Rossy here
There is a saying in Africa: if a thing is worth doing its worth doing slowly - and so it would seem.
We got a really good deal on our ferry crossing but it was a good 2 hours late setting off and then when we reached Tanga Med we spent another 3 hours getting through customs! We were the lucky ones as some locals had to unpack all their belongings. Anyway our drivr through the mountains as the sun was setting was beautiful and the coast road to Martil, our 1 st stop, was surprisingly modern with lovely lighting along the long proms. At the camp site we met up with Sue and Jn who had been waiting all day for us. Eventually we all got to the restaurant where we could take our own booze so that was a plus.
Next day , wagons ho, off we set in convoy to Chefchaoen on crumbling, dicey roads and the following day we went into the old town 2k down hill.the sun was out and the medina was fascinating -lots of little shops,fish , meat, fruit and veg markets all crowded together. We had lunch,the usual tagines, on an upper terrace and the views over the the blue washed houses and the mosque and mountains was magical (as my sister would say) It was a steep walk back upto the site where we all gathered for drinks but as soon as the sun goes it drops in very cold.
Day12 it was raining on and off all day and we travelled on to Ouezzane with an eventful start as Ray inadvertently tried to take us all back into the medina round a hair pin bend and through the middle of town- not to be recommended!
We drove past miles of agricultural land with masses of broad bean plants etc. what do they do with them? You pass an odd person herding 2 or3 goats,sheep or cows letting them feedon the grass verges, people just watching the world go by or walking and you wonder where to or where from? Donkeys are the main form of transport out of town so they are everywhere. And this is the land of gnomes as most men wear Jalabas - long garb and pointy hoods
We caught a "taxi" into Ouezzane . It was the most dilapidated transit van with bench seats full of locals so standing room only for some of us.the one coming back was even worse as the back door was held closed with a piece of string and it took the driver all his time to get out of 1st gear .
Day13 drove to Volubilis to see ancient Romes furthest outpost-beautiful Roman remains and mosaics . After lunch travelled onto Fez arriving in a rain storm.
Wednesday, 6 March 2013
Up to day14
Rossy here
There is a saying in Africa: if a thing is worth doing its worth doing slowly - and so it would seem.
We got a really good deal on our ferry crossing but it was a good 2 hours late setting off and then when we reached Tanga Med we spent another 3 hours getting through customs! We were the lucky ones as some locals had to unpack all their belongings. Anyway our drivr through the mountains as the sun was setting was beautiful and the coast road to Martil, our 1 st stop, was surprisingly modern with lovely lighting along the long proms. At the camp site we met up with Sue and Jn who had been waiting all day for us. Eventually we all got to the restaurant where we could take our own booze so that was a plus.
Next day , wagons ho, off we set in convoy to Chefchaoen on crumbling, dicey roads and the following day we went into the old town 2k down hill.the sun was out and the medina was fascinating -lots of little shops,fish , meat, fruit and veg markets all crowded together. We had lunch,the usual tagines, on an upper terrace and the views over the the blue washed houses and the mosque and mountains was magical (as my sister would say) It was a steep walk back upto the site where we all gathered for drinks but as soon as the sun goes it drops in very cold.
Day12 it was raining on and off all day and we travelled on to Ouezzane with an eventful start as Ray inadvertently tried to take us all back into the medina round a hair pin bend and through the middle of town- not to be recommended!
We drove past miles of agricultural land with masses of broad bean plants etc. what do they do with them? You pass an odd person herding 2 or3 goats,sheep or cows letting them feedon the grass verges, people just watching the world go by or walking and you wonder where to or where from? Donkeys are the main form of transport out of town so they are everywhere. And this is the land of gnomes as most men wear Jalabas - long garb and pointy hoods
We caught a "taxi" into Ouezzane . It was the most dilapidated transit van with bench seats full of locals so standing room only for some of us.the one coming back was even worse as the back door was held closed with a piece of string and it took the driver all his time to get out of 1st gear .
Day13 drove to Volubilis to see ancient Romes furthest outpost-beautiful Roman remains and mosaics . After lunch travelled onto Fez arriving in a rain storm.
There is a saying in Africa: if a thing is worth doing its worth doing slowly - and so it would seem.
We got a really good deal on our ferry crossing but it was a good 2 hours late setting off and then when we reached Tanga Med we spent another 3 hours getting through customs! We were the lucky ones as some locals had to unpack all their belongings. Anyway our drivr through the mountains as the sun was setting was beautiful and the coast road to Martil, our 1 st stop, was surprisingly modern with lovely lighting along the long proms. At the camp site we met up with Sue and Jn who had been waiting all day for us. Eventually we all got to the restaurant where we could take our own booze so that was a plus.
