On the road in North Africa: Portsmouth to Agadir: 22-Oct - 05-Nov

Two weeks ago and in another life we went from e-mail communication to the reality of overland travel. Europe came and went in a blur and it is difficult to remember what exactly happened when, because everyday is a mixture of events and experiences.

Highlights, so far, a great group of people to travel with, funny, patient, experts in all sorts of things, inventive and good company. Incredible and imposing landscapes, tagines, kebabs in Marrakesh (Marrakesh by night is a must !), entertaining taxi drivers, the tannery at Fez and the thought of reaching the desert.

Downsides – border guards and border bureaucracy. Self-important men asserting power and wasting time. As I am, at the moment, gazing at the snow on the Atlas Mountains, this pales into insignificance. So far, everything we are carrying is intact and headed in the right direction, including ourselves.

The passage through Europe was indeed swift. Within three days we were a stones throw from Africa. Many hours on the motorways and a few in the ‘Aire de Service’ catching our breath! A little excitement on day two just after entering Spain was the blow out of a rear tyre on the truck. We deduced that the extra weight both in the truck and the trailer combined with a slightly under pressure tyre was to blame. The first of what we assume to be, many ‘team building’ exercises got under way as we changed a wheel weighing well over 200kgs on the side of a Spanish Motorway.

The final morning spent on the European mainland consisted of repacking the trailer and back of the truck. The effect of an inappropriately balanced trailer cannot be underestimated! With a large amount of excitement and a splattering of disbelief we secured a ferry ride to Ceuta, a Spanish enclave on the North African peninsular. It was nearing dark when we arrived and border formalities seemed to be going very smoothly until the ‘Douains’, or Moroccan Customs wanted to inspect the truck. With a raised eye brow he called for his superior who had several questions of our intentions. The long and short of it was that it would be a further three days before we crossed into Morocco.

John joined us in Rabat as another driver and from there we travelled to Meknes, on to Fes, down to Casablanca and on to Essouira. For the first time for days the rain stopped and the journey took on a new dimension. While John and Aubrey went in search of a second oil tank for the next leg of the journey, we were able to spend a few pleasant hours exploring this lovely fishing port , collecting food supplies and enjoying a well-deserved beer on the sea front. Last night we rough camped in the bush on the way to Agadir, cooked a delicious meal, chatted around a campfire and slept under the stars.

This morning we left at first light and headed down the coastal road to Agadir and then to Tiznet through stunning and panoramic landscapes – photographer’s heaven – camels pulling ploughs, goats in trees, small busy villages, empty, endless beaches and blue skies.