Morocco October 2016

[MarkW]

Well Spanish incompetence struck again, 90minutes late leaving and then the crew started shouting at everyone because they were running late.Had more frustration trying to get a coffee today, 10 minutes waiting for the 4 staff to stop talking and actually do some work

Made it up to Vallodolid in miserable weather today, torrential rain the whole way. Diffs holding out ok but sounds bad, I've found if I sit at 97kmh and turn the stereo up a little it goes quiet again!.

Hit 10 000km today Tomorrow I'll drive up through the mountains as I've got time before the ferry. Hopefully the weather will be better

 

[Mojo]

[QUOTE="MarkW, post: Tomorrow I'll drive up through the mountains as I've got time before the ferry. Hopefully the weather will be better[/QUOTE]

Well the good news is you only have 4m waves in the Bay of Biscay, some pretty evil weather lurking around.

 

[MarkW]

seasickness tablets and a couple of beers and I'll sleep the whole way home I'm on the shorter route so only 20 hours to endure

 

[womble_]

can't believe i only just found this thread... will keep an closer eye out for the next one...

 

[MarkW]

Keep an eye on the forum. I'll be back in 2017, still want to do the Western Sahara pistes to Dakhla and the Dakar teams are racing in April from the Atlantic up to the Med and they're well worth some time to watch

 

[ByronJ]

Keep an eye on the forum. I'll be back in 2017, still want to do the Western Sahara pistes to Dakhla and the Dakar teams are racing in April from the Atlantic up to the Med and they're well worth some time to watch

Hi Mark. Welcome back to the UK. your car should be well washed by the time you get home... Please post a link to info on this racing in April. I have been searching on Google with no luck, tons of hits but not for April... Thanks.

 

[MarkW]

Not quite back yet @ByronJ just got on the ferry back in the cold tomorrow lunch time (minds you we had snow today in Spain)

https://morocco-desert-challenge.com/en/home/

Link to rally details. They're racing on the Plage Blanch so the exit point is up a river bed. Could be a great place to camp and watch them

 

[ByronJ]

Not quite back yet @ByronJ just got on the ferry back in the cold tomorrow lunch time (minds you we had snow today in Spain)

https://morocco-desert-challenge.com/en/home/

Link to rally details. They're racing on the Plage Blanch so the exit point is up a river bed. Could be a great place to camp and watch them

Thanks for the link. Loads of snow on the Brecon Beacons, had a great day up there on Saturday. Hmm Plage Blanc is stage one on 17th April. This means we would have to leave the UK by around 10th April I guess?

 

[MarkW]

Or plan to see it on the way back north. A wild camp at the south end of the beach the night before would leave us ready for the rally coming past. I'm guessing they'll be tide dependent like everyone else. We saw them in 2012 and everyone was past in a couple of hours, even the trucks manage a scary speed.

I thinking about 2 months in the spring. Heading to Dakhla and also seeing the snow and almond blossom in the mountains. I'll start a new thread for a 2017 trip soon

 

[Mojo]

Link to rally details. They're racing on the Plage Blanch so the exit point is up a river bed. Could be a great place to camp and watch them[/QUOTE]

Mark, curious to know how long would it take to drive their route of 2600km from coast to coast - at a leisurely pace/sightseeing. Worth it or too much of the same scenery?

 

[MarkW]

Firstly Mojo you were spot on about the Bay of Biscay. Very rough.

I've not looked in detail at the full route but I know there a few hundred km you couldn't drive due to military presence. We tried last year and got turned back 3 times. Rough guess it would be 2 weeks depending on your pace. The scenery will change the whole way. I don't know the east side so well only having been there once

 

[GeorgeG]

..I thinking about 2 months in the spring. Heading to Dakhla and also seeing the snow and almond blossom in the mountains. I'll start a new thread for a 2017 trip soon

How soon?

 

[MarkW]

Slowly getting the pics sorted out

New Moroccan Tourist Information Sign
IMG_1010 by Trackasylum, on Flickr

Well its one way to travel I suppose
IMG_1018 by Trackasylum, on Flickr

Atlantic Coast near Aglou Plage
P1100142 by Trackasylum, on Flickr

P1100154 by Trackasylum, on Flickr

P1100157 by Trackasylum, on Flickr

Atlantic Coast between Sidi Ifni and Plage Blanche ( this was in the route plans for last years trip but we skipped it)
IMG_1021 by Trackasylum, on Flickr

Clearly a Low Tide route track runs along the shoreline in the left of the picture
P1100158 Panorama 1 by Trackasylum, on Flickr

P1100162 Panorama 1 by Trackasylum, on Flickr

Just north of Plage Blanche
]IMG_1023 by Trackasylum, on Flickr

P1100171 by Trackasylum, on Flickr

Fort Bou Jerif
IMG_1026 by Trackasylum, on Flickr

IMG_1028 by Trackasylum, on Flickr

 

[MarkW]

not sure why some are duplicated, the links are too different files when I try and edit the post, oh well

 

[MarkW]

Agadir at Amtoudi in the Anti Atlas

P1100210 Panorama 1 by Trackasylum, on Flickr

P1100215 Panorama 1 by Trackasylum, on Flickr

P1100218 Panorama 1 by Trackasylum, on Flickr

P1100220 Panorama 1 by Trackasylum, on Flickr

P1100234 by Trackasylum, on Flickr

P1100233 by Trackasylum, on Flickr

P1100228 by Trackasylum, on Flickr

P1100227 by Trackasylum, on Flickr

P1100243 by Trackasylum, on Flickr

P1100248 copy by Trackasylum, on Flickr

P1100250 copy by Trackasylum, on Flickr

P1100260 Panorama 1 by Trackasylum, on Flickr

 

[MarkW]

This one had a Land cruiser Tyre Cover
IMG_1033 by Trackasylum, on Flickr

Starting to get interesting
P1100265 by Trackasylum, on Flickr

P1100267 Panorama 1 by Trackasylum, on Flickr

View out of the drivers window, straight down
IMG_1038 by Trackasylum, on Flickr

Great Fun until
P1100269 by Trackasylum, on Flickr

Time for Bed
P1100274 by Trackasylum, on Flickr

 

[Ian Chuter]

I'm enjoying this Mark (as usual), keep them coming.
Thanks for taking the time to post, it's appreciated

 

[MarkW]

That's photos upto the 17th October so plenty more to come Ian

 

[MarkW]

Down in the desert between Tata and Foum Zguid

IMG_1044 by Trackasylum, on Flickr

P1100289 Panorama 1 by Trackasylum, on Flickr

At Ali Nassir's for a check over
IMG_1050 by Trackasylum, on Flickr

Campsite Toad
IMG_1059 by Trackasylum, on Flickr

 

[MarkW]

Next day was at Ali's getting new lower arm bushes, front cross member replaced (I'd takena new OEM part with me) and new sump guards fabbed up

IMG_1065 by Trackasylum, on Flickr

IMG_1061 by Trackasylum, on Flickr

IMG_1082 by Trackasylum, on Flickr

IMG_1090 by Trackasylum, on Flickr

Nice 70 Came in, they were doing a recce for rally routes for 2017
IMG_1093 by Trackasylum, on Flickr

IMG_1094 by Trackasylum, on Flickr