Morocco October 2015

[GeorgeG]

Mark, I wanna go to Legzira beech

 

[MarkW]

Our route after leaving Essaouira heading south to Fort Bou Jerif goes right past the arches, so we will be able to stop off and have a look for a mid afternoon break if all goes to plan.

I've just found a prehistoric hill fort near our route to stop at as well

 

[MarkW]

176 Days

Any other requests for particular place to visit let me know and I'll try and work them into the route, obviously we wont be visiting some of the normal tourist sights like Marrakech. If that's your thing jump on an Easy jet flight and book into a 5* Riad .

We will see lots of
Moroccans
Donkeys
Mules
Asses (correct procedure on seeing an Ass is to say "nice ass" or "yes you do look fat in that")
Camels
Goats
Sand
Dust
Plastique
Mountains
Sea
People trying to sell you tat
People trying to sell you good handcrafted products
Stunning scenery around every corner
People claiming to be your friend

We might see
Scorpions
Foxes
Eagles
Lizards
Barbary Squirrel
Jerboa
Locusts
Flash Floods
Army
War relics both old and new
The read out on a shiny new Chinese speed gun and a small fee of 300dH for the privilege
Weird German Sculptures in the Desert

 

[Chris]

That's great Mark, but I was rather hoping to see fuel stations and supermarkets on that list. Oh and the Hanging Gardens of Babylon if it's not too much trouble.

I'm going with the flow on this trip. If you want to go there then so do I.

 

[MarkW]

That's great Mark, but I was rather hoping to see fuel stations and supermarkets on that list. Oh and the Hanging Gardens of Babylon if it's not too much trouble.

Oh the questions of the inexperienced!

Did you not know that Morocco has no fuel stations? When you need to fill up they soak and freshly shawn sheep's fleece in a basin of Diesel then get a small child to wring it out into your fuel tank

 

[Chris]

Yes yes, I know all that. I read about on Wiki, but what about the Hanging Gardens?

 

[MarkW]

That'll be a detour of 3600.1 mles and 64 hours of driving across Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt, Isreal, Jordon and Iraq, I'm game if you are?

 

[Chris]

There you go. See I'm a natural at this stuff. Can we see the Kremlin on the way back? I think that's in Egypt too.

 

[Bat21]

.... Can we see the Kremlin on the way back? I think that's in Egypt too.

Egypt, you're having a giraffe aren't you.... I'm pretty sure it's in Norton Iron as they were always talking about the Kremlin Road during the troubles

 

[MarkW]

I'm a pretty good cook as luck would have it. But I am equally happy with a Pot Noodle. So whether I bring a trailer full of Super Noodles or a cook from scratch every day, it doesn't bother me. But what I am struggling with is just how much stuff to bring in the first place. I have a 45 L fridge and a 35 L freezer. Being on my own, I can cram the car to the roof with whatever, but I'd rather not.

What is the availability of food on the route? What sort of stuff will be available? What's the best plan?

In other words, what do you do? I know we aren't going up the Congo and we'll be able to get food, it's not the moon. But just not sure outside of flour, chick peas, oil, dates and peppers etc will be in the local shops.

Are you sure we can't just set off tomorrow?

Chris

Chris,

No problems,

Good News, your fridge is big enough to keep my Beer cold for the trip.

It is also good news that you are blessed with culinary skills. Alas I am not so fortunate so my camp side cuisine is pretty much glorified pot noodles.

Fear not about being able to forage locally, for the lands of Morocco are bountiful and blessed with many wonderous delicacies such as bbq'd goats head and offal.

Moroccans don't really do supermarkets outside of the tourist resort and large cities so I don't expect we'll see one after Fort Bou Jerif. As we head south on the last day of tarmac we'll stop at Agadir at a big French Hypermarket with pretty much all the same stuff as home. Smaller town we have basic supplies some fruit and veg available along with egg's, cheese bread etc.

I tend to take some basics from the uk and then stock up the bulk in the hypermarket and local shops. If you like any thing particular you can't do with out take a supply otherwise don't worry too much we'll survive.

In towns we'll probably eat out, it just makes sense as an average Moroccan café type place will only be a few pound for a meal.

The planned route means we'll pass or near enough to detour to for supplies almost every day which will mean although we may have 5 nights straight wild camping we wont need 5 days worth of food. We can also eat in most towns cutting out another camp cook out.

Moroccan Flat Bread and baguettes can be bought in every town and village for 1dH. The flat breads only really last 24 hours before becoming building material. A nice legacy of the French Protectorate is patisseries being fairly common for croissants and pain au chocolat

When travelling solo I always carry 25 litres spare fuel, 25 litres emergency water and enough dry/tinned food for 3 days. With the group size again we won' need as much emergency provisions, if anything goes wrong we can bale out easily in the other trucks.

