Thursday 21st March - Mohammedia to Algeciras

Mohammedia to Algeciras - 228 (road) miles plus sea crossing

Well we stayed three nights and did precisely nothing, just chilled out in the sun, walked the dog and watched the comings and goings, including a biggish group of Swiss/Germans who stayed for one night – they'd obviously booked because at least 15 spaces had been “reserved” by the guardian.

But all good things come to an end and it was time to move on. Our plan was to go to Asilah and overnight, getting a crossing on Friday but, with hindsight, Terry's subconscious must have kicked in because we did some calculations and realised we could make the 1700 ferry. We'd seen the weather forecast, which was for strong winds and indeed we were already encountering them on the motorway, although this hadn't actually registered with us. There follows a tale about what can, will and does happen when plans start to fall apart...........

Having decided to miss Asilah and go for the 5.00pm ferry, we arrived at checkin at 4.05pm with the board saying checkin closed. About to have an investigate we were accosted by an "agent" who told us the 5.00pm was the last ferry of the day, all others cancelled today and tomorrow due to the weather. However he said, "just because you are British" (and he should also have said gullible) "I can get you on the last ferry". He took me to the side door of the checkin office, took my documents and after some shilly shallying around handed me our boarding passes - and asked for 100 dirhams (for my brother in the office). Okay, thinks I, probably worth it, but at that point Bren had been to the bureau de exchange and changed all our dirhams into Euros, which she had in her hand. To my deepest embarrasment I managed to give him the 50 note - yes €50 rather than the €10 she was also holding. I put it down to a mental lapse due to the rush, but he must have thought it was Christmas!

Okay, so we were on. Down to Immigration, we'd somehow "lost" the yellow immigration exit forms so the nice policeman told us to go back to the gate and get new ones, which we filled in then went back to him, accepting a mild telling-off. Customs clearance was dead easy, didn't even want to talk to us. Then we found the original yellow forms - talk about idiot Brits - not our best day!

Onto the quayside, last motorhome in the queue as promised. Until 3 others came in after us. At 5.00pm there was no sign of a ship - the 3 others which had been berthed had gone. At 6.00pm a ship hove into view. At 7.00pm we started loading. At 8.15pm the ship finally sailed and we enjoyed a nice chat with a fellow Funster and his wife on a remarkably smooth crossing. Docked at 9.45pm, we managed to get a flyer by driving around all the other idiots waiting patiently for someone else to move. By 10.00pm we were parked up at Carlos', the ticket agents overnighting area, walked and fed the dog then into McD's for something to eat - didn't matter what, we were starving! 

We subsequently learned that several sailings had already been cancelled and this was indeed the last ferry for a couple of days and had combined several departures. We're not altogether sure these cancellations were weather related, but did discover that all departures for the next two days had in fact been cancelled. Subconscious? Luck? Whatever, we could have been stuck for a few days.....

And so endeth our Morocco visit for 2019. At the beginning we said this was probably going to be our last visit but this has now been reviewed and we'll likely come again next year. Yes Morocco has changed significantly since our last visit and looks to be rapidly dragging itself into the 21^st century. However there is still enough of the old left for a good few years not to completely lose it's character.