Midelt

On the way to Midelt, we stopped at a big layby that was clearly a photo op, stop as a good few people were taking pictures of the panoramic views, including what appeared to be a local football team.

Sods law, parked up and also taking pictures were the occupants of not one, but two, English motor-homes. We all got chatting and learned that one of the couples, who had been living in their old Hymer for the last ten years, were escorting friends on a tour of Morocco.

They told us that they would be staying over at the municipal site at Midelt, then going out in the evening for a traditional Tagine, to a place that they had visited before, and that we were very welcome to join them.

This was a lovely offer, which we accepted, and I'll be damned if I can remember any of their names! I'm so sorry!

Parked alongside the other two UK vans at Midelt

The site was quite basic but, adequate for our needs and we went out to dine at around 6pm. I have to be honest and say that it wasn't to be our best experience in Morocco. The 'restaurant' measured around 15 feet by 8 feet, and that's no exaggeration, and was nothing more than a tiled room with one table in it. The six of us sat around it, literally filled the place to capacity!

We all ordered the tagine only to be told that we would have to wait for around one hour as they hadn't done any prep. Clearly, they weren't expecting any business that night!

All that aside, it was still a nice offer and, in truth, without their knowledge of the place, we would most certainly have spent the night in the van.

The next morning, we were ready to set off before one of the couples had risen so we thanked the hymer couple and told them that we would probably see them at Merzouga.

What we hadn't realised, ignorant newbies that we were, was that in order to get to Merzouga, we would have to drive through the Atlas Mountains!