2025 Morocco

Today was a much more relaxing day…

I took the opportunity to start to plan our journey home and the stops we might take on our possible route. I made an appointment to visit a vet in northern Spain on the afternoon of 18th December giving us 5 full days to get up to Calais for our crossing on Le Shuttle.

On a better note Tucker has started to get his confidence back. He is still a little anxious but he is improving following the attack he endured.

We move on tomorrow. Hope I don’t incur another fine!!

Last night Tucker was attacked by 2 local dogs and has left him traumatised. He doesn’t want to leave the van so we made the decision to move on today to Oualidia. However this time we plan to use a campsite and not the guardian parking as we have done in the past visits.

We found a small town on route so we could obtain some more cash. The recent fine of 400 MAD made a dent in the wallet. The journey was slow for most of the way until we joined the toll road. After coming through the toll booth and approaching the town I was stopped by the police. They showed me a speed camera gun which showed 74kph and they explained that it was my speed coming of the toll road and approaching the booth. This was about half a mile away from where they were. The limit was 60kph. I was fined 150 MAD and given a receipt. I am sure I was conned because I cannot understand how they could have got a reading on the gun from that distance and with objects in the way. I had no choice but to pay up.

We found the campsite we had set as our destination and finally settled on a pitch in the corner. Some of the pitches we were offered were quite muddy. The views are tremendous out of the windscreen and side door.

During the afternoon Tucker hid himself away under the van and we could not coax him out with anything including his favourite treats. It was quite late in the evening before we could get him into the van.

I watched a miserable 1-0 defeat to Everton this evening. It was a poor match and we did not play well. Not a good day!!

We packed the van for travel this morning and left around 11am. Our journey was going to be around 2-2.5 hours and ending at a campsite we have used before. We travelled up the N1. The first part was very good road but it soon turned into single carriageway with plenty of no overtaking and solid white central lines.

After about 2 hours I had been following a mini truck for some time and then there was an opportunity to get around it. Unfortunately I crossed the white sold central line and ran straight into a police check point. I was caught and asked to pull over. I then had to show the V5 and my driving licence and provide the 400 MAD fine. I did get a receipt. The policemen both said welcome to Morocco.

Arrived at the campsite at around 2:30pm and checked in. Emptied my grey waste and backed onto my pitch.

We have been having issues with the water pump filter housing leaking and therefore we are not getting pressure built up very quickly. We decided to pull the 12v fuse temporarily to prevent further leaks all over the floor. We will replace it in the morning.

Moving day today. Emptied the black tank and decided we would fill the fresh water tank when we get to our destination. We said our good byes to Lee & Michelle as they were leaving to travel south whilst we were going north.

Our first stop was at the Marjane hypermarket in Agadir where we stocked up on most things…. our fridge was very bare on arrival. Fruit, meat, vegatables and other assortment of goodies to load into the van. Now onto the campsite we used at the start of 2024. We only plan to stay one night.

We finally found a pitch where I could get a hose from the tap to the van and an electric cable to the outlet.

Watched some football and YouTube videos before planning to get an early night.

Good nights sleep last night but I did notice that the electric had tripped at the server board.

We enjoyed a peaceful day after the activities of the last 2 days. Tina washed a few items of clothing and the Morocco cap I ordered was delivered by the barber from yesterday. We also got back the internal carpets that were cleaned by the guy who washed the van yesterday. They were somewhat better but not perfect. Rather than relay them we have now stored them under the bed.

The photo is from yesterday when I had my haircut.

I did things today I was not expecting….

Firstly I agreed to have my beard cut. The guy spent a long time shaping the beard and even used a cut throat razor to create sharper edges. It should last now until after Christmas but I guess will never look like it does now when back in the UK.

Just before agreeing to a beard trim I agreed to have the van washed. We agreed that he should return at 3pm to clean roof and sides. He made an excellent job and it will be a shame to get it dirty again when we start our travels north on Sunday.

As my beard was cut so professionally I agreed to have a hair cut. Before I knew it my hair was gone. No asking how I would like it trimmed but even so it still looks good.

This evening we ventured the restaurant we used last night and all 6 of us sat and chose our menu choices… mostly different from last night. The food was excellent and still cheap by European standards. Rather than walk back Tina and I jumped in a taxi and took us back to the campsite 5 minutes away. We couldn’t have walked another step.