Next day , wagons ho, off we set in convoy to Chefchaoen on crumbling, dicey roads and the following day we went into the old town 2k down hill.the sun was out and the medina was fascinating -lots of little shops,fish , meat, fruit and veg markets all crowded together. We had lunch,the usual tagines, on an upper terrace and the views over the the blue washed houses and the mosque and mountains was magical (as my sister would say) It was a steep walk back upto the site where we all gathered for drinks but as soon as the sun goes it drops in very cold.
Day12 it was raining on and off all day and we travelled on to Ouezzane with an eventful start as Ray inadvertently tried to take us all back into the medina round a hair pin bend and through the middle of town- not to be recommended!
We drove past miles of agricultural land with masses of broad bean plants etc. what do they do with them? You pass an odd person herding 2 or3 goats,sheep or cows letting them feedon the grass verges, people just watching the world go by or walking and you wonder where to or where from? Donkeys are the main form of transport out of town so they are everywhere. And this is the land of gnomes as most men wear Jalabas - long garb and pointy hoods
We caught a "taxi" into Ouezzane . It was the most dilapidated transit van with bench seats full of locals so standing room only for some of us.the one coming back was even worse as the back door was held closed with a piece of string and it took the driver all his time to get out of 1st gear .
Day13 drove to Volubilis to see ancient Romes furthest outpost-beautiful Roman remains and mosaics . After lunch travelled onto Fez arriving in a rain storm.
Up to day14
Rossy here
There is a saying in Africa: if a thing is worth doing its worth doing slowly - and so it would seem.
We got a really good deal on our ferry crossing but it was a good 2 hours late setting off and then when we reached Tanga Med we spent another 3 hours getting through customs! We were the lucky ones as some locals had to unpack all their belongings. Anyway our drivr through the mountains as the sun was setting was beautiful and the coast road to Martil, our 1 st stop, was surprisingly modern with lovely lighting along the long proms. At the camp site we met up with Sue and Jn who had been waiting all day for us. Eventually we all got to the restaurant where we could take our own booze so that was a plus.
Next day , wagons ho, off we set in convoy to Chefchaoen on crumbling, dicey roads and the following day we went into the old town 2k down hill.the sun was out and the medina was fascinating -lots of little shops,fish , meat, fruit and veg markets all crowded together. We had lunch,the usual tagines, on an upper terrace and the views over the the blue washed houses and the mosque and mountains was magical (as my sister would say) It was a steep walk back upto the site where we all gathered for drinks but as soon as the sun goes it drops in very cold.
Day12 it was raining on and off all day and we travelled on to Ouezzane with an eventful start as Ray inadvertently tried to take us all back into the medina round a hair pin bend and through the middle of town- not to be recommended!
We drove past miles of agricultural land with masses of broad bean plants etc. what do they do with them? You pass an odd person herding 2 or3 goats,sheep or cows letting them feedon the grass verges, people just watching the world go by or walking and you wonder where to or where from? Donkeys are the main form of transport out of town so they are everywhere. And this is the land of gnomes as most men wear Jalabas - long garb and pointy hoods
We caught a "taxi" into Ouezzane . It was the most dilapidated transit van with bench seats full of locals so standing room only for some of us.the one coming back was even worse as the back door was held closed with a piece of string and it took the driver all his time to get out of 1st gear .
Day13 drove to Volubilis to see ancient Romes furthest outpost-beautiful Roman remains and mosaics . After lunch travelled onto Fez arriving in a rain storm.
There is a saying in Africa: if a thing is worth doing its worth doing slowly - and so it would seem.
We got a really good deal on our ferry crossing but it was a good 2 hours late setting off and then when we reached Tanga Med we spent another 3 hours getting through customs! We were the lucky ones as some locals had to unpack all their belongings. Anyway our drivr through the mountains as the sun was setting was beautiful and the coast road to Martil, our 1 st stop, was surprisingly modern with lovely lighting along the long proms. At the camp site we met up with Sue and Jn who had been waiting all day for us. Eventually we all got to the restaurant where we could take our own booze so that was a plus.
Next day , wagons ho, off we set in convoy to Chefchaoen on crumbling, dicey roads and the following day we went into the old town 2k down hill.the sun was out and the medina was fascinating -lots of little shops,fish , meat, fruit and veg markets all crowded together. We had lunch,the usual tagines, on an upper terrace and the views over the the blue washed houses and the mosque and mountains was magical (as my sister would say) It was a steep walk back upto the site where we all gathered for drinks but as soon as the sun goes it drops in very cold.
Day12 it was raining on and off all day and we travelled on to Ouezzane with an eventful start as Ray inadvertently tried to take us all back into the medina round a hair pin bend and through the middle of town- not to be recommended!
