Chi's Travel Log - Cascades de Ouzoud, Morocco 30-03-2009

Portraits of some people I met on tour

adventure@chi11.co.uk

Week18

090330 - Mon. - Cascades d' Ouzoud - a 7:30 it looked a bit brighter this morning so I decided to have a second go at sealing the roof, I just about finished when it started spitting a bit but then cleared up again. I was quite happy with the second job so I decided to get rolling while it was fine, set off at 9:15. It was a lovely run through the mountains and past a lovely lake which I later realised was a big dam which linked to another dam lower down the mountains and piped water to the lowlands, the scenery was lovely most of the route to Meknes, got lost after that and ended up in the sticks on some side roads that changed to muck roads single track full of pot holes for about 60km, I finally found my way back onto the main road but then had to drive another 30km before I found a suitable place to stop, by this time it was 9pm. I was well ready for dinner and a brew and a good sleep.

090331 Tue - sued a 6am and got straight on the road decided I might as well go straight on to the Aire at Asilah took some finding but parked up at 8am. Had a coffee and bought some cakes which I ate for breakfast. Met up with Eddy, an English guy who has been coming to Morocco since the early 70s and knows the crack, we had a lazy day drinking coffee and walking round then a few G&ts in the afternoon, got to bed about 8pm.

090401 Wed - Asilah Aire - m&a 7:30 had a brew and chatted to Eddy, we decided to go to the port at Tangiers and get the next ferry to Agerciras, got prepared and rolling for about 9. Fuelled up and arrived at the port about 10:15am as we arrived it poured it down and it was really slow going through, we ended up departing at 1pm and with the time difference arrived in Spain at 5pm. We drove to Gibraltar and got through passport control their at 5:45 had a look round a few purchases and a sandwich and a pint, Eddy just missed the banks closing so has to return in the morning again. We then drove to restaurant and parked up for the night in the car park, and had a meal in the restaurant before retiring at 10:30pm.

090402 Thu - Restaurant car park - near Gibraltar - a 6 quick coffee then got rolling arrived at benel madina market car park about 8:00 had another coffee and some breakfast then sat and read for a while. about 11 set off on the bike to see Auntie Sheila in Fuengirola had lunch with them and was invited for dinner by Annette so went back and brought the van to Fuengirola and parked it up outside for the night. Watched a little tv after dinner and retired about 11:30.

090403 Fri - Fuengirola m&a 9 had a late start because it didn't get light till 8 Spanish time. Coffee and joined Annette and Auntie Sheila for a bacon butty. Then went for a walk on the front and a little shopping before returning for lunch and caught up with my emails. Annette and I went to Lidl for a few other bits and bats then we chilled out and finished the day with fish & chips and a little tv got to bed about 11:30.

090404 Sat - Fuengirola - up at 5 had a coffee and decided I would get cracking, wanted to get into Portugal today, had a really good run stopped for fuel and a cupper and also got a full bottle of gas. Parked up at the lake at 1pm after about 500km so did quite well, it was a lovely day in the high 20s and blue sky's so sat out over looking the lake and had a sandwich for lunch, followed by a couple of beers and I finished my book. A really peaceful place only seen a few people all afternoon, going to get my dinner on in a minute its just approaching 6pm. Feel totally pogged had two dishes full of chicken stew and a couple of glasses of red, did a bit on the computer and re-made up my bed now that the leak appears to be fixed just got in ready for kip so goodnight 9pm.

060405 Sun - Avito, Portugal - a&m 8 watched the sun rise over the lake while having my morning coffee really nice morning nobody about so lovely and quiet. Had a slow breakfast then packed up and off for about 9:30 very quiet on the roads good job as they were single track mainly. Kept plodding on until I got to Castello de Blanco where I refuelled and parked up to look round the town, found Lidl and stocked up on veno bought 36Litres of wine a case of beers and 6 bottles of port should last the week, ha ha. Set off, the road said Spain right, sat nav said left into centre, went left big mistake missed another turn then round the houses up a one way cobbled street, now totally committed round a sharp right, then just enough room to get past two parked cars, however the camber on the cobbles made the top of the cab almost touch the wall, got past by the skin of my teeth then couldn't get round the next corner, so now stuck. One guy was behind in a van he parked up and did a bit of mumbling waved his hands and went in his house, fortunately another local who was behind in his car, parked in a little alley out of the way and kindly informed me I would have to reverse back and he would help, every time I got between the car and the wall the top of the van started scraping the wall even though I was An inch from the car, after 3 or 4 attempts it was decided to move the pick up and try and bump the cortina over a bit, after two attempts we managed to move the front of the cortina about 2 inch which was enough to get past just smearing the wall and scratching the paint, then I was to navigate round a 90° bend up hill so I could return down the street, this also took two attempts but finally got out, thank goodness this Portuguese guy helped me otherwise I would have had no chance. Once I got out of the town onto the main road I stumbled onto a municipal campsite, where I decided to stay for the night, met an English couple there and chatted over a few drinks with the guy, made a nice pasta for tea and quaffed the lot it was lovely. Wrote up some notes and decided to retire about 10pm after a tiring day. Another eventful week, hope everyone is in good health and spirit, take care!

adventure@chi11.co.uk