Chi's Travel Log - Mortil, Morocco 02-02-2009

Portraits of some people I met on tour

adventure@chi11.co.uk

20090202 - Week10 - Morocco

Week10

20090202 Mon - Algeciras meditated, Arose 8 it had rained all night and was still going this morning, checked the forecast and it showed the same for the next 4 days, temperatures still up though low of 10° and high of 15° so not complaining. As I was parked in the Lidl car park after breakfast it was straight into Lidl for more supplies, what with that and Carrefour I spent another £100 funds going down fast but I think I could last 3 months on what I have. Also topped up the fuel and water and checked the van over. As planned Richard and Paul arrived at noon from Jerez. Helped Richard with his shopping had a coffee then a late lunch about 3pm. Booked the ferry to Ceuta, Morocco for 8am in the morning, had a run round locally to find a wifi hot spot but no luck very industrial round here. Sorted dinner having coffee and the gas ran out, so changed the bottle ready for Morocco. Had a strip wash so all ready for an early start in the morning, meditated again and retired about 9pm.

20090203 Tue - Algeciras N 36° 10' 51'' W 5° 26' 21'' meditated and Arose about 5:30 had a coffee wrote up my notes breakfast and ready to roll at 6:45. About 20 mins to the port, set sail on time and got through customs for 9:30, 8:30 Moroccan time, a relatively steady drive down the coast to Martil, got to the campsite at about 11. Had some lunch then got the bikes out and had a run round the town and on the beech front stopping at a seafront coffee shop. Later found an internet cafe then back to the site. Got together over the map and roughly planned the next weeks route. Made dinner then settled down for my first night in Morocco with a few glasses of red and a music DVD while I caught up on my notes, retired about 10pm.

20090204 Wed - Martil Camping N 35° 37' 46'' W 5° 16' 39'' meditated and arose about 7 washed, breakfast and shaved by 8, had a clean up and swept round then sorted all tanks out emptied the rubbish another coffee and departed at 9am. Stopped for Richard and Paul to have breakfast N 35° 23' 16'' W 5° 22' 26'' I made a fried egg butty and had a coffee, set off again about 11 arriving at Chefchaquen campsite at noon. Paul and I decided to walk down the mountain to town for a look around and a little shopping. Took a few pics and purchased some veg and Moroccan pita bread to try with my tea, rain on the way back so we both got a bit wet but good exercise. Dried out, chatted with Richard for an hour or so then settled down, made my tea and I thought the bread was good enjoyed it. The Campsite has filled up now and I have settled down with a few tots raining quite hard but going to watch a movie now. Retired at 9pm.

20090205 Thu - Chefchaquen N 35° 10' 30'' W 5° 15' 58'' meditated and arose 7:30 quite cool this morning up in the mountains but not used the heating. breakfast clean round and off at 9am. Stopped after about 80km and parked up on the Afriquia Garage forecourt N34° 53' 38'' W 5° 32' 4'' for 2nd breakfast made a bacon butty this morning it was lovely. Stopped again about 20km up the road and emptied the grey water tanks. Saw some stunning views however some roads left a bit to be desired. Stopped again after about 150km for a brew and a kit kat at 12:30. Got grid locked in the middle of town that was interesting arriving at the campsite in Fez at 3:30. Parked up and set about making dinner having toad in the hole with mash and gravy and a glass of wine. Had the iPod blasting tunes out all day its been another good one, some rain, some shine and interesting sights. Went out for a couple of drinks to the site club with Paul very Moroccan, well expected that, couple of whiskey and cokes with olives, cucumber and a small dish of potato curry, very nice, enjoyed the ambiance, casbarish music and singing, retired for some quality shut eye at about 10pm.

20090206 Fri - Fez - International De Fes Camping N 33° 59' 58'' W 4° 58' 10'' meditated and arose 7:30 it had rained all night and was still pouring down its light about 7 so it feels morning, did a few exercises then got breakfast going, coffee, cereal, yogurt, fruit, bacon and egg and more coffee. Paul and I had a guided tour of Fez from 10am, we were picked up and transported by car to the view point over looking the medina, after that we went to the mosaic factory everything was made by hand it was really interesting, I decided to buy a glazed tajine from their, we then ventured inside the madina which housed all the craftsmen of the city about 150 000 shops and 9 400 streets inside a ancient walled area 4km x 5km a labyrinth of alleys, tiny shops and temples, we looked round a tannery, carpet shop and argon oil co-operative all quite enlightening, the buzz of the medina was great. We arrived back at the camp about 2pm had lunch and generally chilled out, after lunch I got the tajine going with my dinner on slow cook. Settled down with a coffee and a chat with the lads for a while then relaxed made notes had dinner and retired after another good day at about 8pm.

20090207 Sat - Fez Camping meditated and arose 7 breakfast and organised to drive to Ifrane, set off at 8:45 fuelled up and got 13km before finding the mountain road was closed with floods, snow and ice. Turned round and stopped to discuss plan b, it was decided to go to Rabat via the motorway after about 94km 10:45 we stopped for a bacon butty at services N 33° 50' 0'' W 5° 34' 10'' also emptied the grey water tank. Off again at 11:30 no camp site at Rabat so kept going and camped on the beech near skhirat at 3pm . N 33° 53' 15'' W 7° 0' 43'' had a walk on the beech then relaxed made dinner and settled down for the evening retiring at 11pm.

20090208 Sun - Skhirat N 33° 53' 15'' W 7° 0' 43'' meditated, arose at 7 washed, shaved, breakfast and ready to rock at 8:30 heading to Marrakech today fuelled up stopped for 2nd breakfast at about 10 it was a glorious day had a couple of stops en-route for pics, brews and a little sun bathing finally arriving at 3pm at the campsite after some stunning scenery. Parked up had a coffee and lazed in the sun for a while, David arrived Richards mate so we all got together in Richards van and had a few beers. Later had steak for dinner and chilled out with a few glasses of red before retiring, the camp site seems really good and about 15 mins run to the centre of town on the motorbike.

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