The Marrakesh Express

[garry55]

Jaunty title, but we aren't planning on visiting Marrakesh and describing a Peugeot Boxer 2.2 derived motorhome as an express is pushing the boundaries somewhat. However, it has transported us effortlessly from the wilderness that is Whitby to our first nights stop over at the Plough Inn in Great Chesterford, near Saffron Walden. It leaves us with a short hop to the Dover ferry terminal in the morning.
The Plough has a very large, flat car park but no facilities. The staff are incredibly friendly and helpful, the Sunday roast was delicious but the beer was flat and tasteless. But 2 out of 3 ain't bad.
WTW ///trouble.responses.fell
Recommended

 

[Landy Andy]

Glad your settled but I wouldn’t say “a short hop” for Dover, from where you are, but hope it goes ok for you.

 

[garry55]

Glad your settled but I wouldn’t say “a short hop” for Dover, from where you are, but hope it goes ok for you.

It's only 2 hours away. Shorter than the 5.5 it took us to get to here!

 

[Landy Andy]

It's only 2 hours away. Shorter than the 5.5 it took us to get to here!

I hope it is for you. It can often be much longer though, but that’s the way it is down here. BUSY.

 

[peterc10]

It's only 2 hours away. Shorter than the 5.5 it took us to get to here!

The A20 between Maidstone and Ashford is closed this morning because of a lorry strike on a bridge. The signed detour uses the old A20 so will be slow. Could try the A2 but that will be busy as well.

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[fishplug]

It's only 2 hours away. Shorter than the 5.5 it took us to get to here!

I like to take an early ferry so you've still got most of the day left once you arrive. I'm also about 2h from Dover and find it's perfect for me at that time in the morning because I'm ready for a break and some breakfast by the time I get on the ferry.

Once I'm fed, watered and caffeinated the holiday starts in earnest.

Works for me anyway!

 

[ChrisL]

Having travelled on the Marrakesh express in 1976 I can assure you your Peugeot Boxer is faster, The train travels at around 30 mph.

 

[peterc10]

The A20 between Maidstone and Ashford is closed this morning because of a lorry strike on a bridge. The signed detour uses the old A20 so will be slow. Could try the A2 but that will be busy as well.

Should have read M20, not A20

 

[peterc10]

Having travelled on the Marrakesh express in 1976 I can assure you your Peugeot Boxer is faster, The train travels at around 30 mph.

It only felt that speed with the stuff you were smoking.

 

[garry55]

I like to take an early ferry so you've still got most of the day left once you arrive. I'm also about 2h from Dover and find it's perfect for me at that time in the morning because I'm ready for a break and some breakfast by the time I get on the ferry.

Once I'm fed, watered and caffeinated the holiday starts in earnest.

Works for me anyway!

We only have a 1.5 journey when we get into France. Stopping at Neufchatel-en-Bray as the dogs are booked in for their rabies booster jabs on Tuesday. Dover was closer than I thought - sat for 2 hours now waiting for our ferry!

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[garry55]

The A20 between Maidstone and Ashford is closed this morning because of a lorry strike on a bridge. The signed detour uses the old A20 so will be slow. Could try the A2 but that will be busy as well.

Yes - we have just had a scenic, slow detour towards Ashford to get back on the M20! Annoyingly, there was traffic on the motorway heading for Dover when we rejoined it? Thanks for the heads-up

 

[garry55]

I hope it is for you. It can often be much longer though, but that’s the way it is down here. BUSY.

All the motorways were quiet, including the M25. Only snag was a closed section of the M20 between J9 & J10 eastbound only.

 

[garry55]

Day 2
Left the Plough Inn early doors and had a steady run to the docks at Dover. Even the enforced detour to avoid the closed section of the M20 was palatable.
Checked in for our P&O ferry to Calais 2 hrs early, so we were 1st in the queue and 1st to board - both firsts for us!
Nice calm crossing sat in the pet lounge with the "kids", with only 1 other couple and their 2 dogs in attendance.
Quick and easy disembarkment and 2 hours later we were parked up on the lovely aire at Neufchatel en Bray. 14 euros a day including ehu, black and grey waste but no running water - it's turned off in the winter months. Aire is about 75% full. It's a 5 minute walk from a very large E Leclerc hypermarket, much to Sharon's delight!
Pictures tomorrow, as it was dark when we got here. Bloody cold too!

 

[garry55]

Day 3 to Morocco.
Neufchatel-en-Bray - lovely aire, found the working water supply, inside the toilet and shower block which opened this morning, so all is well. Walked into the centre ville along the disused rail track that runs through the town and has been converted into a cycleway / footpath. Dieppe is only 33.5 Kms away if you have an electric bike.
Vets were the usual model of European efficiency and priced to please a Yorkshireman. Spending one more night here then heading further south tomorrow.