You've not asked for the route files but we follow the coast south to Tan Tan and then turn east to Assa, Tata, Zagora and then Erfoud. Assa and Tata are pretty basic desert towns but the others are larger are better supplied. Zagora and Erfoud are popular tourist desert gateways so have wider choices of produce and places to eat.

Do you mind if I post this up on the thread? its useful info for the group?

Some useful info for you all on catering during the trip.

Couple of additional bits of info.

We have a day in Essaouira not doing anything but it'll give you a chance to get adjusted to Morocco before we get remote. There plenty to see on the normal tourist trail here or just drink coffee and watch life go by. It's a good opportunity to get souvenirs but Zagora and Erfoud have good selections as well. Each town has its own unique hand crafted specialities, Essaouira is intricate inlayed wood work, Erfoud specialises in fossils.

If you want a carpet I can point you in the direction of some shops in Essaouira but bear in mind weight and transportation. I'd avoid pottery unless well packaged as we'll be bouncing around for 2 weeks. If you are after Essouaira's trade mark wood work I can take you down to the workshops/wholesalers where better prices can be had.

I'll show you round in the morning to get your bearings if you want, and that'll include the fruit & veg souk and fish souk if you want to stock up for the off road section. Essaouira has a couple of small supermarkets for other items bt we'll stop at a Hypermarket on the way south for better selection.

That evening we'll go for a good posh meal in a restaurant and some beers before leaving civilisation behind.

Most western or European brands where available are more expensive than home
Beer etc can be bought in country but I normally take beer from home/spain and a couple of bottles of duty free spirits. Note last year Absolute Vodka was cheaper on the ferry to Morocco than to Spain.
Marjane, big hypermarket chain used to stock beer but have now stopped completely, recent toughening of rules might mean more widespread availability problems but we'll get by. Morocco has 2 local beers, Casablanca and Flag Special and a good variety of wines. There is also a local Fig Spirit which ranges from moonshine to rocket fuel.
It's a muslim country so somethings are hard to find - bacon for example - we need an expedition bacon plan guys!

 

[Chris]

Oh yeah! Shite. I remember now. Maybe I meant the Pantheon. Now that's definitely in Egypt, I know because I saw it when I went to Athens.

 

[Chris]

Can't we just take a pig and slice bits off as we need it. Just make sure we don't take too much and it will heal along the way? Bacon is cured pork after all.

 

[Bat21]

Chris, my truck is always loaded with these when we head for Morocco. From the moment we leave the house until we return we are completely self sufficient apart from fuel and water.

At £4 a meal they are cheap, no prep, just heat and eat or just eat. And, the best thing is no washing up as the bag also doubles up as the plate/bowl. They really do taste good too.

I'm not saying don't buy local foods but, they are always there if you can't find anything..... they have something like a 3 year shelf life too.

 

[Chris]

Yum. OK I might try one to be convinced, but I'd rather cook. I don't think £4 is cheap really. But I agree they'd be quick and easy.

I was wild camping in Scotland this weekend and didn't resort to instant meals. Especially for breakfast!

Mind you I did need to scrape the ice off the inside of my tent each morning. Holy crap it was cold up there.

 

[MarkW]

I fully recommend trying some camel

It ranges from average beef to chewing a BFG AT

re Bacon, I think theres quarantine for live animals and Moroccan customs might ask a lot of questions! there are wild boar in the north. Strangley Moroccan customs often ask me if I have any pistols but never seem bothered about anything else

 

[GeorgeG]

I fully recommend trying some camel

It ranges from average beef to chewing a BFG AT

I've tried camel in Afghanistan many moons ago and my jaws still hurt I'd rather chew BFG AT

 

[Bat21]

.... I was wild camping in Scotland this weekend and didn't resort to instant meals. Especially for breakfast!

Looks delicious Chris, did you add a few large pinches of sand for authenticity in readiness for your Maroc trip

The Wayfayrer all day breakfast may not look as presentable but will taste superb and only take 3 minutes to prepare.... giving you more time on the piste

 

[Chris]

Mate it was all I could do to keep the rain out. First night it chucked it down despite looking nice when we turned in. The Ox tent front awning filled up and when I got up at 06.00 I was just opening the tent when WHHHOOOOSHHH the whole thing collapsed, pulled the rock pegs out and snapped one of the poles. Didn't rain again. Just bloody froze.

Sand? Pah, it' s only like Parmesan.

I am thinking about getting one of these vacuum sealers though. I can seal and freeze spag bol, chilli, curry etc in bags that you can heat it in. Even rice. Really like making my own Wayfarer meals.

 

[Gary Stockton]

Got one of those. Brilliant device. Get one. You won't regret it.

 

[MarkW]

Chris, just remember to pack 2 portions of everything