Everybody was ready
bright and early and the weather also cooperated so we all departed
for the hour or so run to Algeciras, some making a small detour to
top up LPG tanks at the only fuel station for miles around that had
it – Spain still only has a paucity of LPG pumps. Once gathered at
the new parking area and after checking in with Carlos, the travel
agent, Terry collected up documents and cash to get the ferry
tickets. We also managed to pick up another Brit planning to cross
who decided to join us rather than follow his original plan of
waiting a few days. Saved himself €20 but ended up being somewhat
rushed!
With lunch out of the
way we then set about restocking the van, ready for at least a few
days until we'd got established in Morocco. Then later we returned to
Carlos to collect the tickets plus a nice little present for each van
of a bottle of wine and lump of cake. We also got a nice little
“kick-back” for being the group leader – not expected but every
little helps so they say.
Thursday morning was a
tad dull, but being quite early it was actually due to the sun not
yet above the horizon! Breakfast then, problem! Colin could not get
his van started, diagnosing a flat battery. Fortunately jump leads
were instantly available but he eventually had to buy a new battery
in Morocco after it let him down again.
Everybody managed to
complete the short 15 minute run to the ferry terminal without
getting lost and we were checked in straight away. However as we were
also last to be loaded we spent an hour watching heavy lorries being
reversed on with varying degrees of skill and much hand waving and
shouting from the loading crew. One driver was particularly inept and
they took him off, but it all meant that we were somewhat late
departing.
This was supposed to be
the “fast” ferry, a catamaran, but it still took 1hr 20m to cross
and our arrival at Tangiers-Med unfortunately coincided with prayers,
lunch and computer failure, which took an hour to sort out. It did
give us chance, however, to have lunch while we waited at this modern
port. Once they'd got their act together the formalities proceeded at
the usual officialdom pace so it only took us 30m to clear Customs
and Immigration! From there a stop at the bureaux de change, and also
to get some insurance for a couple of the party who had been unable
to arrange things in the UK, before we eventually got away.
Our run down the
motorway to our first night stop, pausing at a fuel station to top
off tanks at 56p per litre, was a bit of an anti-climax although the
“newbies” found it all rather fascinating. Assilah is a typical
small Moroccan coastal town around an hour from the port with
overnight parking for motorhomes on it's edge. This, for those who've
not read our previous blogs, is known as guardian parking and
consists of a hardstanding area, managed by a couple of locals who
provide security, rubbish and waste disposal for around £1 per
night. Common throughout the country, prices vary as to location and
facilities – some have water and even occasionally electric hookup
– they are cheap and convenient places if you are self-contained as
most motorhomes are.
Once settled in, a few
walked up to the local Maroc Telecom office to obtain datasims for
the cheap internet available literally everywhere in the country,
then returned to get it set up. And guess what, the only one who's
didn't work was yours truly; it took a bit of sorting out and that's
why this blog is delayed.
Mission accomplished,
that is, we've got the group across in one piece, we now look forward
to our holiday. Next episode tomorrow.
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