We drove past miles of agricultural land with masses of broad bean plants etc. what do they do with them? You pass an odd person herding 2 or3 goats,sheep or cows letting them feedon the grass verges, people just watching the world go by or walking and you wonder where to or where from? Donkeys are the main form of transport out of town so they are everywhere. And this is the land of gnomes as most men wear Jalabas - long garb and pointy hoods
We caught a "taxi" into Ouezzane . It was the most dilapidated transit van with bench seats full of locals so standing room only for some of us.the one coming back was even worse as the back door was held closed with a piece of string and it took the driver all his time to get out of 1st gear .
Day13 drove to Volubilis to see ancient Romes furthest outpost-beautiful Roman remains and mosaics . After lunch travelled onto Fez arriving in a rain storm.
Friday, 1 March 2013
Day 4
Today we are topping up with afew bits from Waitrose , also LPG and met up with Ray and Ann, Steve, Hazel and Kim arrived eventually found a parking space near to ferry but not on the ferry dock we have to wait
Internet catch up
Still bitterly cold!
Drove into Portsmouth but couldn't stay on the dock till 10pm-ish so met up with Ray and Ann and Steve Hazel and Kim on a car park near by just in time to watch the Rugby - England v France and we won! After a lot of hanging around we drove to the docks to join the queue. Peter and Anette were in front and Kate and Dave brought up the rear so after brief "hello's" we went to bed.
Knocked up about 7am then started the slow process of boarding. The ship was modern and stylish but our room was tiny. My bed was in the roof! Hazel and Steve had a state room where we were in tied for our inaugural booze up/ get together which went very well with the added bonus of Rugby in the background, Scotland v Ireland and amazingly Scotland won!
A good trip over and finally all met up to follow R and A onward and upward. The snow topped hills which had looked very picturesque from the boat became hairy scary as the rain turned to sleet, snow and ice and all the traffic came into one lane and then to a halt. Police and snow ploughs kept us going and after many miles we began to decend to another world of blue skies and sunshine.
Our journey south has been fairly univentful other than Ray's sat nav taking us off the motorway when it fancies a change and losing each other occasionally. It had been getting warmer during the day but today we have driven to Tarifa where the wind has picked up to some tune. When I read up on it, the place is a wind surfer's paradise. We have never seen so many wind turbines!
Some of us walked into the town which has quite a Moroccan feel with many narrow twisting streets and Moroccan style menus.
Drove into Portsmouth but couldn't stay on the dock till 10pm-ish so met up with Ray and Ann and Steve Hazel and Kim on a car park near by just in time to watch the Rugby - England v France and we won! After a lot of hanging around we drove to the docks to join the queue. Peter and Anette were in front and Kate and Dave brought up the rear so after brief "hello's" we went to bed.
Knocked up about 7am then started the slow process of boarding. The ship was modern and stylish but our room was tiny. My bed was in the roof! Hazel and Steve had a state room where we were in tied for our inaugural booze up/ get together which went very well with the added bonus of Rugby in the background, Scotland v Ireland and amazingly Scotland won!
A good trip over and finally all met up to follow R and A onward and upward. The snow topped hills which had looked very picturesque from the boat became hairy scary as the rain turned to sleet, snow and ice and all the traffic came into one lane and then to a halt. Police and snow ploughs kept us going and after many miles we began to decend to another world of blue skies and sunshine.
Our journey south has been fairly univentful other than Ray's sat nav taking us off the motorway when it fancies a change and losing each other occasionally. It had been getting warmer during the day but today we have driven to Tarifa where the wind has picked up to some tune. When I read up on it, the place is a wind surfer's paradise. We have never seen so many wind turbines!
Some of us walked into the town which has quite a Moroccan feel with many narrow twisting streets and Moroccan style menus.
Saturday, 23 February 2013
Day 3
Still in Oxford had a walk around a Go Outdoors store at the entrance to the site and then late morning off to Portsmouth where we met up with Ray and Ann who were looking at a Flair for sale at Southdown motor homes.
We all then went towards Romsey and stayed overnight at a pub stopover The Star , huge car park unfortunately the food was not good but we had a good night with Ian and Chris Millar who live in Romsey.
Still very cold but not in our van
We all then went towards Romsey and stayed overnight at a pub stopover The Star , huge car park unfortunately the food was not good but we had a good night with Ian and Chris Millar who live in Romsey.
Still very cold but not in our van
Day 2
Left our friends in shifnal to Oxford camping and caravan site, nice site very flat all motor homes had to park on the roads. Easy walk into the city along the river Thames but very very cold about half an hours walk, we took in some of the sites in the city but decided against eating out , picked up an M&S meal deal and caught the park and ride bus back to the site hunkered down with the heating on very pleasant.
See you tomorrow
Gary
See you tomorrow
Gary
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