Monday 18th March – Oualidia to Mohammedia

Oualidia to Mohammedia - 150 miles

With Terry feeling much better we decided to carry on north today so transferred the water “reserve” into the tank, emptied the loo and departed this very nice spot. Our intention was to use the motorway but, in case of problems, we wanted to exchange the small Moroccan gas bottle so started out on the coast road. After we were refused at a couple of places we realised that nobody wanted our Atlasgas bottle, everywhere was Afriquagas, so forgot about it for now.

Bren was feeling a little queasy and the road, not as good as some, was not helping so when we saw a sign to the motorway we turned off. Bad move! Firstly it took us almost back on ourselves, which we didn't immediately realise until Terry noticed the sun was in the wrong place and secondly because the road was awful – so bad the waste tap opened and spilled the entire contents over a verge; oh dear me!

But eventually we found the access road and were soon bowling along on a blissfully smooth carriageway in 6^th gear with the cruise control looking after things. Past Al Jedidah then we paused for lunch on a service area before deciding that Mohammedia was an eminently doable destination. So TomTom was programmed for L'Oceane Bleu campsite, a place we've stayed a few times, and we carried on in ever increasing traffic as we passed Casablanca. Barely recognisable from our earlier visits we turned off the motorway after paying around a tenner in tolls, and found the approach road, noting large numbers of recently completed holiday apartments. We were guided to an excellent pitch in full sun and, formalities completed, Terry took Jamie for a quick walk on the beach then a cuppa and settle in.

There have been a few changes here; the surrounding developments have now all been completed so there is no more building site noise, some new pitches have been created at what was the rear of the site plus a number of “bungalows”, in reality glorified bedrooms, have been added. Sadly nothing has been done about the inadequate ablutions block which in view of the tremendous advances we've seen elsewhere is letting the place down.

Not sure yet how long we are going to stay but we plan to cross back to Spain on Friday and it is a decent day's drive to the port so we'll probably have to build in one more stop somewhere. We'll think about it but it is pleasant enough here and the sun is shining............