A long drive to Bou Jerif

 Time to drive and move on west. We have other places to visit and a long drive is needed, passing new sights and old ones. We start by passing over the Draa river which runs all the way, through the desert, to the sea! It normally doesn't make it all the way but this year? Maybe, we hope to find out.

Now Krysia is a dap hand at catching life on the road as we pass through these enchanted lands. Colour and life, she spots it and shoots it.

Talking of colour, the 'desert' this year is a mass of it. Rain has obviously fallen in vast amounts and the purple flowers in the picture below, grace the north facing slopes of whole mountainsides.

We drive south to Foum Zguid through a beautiful valley with timeless views and demanding roads. The rains have definitely had their effect on the region in other ways than just colour.

This won't be the first bridge we come across that has been destroyed this winter.

Passing towns from a bygone age







And ones being brought up to date

 This is the valley of the bee's! Beehives line the road, workers dressed in suitable attire are busy and the flowers are everywhere. It is hard to imagine that soon this area will be desert again. It is so lush and there are those blue covered mountains again.

 We finally, it's been a very slow drive today, reach Foum Zguid. a very run down, on the edge of the desert sort of place but one we will spend the night at before the 400 kms drive to the coast.



They do believe in making the most out of their transport here

 We set off at a fine hour in the morning and start our drive across the quiet desert road. Which is lucky really because the road is only wide enough for one vehicle so for two to pass, at least one of you has to pull over onto the gravel edge. a game of bluff at times, a polite gesture at others. Posh campers are the least polite!

More evidence of the winters rains and onother bridge is down.

and water is still running through these rivers to join the Draa on it's way to the sea. Or will they fizzle out in the sand? We will only find out if we cross the Draa at the coast.

 A happy driver makes for good mileage

 And yes, I have enhanced the purple but only slightly to give a better idea of the bizarre sight. Purple flowers covering stark mountainsides in the barren waistlands of sahara desert. !

More beautiful ladies are caught by the ever eager travelling camerawomen.

Out of our way young camel, we need to pass

And pass we do. colour and light, miles upon miles and the van goes so well. That we end our day in the campsite at Fort Bou Jerif, a 9 km rough track which takes us a bit by surprise. In the wild countryside in between Guelmim and the coast. It's been a long day. You can just make out the van, on it's own, in the large camping area of this wierd place. A modern complex of hotel and rooms, campsite and swimming pool, built by a Frenchman noted for his cooking!!! This is Morocco.

 The following morning, the 3rd Feb, we wander the 1 km to the old and original fort. It's a wonder to behold. Why would the french build such a large fort out here in the 1930's ? Who knows, something to do with controlling the Moroccans and the Spanish enclave of Sidi Ifni I have read. But they were only here 10 years before they left Morocco to itself and here it is in ruin today. Probably still owned by a French man!! Ironically.

 Krysia walks amongst the trees beside the river.
 It's got a no camping sign here! I suppose to encourage you into the campsite. And I don't blame him, the French man that is, he's put a lot of money into his site and it's the only reason we are here. The campsite is famous, the fort is not! We have wanted to come here for years and are happy to have made it.

It's a fascinating place. Frogs croaking, turtles diving for cover. Water flowing? and the crumbling remains of a once flourishing army fort? What a strange place.

And then, believe it or not, my phone makes a bing and I've recieved an internet message from Jaimie in Guatemala. I've got 3G internet here???
Can you believe it? Out here, where's the mast? How do the Moroccans do it? Well they do.

and here I am captured sending a Whatsapp reply to our lovely daughter on the other side of the world. now what would the French Foreign Legion have made of that? What do we make of it?
Amazing, because we love keeping in touch with our family.

Beautiful walks here. Cactus are thick on the ground. The sea air in our hair.  We are relieved to be away from the dryness of the desert. It might have looked wet but it sucks the moisture out of your skin. Our fingers and toes are very happy to be near the sea. We are water babies from Wales.

It's out Jaimie's birthday this coming Friday 6th Feb.  So we are glad of the chance to wish her our love from such a bizarre place. Perhaps we'll be able to skype her on Friday but that will depend on where we are and what the internet connection is like. It comes and goes.

As do us tourists, so we say farewell to this amazing fort

 and head on back to our campsite or FBJ as the owner calls it.





He has collected some items to decorate this lovely complex but he can't have Krysia as one, although she does look good here.




A whale skeleton no less, decorates the reception area. Found on the sands not 10 kms away!

And a full moon to finish off this long and  interesting three days of our journey.