Friday 6 February 2015

The campsite just outside Tiznit is most civilised after “roughing it” for a couple of weeks. Proper toilets, hot showers and electricity – well it’s supposed to be electricity but it won’t power the fridge; suspect the voltage is too low. So we are having to use our precious gas supplies to keep the beer cold!

Like a fort in the desert

Wednesday was washing day (again) courtesy of Tina’s machine. It was a warm breezy day so it all dried quickly and all put safely away again. The left over water was used to wash Bertie down so he looks spick and span again; for how long who knows!

Thursday was much cooler. Even though the sun was shining out of a blue sky there was a cold wind and we stayed “indoors” all day. Not time wasted though as we sat and discussed our plans, based on the weather forecast which seemed to suggest a move into the interior of the country was a good idea. We wanted to return to Tafraoute, in the mountains, as we were chased out by poor weather last year and then we thought to move even further east before turning north for another go at Marrakech and the coast at Essaoiura before heading for the port to return to Spain.

So today we embarked on the first part and after packing everything away and loading up with water – our next site will probably be guardian parking again – we settled our dues and headed into Tiznit to refuel. From Tiznit it is a good road initially but as you get further into the country it degenerates into two lanes and eventually into a single track with hardened “shoulders”. The trick is when you meet traffic coming the other way you ease onto the shoulder and let them pass. That way you avoid clashing wing mirrors – and anything else sticking out.

The roads are quite good

But then you suddenly get a diversion

And it disappears! Bridge had been washed away.

On the way to market

But of course the scenery becomes better and better the further you go. We posted pictures extensively last year but here are a few more anyway. I’ll try and add some video from the dashcam later.

Learning our lesson from last year we avoided the gravel track approaching Tafraoute by going the long way round, which was quite interesting too! This way took us past the “painted rocks”, supposed to be some sort of tourist attraction but way way out in the middle of nowhere.

In the middle of nowhere

Hmmmmm!

All I can ask is, why?

Look at the very centre; rocks balanced above the village

Then on to Tafraoute, through the bustling centre and on to the guardian parking area just on the edge of town where we met up with Funster Phillip and settled in. It’s actually a much larger site than at Taghazoute and with far fewer vans here there’s plenty of room.

We’ll probably stay a few days, dependent on the weather, and take the opportunity to explore which we missed last year.

Oh yes, the "evacuation" of Taghazoute beach. There were several stories bandied about but, although the King is indeed coming, the clearance was apparently at the behest of the site developer. We've since heard that another boatload of cash has been introduced and work is apparently re-starting at a goodly pace to build the hotels and leisure facilities.

So although camping has been allowed there for around 20 years, since the old campsite closed, it is now apparently finished.

Until the money runs out again of course!