On the Road to Marrakech:

We retraced out steps taking the road north from Zagora through the Drâa Valley, the only time we have driven the same road - the only other roads marked on the maps are apparently suitable only for 4-wheel-drives and none of our vans are capable of that.

Now we were to take some minor roads through the Anti Atlas, the third of the famous main ranges of Morocco. These were some of the worst roads we had travelled so far, narrow and potholed with broken, uneven edges. Slow travelling. The reason for the state of the roads became obvious as we passed frequent mine spoil by the side of the road and met heavily loaded trucks. A huge mine covered a valley with a mountain of tailings rising above the surroundings. Not the most attractive of sights.

We wild camped that night in a field growing mostly thorny burrs which penetrated our rubber soles. Sheep passed us a couple of times passing through with their shepherd.

There was good reason for the choice of site. The next day we needed to leave early to tackle the Tizi-n-Test pass through the High Atlas before the trucks all started on the road and made life more difficult/interesting for us.

The distance through the pass to the other side is very small as the crow flies but this road wound its way up and up, back and forth forever! The road narrowed as it rose with sheer drops to the valley floor on one side and sheer rock walls on the other. Any taxis we encountered didn't want to give an inch, but the trucks were more accommodating and guided us through tight spots where we met them. The views were breathtaking, the drive exhilarating.

And then onto the dry, hot plain towards Marrakech. The roads were wider and better surfaced now, but the traffic was becoming increasingly scary! Indicators are an optional extra it would appear. But we managed to get through the city to the other side without incident and settled into Ferdaous Camping with its resident, tame peacocks to greet us.