Didn’t have the heating last night and we were not cold unlike other nights before. We greeting Lee & Michelle and agreed that we would walk into town and have a coffee. Their friends were going to join us at the campsite this morning and so the invitation was extended to Margo & Neil, a couple from Northern Ireland. I tried our electric kettle again only to trip our electrics so its time we replaced it.

Around 11am all six of us set off for the cafe / restaurant they had visited previously. Tucker came along with us and loved the interaction with everyone. We sat and chatted whilst we drank our coffee.

We then bought some bread and made our way back to the van after agreeing to come back this evening for a meal together.

At around 6pm we took a different route to the restaurant going through the old part of town where all the shops were open. Margo spotted an electric kettle which I purchased for 100 MAD (approx £8). That will do.

When we arrived at the restaurant we went upstairs and made our choices from the menu. Burgers, Tagine and Brochettes were ordered together with water and soft drinks. It was very tasty. We got back to the van around 8:30pm where Tucker gave us a tremendous greeting.

It was very cold last night and I had to get up at 6am to put the gas heating on which also means running the fan. The consequence is the battery runs down further. I did turn off the StarLink internet to save more battery capacity.

We decided that as we had seen the town many times over the years we would move on today and try and hook up with Lee & Michelle. They were on a newly reopened campsite in the centre of Tiznit…. a place we had passed before but there was always a queue to get in.

First we drove into town to top our cash reserves as I knew that we needed fuel which was almost certainly need to be paid for with cash. As it turned out I was right. Now we started to travel west on road that I recognised at points along the way. We arrived at the site at around 12:30pm to a great welcome.

We positioned ourselves across from Lee’s van which was currently being resprayed and due back imminently. Needed 2 25m cables to reach the electric distribution box only to find we were not receiving any electric. After checking our distribution board everything seemed OK. Soon after a fellow camper pointed out there was a site wide disruption to the supply. We did. get back on in about 30mins.

We spent the afternoon chatting with our newly found friends. Tina cooked her version of a chicken Tagine.

Tina really didn’t enjoy the site we were on last night. The Tagine was mediocre and so we decided to leave this morning and journey on to an old favourite at Tafraoute. Our navigation was set and we started the journey …. the first part was good road on a National road however the second part took us over the mountains on a single tarmac road with many potholes to be avoided. It was not pleasant but we endured it until the final part where we were back on a National road.

We arrived in Tafraoute and all of the recognisable things we still here however Tina didn’t recall any of the places. The only way I could get her to relate to the place was to refer to the “lion head” mountain.

At 2pm we were parked on the guardian parking and then the merchants started to come around. We had 3 garages trying to sell their services, a lad selling eggs, a lady that we recognised that does washing and food to order. Tina also couldn’t resist a young man selling a few trinkets. She bought a magnetic plaque of the lion head and a key ring. Hopefully this will jog her memory in the future.

The afternoon was hot and we watched aqs a few vans came in but the total number of vans is really small compared to all of our previous visits. The photo is the outlook from our side door.

The guardian came around about 7pm to collect his money …. 15 MAD (just over £1). and they stay alert all night protecting the vans.

We have decided to move to Tiznit tomorrow and rejoin Lee & Michelle. We hooked up with these guys when we entered Morocco and we are really looking forward to seeing them again.

On the move today so we emptied the black waste and searched for a grey waste dump…. non found so decided to open the tap en route.

Paid our dues and Tina was then collecting her new garment from the seamstress. The quality is excellent and looks fantastic.

We were soon on our 2 hour journey to Tata. No mountanous roads but all flat and straight with a few bends. Really good and fast to drive.

Arriving in Tata we knew we had to get a few things so I parked the van and left Tina and Tucker in the van to go and find some meat, vegetables, fruit and yoghurts. I also picked up a few peanuts which Rkia introduced us to.

Now back at the van we drove round to the campsite. Tina scolded me because she thought they ripped us off last time we were here over the cost & quality of a Tagine we purchased. After much discussion we eventually parked and set up only to be requested to move by one of the guys as we were close to his sleeping spot. Moved further forward.

On registration I ordered a Chicken Tagine and hoped that it will pass Tina’s approval. It was average but still saved Tina cooking. Watching Monday night football tonight hoping Everton beat Man Utd.

It has been warm here with a temperature of 25ºC this afternoon. Currently at 9pm its 19ºC