Leaving Morocco
Time Flies By
19th to 20th November | 2022
This morning I went to breakfast and after I have finished with the breakfast I remembered something. 2 days ago Marco had been stopped by the police as he looked on his phone using as GPS. It was a bit of a "show procedure". They called via radio another police man, etc. and finally he had to pay about 30€. We had decided within our group that we should share the fine between all of us, as he is transporting all our equipment and luggage, and in this unlucky moment he was only checking the route on his phone.
Straight after breakfast started the offroad group to load their bikes onto the various cars as the "boys" are taking the train all the way up to Tanger (it was the TGV). In Tanger we would all meet and then go to Tetouan, where the hotel is booked for the last night. Another short notice change as originally Tanger was booked. However, due to the ferry leaving Ceuta, Tetouan would make more sense as closer.
Didier wanted us to go all the way up to Tanger via motorway, to visit the "caves of Hercules" and then to visit all together the Medina of Tanger. Checking with google and OsmAnd I knew already that this would NEVER work out as almost 600km, of which the last part is getting into Tanger. Not talking about still getting all the way over to Tetouan and by 18h30 it is pitch dark ...
It would have been good to have the very important information that the toll booth only takes Dirham, NO VISA or EURO. Alone that information would have made the riding much easier as we had each time to help each other around (walking across the motorway) with our last Dirham. Thankfully we could change at one petrol station some Euros into Dirham to get us going.
Some time after lunch, being on the motorway around Rabat I tried to speak to Didier to explain that it makes time-wise no sense to go all the way up to Tanger. He still wanted us to meet all in Tanger ville ... seriously! I rang Alexandre (the guy driving his pick-up) and explained the situation and he totally agreed. He promised me to sort it out and would come back with the location of the hotel in Tetouan. Finally one understands my concerns!
At one toll booth we went into the wrong lane, as it was so confusing for us. With the bikes we could easily roll back, but Marco with the transporter and the trailer needed a bit of assistance. I rolled backwards with the hazard lights to warn the other cars, alternatively I waved with my arms to make it clear. Once we got the car out, we lined up at the correct counter ;-)
It was already pretty late when we left the motorway to Tetouan. It was a bit of kamikaze driving racing against the sunset. Paula, my wingwoman remembered that I have my difficulties driving in the dark, so she was glued to my rear to give me extra light. Shortly after 19h we finally made it into the hotel, accompanied by some Marroquin teenager on their little bikes doing nearly all the way wheelies!
After dinner the usual discussion, what time we shall leave, and as obviously there is no rush to get the ferry, it was opted for 9am. Mistake Steffi, you should have listen to your guts and consulted the internet to find out when the ferries are leaving!
We had a nice breakfast and this time I loaded my bag onto Schimmelchen as I would go directly from Algeciras to my friends Ade & Pepe in Marbella to spend some time with them as I haven't seen them for a long time. Before we left to Tetouan I gave Didier my last Dirham, as "I wouldn't need them anymore, or?!".
Once driving through Tetouan, the marginal was completely closed as the King of Morocco must have been in town. Finally we ended on the motorway! Remember: I have NO dirham. When the first car stopped at the toll booth, I jumped off my bike and raced to ask for some Dirham.
With our bikes we got pretty fast through the border control, so we waited for the cars at the petrol station in Ceuta. By that time we got messages through from the "fast group" that the last ferry had left already at 11am and the next would be only at 16h00 - seriously! I should have listen to my guts when discussing the breakfast time! Giving us the option to decide between an early and a late ferry would have been helpful!
We waited at the petrol station nearly 2 hours until the cars with all the luggage arrived, as they again had to take all luggage out for checking. However, we still had some time for lunch.
Today the ferry ride was very smooth and when starting to get off the ferry I said good-bye to the group as I will straight away head out of the port to Marbella.
As you can see, the life of a guide can be very stressful when the organisation fails with important information or understanding concerns, even though they are coming from a non-Portuguese woman! However, bottomline, it was a very interesting week, with a lovely bunch of people! And if I would get asked again, to guide a group, I think I would again say YES without hesitating, but I would put my foot down in some points. Remember: Every day is a school day!
In the next blog I will mainly share some pictures with you from my stay with my friend Ade. Especially as this one is very much lacking in pictures ...
Places | Cities:
MOROCCO:
Marrakesch, Tetouan, Ceuta.
SPAIN:
Algeciras, Marbella.
Driven km | Trip:
Total | Steffi: xxkm
Marr - Tet:
Tet - Ceuta:
Ceuta - Marbella: 90km
Maintenance | Breakdown:
./.
Health issues:
./.
Special thanks to:
Morocco being again such a lovely and versatile country.
Majority of the group being so cheerful and helpful.