The Marrakesh Express

[garry55]

Where were we?
Ah yes - we left El Pinet and after a lengthy, tedious motorway journey, arrived at Camping Natura Park in Los Olivios de Xivert. My idea of motorhome hell, we were parked in the ACSI bays near the entrance gate, about half a mile (slight exaggeration) from the toilet and shower block. The town itself is as dull as dishwater, it's only redeeming features being the church (it has the highest bell tower in all of the Comunidad de Valencia) and the tapas bar we found.
Glad to leave just about sums it up.

 

[garry55]

Next stop- Sant Celoni, north of Barcelona, south of Girona. We got the last of the 7 dedicated motorhome parking spots on the train station car park. The trains stop at 22:30, but a heavy goods train thunders by at 04:00 every morning. A small price to pay for a free parking spot that has grey, black and fresh water facilities, is very close to the town and the train station. And is free.
It's a lovely town, with a Baroque church with a stunning facade, plenty of shops and bars and a wonderful restaurant that does a bargain menu del dia for 14 euros a head. We stayed for 2 nights, on the second day we took the train into Barcelona (it's a RENFE service so dogs are allowed) and had a great day wandering the back streets of the Gothic quarter, avoiding the tourist traps.

 

[garry55]

Another boring motorway drive took us to Millay, famous for it's Sir Norman Foster designed viaduct. We have already driven over it twice when we last stayed in Millay. This time we booked onto a campsite outside Millau, in the suburb of Creissels. Camping St Martin nestles at one end of the gorge and is an idyllic, peaceful site with immaculate facilities and generous sized plots.
We walked up the side of the gorge to a vantage point way above the town that afforded us an unspoilt view of the viaduct. One of the best sites that we have stayed on so far.

 

[garry55]

And today? Another lengthy motorway drive through some lovely scenery - hill top villages, snow- covered mountains and lush, verdant countryside - to the little village of Deux Chaises, where we are staying on the municipal camping area. EHU, good sized plots, black and grey waste points and fresh water for 12 euros a day. It's a typically small, rural French village with a nice church and a Relais restaurant on the main road that serves a lovely Saison brown beer - very Trappist in flavour, if not ABV!

 

[guy b]

Followed your route a couple of days ago up through Todra gorge, Agiufal and then down to Dades. Some of the best scenery we’ve seen in Morocco so far and the off road section was nowhere near as bad as it’s made out to be.
Some of the feral kids in the mountain villages were a bit of a pain tho
Thanks for sharing your travels, loved following it
Guy

Www.rufusdoeseurope.co.uk

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[garry55]

Followed your route a couple of days ago up through Todra gorge, Agiufal and then down to Dades. Some of the best scenery we’ve seen in Morocco so far and the off road section was nowhere near as bad as it’s made out to be.
Some of the feral kids in the mountain villages were a bit of a pain tho
Thanks for sharing your travels, loved following it
Guy

Www.rufusdoeseurope.co.uk

The climb up to the Atlas mountains from the Todra Gorge remains one of my all time favourites road trips. Glad you enjoyed it!

 

[garry55]

Fed up of boring motorways, we removed the option from our sat nav and set off to our next stop at Clamecy, just 100 miles away. 3 hours later, we arrived at Camping Municipal du Pont Picot, a lovely campsite that is sandwiched between a river and a canal. We walked the 800 metres along the canal towpath into the town which has a splendid church and a lovely old quarter. And a great kebab shop!

 

[garry55]

Today, another 100 miles on rural back roads got us to our next stop at Camping de Sezanne, a lovely municipal site just a 20 minute walk from the town centre. All the facilities are present and exceptionally clean and tidy. Its cost us 15 euros for the day with ehu.

 

[garry55]

After a lazy morning, we left Sezanne and took the back roads to Gueux, where we had a vets appointment for the worming tablets necessary to get our dogs back into the UK. What a scam - 60 euros for 2 bloody tablets! Not even a health check thrown in.
We ate our lunch sat beside the village lake before heading to tonight's freebie stop beside the canal in Berry-Au-Bac, a stones throw away from Gueux. On the way I stopped to look at the remaining grandstands and pit boxes of the old Reims-Gueux motor racing circuit. It's a joy to behold to a petrol head like me and I was pleased to see that they are sympathetically restoring what is left.
We are parked on a tarmac road at the side of the canal along with another 7 motorhomes, but you can park on the grass (if it's dry!) and be nearer the canal if you so wish. There is a service point with free grey and black waste disposal but fresh water has to be paid for. The village has a boulangerie, a small cafe / bar and a restaurant and nothing else. It's also close to the WW1 site of Hill 108, which unfortunately is not open to the public, but tours can be arranged via the town hall if you want to view a bloody big crater!

 

[garry55]

Just to conclude this post, we left Berry Au Bac and spent the next night in an airer in Calais, one that we use all the time. It's been acquired by the Camping Car Park organisation who have installed ehu points all over the site. Our ferry left on time the next day and we had a smooth crossing, drinking free coffee and soft drinks that are provided in the pet lounge. After disembarking at Dover, we headed to North London and our campsite for the next 2 nights at Sewardstone, Lee Valley. We were quite shocked at the cost - £78! No restaurant, bar / cafe, swimming pool, just the basic essentials. It's only redeeming feature is the #215 bus terminal outside the gates, which we used to get us to Walthamstow, where we caught a train to Camden (via a change at Hackney Down) to meet my sister for lunch.
Next day we headed for home, arriving back in Whitby mid-afternoon, the conclusion of our 7800 mile African adventure. If you came along for the ride, thanks! We hope you enjoyed it and maybe it contained some information that may be of benefit to you.
If you are thinking of going to Morocco, my only advice is DO IT!

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[scousebird]

Thanks for taking us with you

 

[rolosroller]

Thanks for taking us on your

 

[Go_buddy_go_]

Thank you for a great read!

 

[psyfried]

Thanks for the journey enjoyed your travels

 

[Roger S]

It was very enjoyable, thank you.

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[Barryh]

Thanks for taking the time to post. I enjoyed your trip.