a bit further along the side of the lake......

Some of the residences nearby to that lake……

As a Shepherd brings his flock in to graze on some waste land and whatever they can find in the garbage……

Hmmm, not sure if this belonged to some footballer or not?......

Once again we managed to get back to the campsite……

Then the heavens opened up again and didn’t stop for over 5 hours……

Back on the road tomorrow to Tanger Med and the Ferry back to Spain as that brings our tour for tis time to a close around Morocco……
BUT……
We still have to get back to the UK, so we ain’t finished yet!

Good night!

**ssicarman** · 02-13-2017, 08:40 PM

Sooner or later it seems every Morocco trip you manage to get rained on for to long. Hope that the ferry crossing is a good one.

**XCovlov70** · 02-14-2017, 12:54 AM

Originally Posted by ssicarman

Sooner or later it seems every Morocco trip you manage to get rained on for to long. Hope that the ferry crossing is a good one.

While 'Mother Nature' seems to try and put a damper on each trip we come over on, the people over here really make the effort and time to get here so worthwhile.

Once again we have found their hospitality, friendliness and help when we have needed it or been offered it when we were in fact OK has been a real breath of fresh air.

We are sad to be leaving having once again made so many new friends and been able to spend some time with our older friends over here, but hopefully will be back again for another tour.

While it's fingers crossed for the ferry as we understand that the crossing yesterday was a bit rough, so hopefully the sea will have calmed down by the time we get onboard!

**XCovlov70** · 02-16-2017, 01:50 PM

Sorry Folks!

The Internet Speed and Quality at our current campsite is not good enough to be able to upload any pictures or text to update the Travel Blog!

As a result it is going to be a few days before I can achieve this so I hope you can bear with us!

Thanks

**XCovlov70** · 02-19-2017, 09:02 AM

Overland to Morocco.
Winter 2016-2017

Internet now much improved as we have now moved as well!!!

Stage 23 – Kenitra to Tanger Med

After breakfast and getting the ‘TinTent’ ready for the final stage back to the Ferry in Morocco and then paying our fee for the time at the campsite in Kenitra it was around 10:30 we pulled out of the campsite to head off to the Marjane (Supermarket) for some final groceries and a diesel fill up for ‘Flamenco Red’ before we got back on the Toll Road and the run to the Port of Tanger Med......

Nice show of colour as we get onto the Toll Road......

As we then pass areas that are still ‘drying out’ from all the rain!……

As we then pass the very large ‘Plastic Greenhouses’ that are used for growing the Beans & Bananas that are exported to the Supermarkets in the UK and possibly other places as well......

Then we come to an RTA on the Toll Road, where the Truck has left the Toll Road and gone down the embankment while it’s trailer is still on the carriageway, and the Toll Road Assistance is in the process of getting the road cleared up and moving again……

OK, so that is the Trailer now removed……

Next is the Tractor Unit, while the holdup is allowed to move again……

As we then see the construction workers using some strange looking ‘Railway Vehicles’ to work on the new railway line from Tanger to the South……

The Engine with a lot of ‘Flatbeds’ behind it that hold new lengths of track to be laid as they work from the South to the North to lay this new line ……

Clear road, WOW!!!……

While these Storks enjoy the Winter over here and after hatching their young watch them grow before heading back North…..

As we see the lower outskirts of Tanger……

Must be a lot of ‘Bad Boys’ as this is the second new Penitentiary we have seen being constructed while this one is near Tanger ……

As we then enjoy the countryside as we roll along…..

WOW! This was quite steep going down, but didn’t quite manage to ‘smell’ the brakes!......