 

[garry55]

Day 4 to Morocco.
We had a late start today after stocking up on provisions and fuel and cleaning and servicing our motorhome. We only got as far as Le Mans, but I am glad we did as it's a lovely place to visit. Last time I was here was 1991 when a group of 4 Mazda RX-7 owners drove there from England to cheer on the Mazda 787B's racing in the 24 hour race. The rest is history!
It is a lot quieter today (and I am a lot less drunk than last time) and we explored the wonderful old quarter before retiring to the van for a Camembert supper. We are parked next to the river in a free aire which has a service point and easy access to the town centre.

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[garry55]

Day 5 to Morocco.
We had a late start leaving Le Mans and decided to stay off the motorways and see some of rural France. Visited Angers then headed further south to a free aire in the village of Fougere. Other than the free parking and use of the free services bay, the village has some free public toilets, a boulangerie and nothing else. Nice and quiet though.

 

[garry55]

Day 6 to Morocco.
Staying off the motorways, we meandered in a southerly direction through France to Angouleme but couldn't find an site close to the centre, so we carried on to Bergerac and are now parked up at the very quirky Domaine de Vieux Chene. It has EHU, a bar, a toilet, a washing machine and a herd of Alpacas wandering free around the site. Gilbert is a great host, so friendly and even tolerated my Franglais with a smile. Bergerac centre is about an hour walk away - or 90 mins if you have our dogs in tow. Bet it's absolutely great in summer. Highly recommended.

 

[Minxy]

Vets were the usual model of European efficiency and priced to please a Yorkshireman.

Vet info and costs please.

 

[garry55]

Vet info and costs please.

Vet Bray, a 20 mins walk from St Claire camping & aire.
It cost us 130 euros in total for 2 x 3 year rabies booster vaccinations and a health checks for our 2 dogs.

 

[garry55]

Severe frost last night. There was a fishing match planned for this morning but the lake has frozen! Some of the locals don't seem to mind though.

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[Minxy]

Vet Bray, a 20 mins walk from St Claire camping & aire.
It cost us 130 euros in total for 2 x 3 year rabies booster vaccinations and a health checks for our 2 dogs.

Wow that's a lot, are your dogs elephant sized?

I'm intrigued as to why you didn't get it done in Spain where it's a lot cheaper.

 

[garry55]

I'm intrigued as to why you didn't get it done in Spain where it's a lot cheaper.

Because we are going to Morocco we have to wait 21 days after the rabies boosters to get a titre test done, which can take a further 14 days to get the result. We got the dogs vaccinated on our first day in France so the "rabies booster time clock" is ticking as we travel down France and Spain. The titre tests are even more expensive!

 

[garry55]

Fishing match going ahead - the ice breaker has been deployed!

 

[garry55]

Wow that's a lot, are your dogs elephant sized?

I'm intrigued as to why you didn't get it done in Spain where it's a lot cheaper.

65 euros per dog is way cheaper than at our vets in the UK

 

[Minxy]

65 euros per dog is way cheaper than at our vets in the UK

Last time we had it done in the UK in September 2022 for our Bella it was £57, I've heard since of people being charged over £90!

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[garry55]

Day 7 to Morocco.
2 4 6 8 Motorway all the way to Biarritz as we wanted to let the dogs have a run on the beach and get to see the town. We are staying on the Aire de Camping Cars les Corsaires just north of the town. About 20 other vans here when we arrived. Big sloping site, it has fresh water, black and grey waste facilities. Walked into town and had a glass of very expensive wine on the prom and watched the sunset, then stopped off at a local creperie restaurant on the way back where we had a galette and a crepe each and shared a jug of Sangria. Should sleep well tonight!

 

[garry55]

Day 8 to Morocco.
A quick run over the border into Spain and a 2 night stop at one of our all time favourite sites at Grand Camping Zarautz. Tomorrow we are taking the train into San Sebastien, another "must see" destination. T-shirt weather when we got here but getting cooler by the hour.

 

[garry55]

Day 9 to Morocco.
Zero progress today as we took time out to visit San Sebastian. We struck lucky too, as it was the day of the Festival of the Patron Saint. The city centre was lined with marching bands and a huge turnout of spectators. An amazing spectacle. Unfortunately the videos I took of some of the marching bands are too big to upload.

 

[ChrisL]

Unfortunately the videos I took of some of the marching bands are too big to upload.

You need to upload them to YouTube and then post a link them.

 

[Just smiffy]

Hopefully see you in Morocco soon…

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