Chefchouan
I ended up staying on the camp site in Chefcouan for 3 nights. Not only was it a good place to stay but the weather was atrocious and I didn't much feel like moving in the rain. My first morning, I met Tim from the van next door and we drank tea and coffee together. Later in the morning it started to rain so I returned to my van to read my book until the rain stopped. I finished the book. It didn't really stop raining for 48hrs. There were the odd moments where the rain stopped and we'd go down into town to eat.
Tim is travelling with his Polish girlfriend Patricia and their 2 dogs. Their van is smaller and older than mine and not so well layed out so I can only imagine it is cramped in there. He is an ex teacher and university lecture in his late forties. He decided he was miserable in his old life so about 3 years ago he sold his house, bought a van and has been travelling since. I do find his life and opinions a bit puzzling sometimes. He claims he has enough money to never work again (he does live on a 10€ per day budget for 2 people though so he might not have that much to his name) but his van is a wreck. If I were to decide to live in a van for the remainder of my days, I would at least get one that offered a few comforts. He also claims that low energy light bulbs give off "bad" light that affects the brainwaves. I think the an amount he smokes and drinks is probably more of a hazrd to his health than anything. They are a nice couple though and seasoned travellers. They stayed on in Chefchouan for another night but we planned to meet up tomorrow in Meknes (where I am now). I hope we do meet as he has my electric heater.
I awoke this morning and for the first time in 3 days it was not raining so I decided to move on. before that though, I went for a run in the hills behind the campsite. There's a dirt track that leads to a village about 5kms away. I run up to the village and then found my way down via some single tracks which would be great for mountain biking.
I left shorlty before lunch and drove to Meknes 3 or 4 hours away. I never realised how big it is, a huge town and unfortunately the only camp site is shut. The were a few other vans parked up on a piece of land just outside the site though so I parked up with them. I took a taxi into town to find a place to eat. Half a flame grilled chicken, rice, chips, mixed salad and a coke for under 4 €. Result.
Meknes didn't have much to offer so I moved on further south, hoping to get to Rabat. Just outside of Rabat in a town called Temara there was meant be a campsite. Looking for it I stumbled across an English couple in a camper looking too. It was abandoned but there was a car park next to it that was ideal. We parked up and in time, another 4 campers did too. The weather was bad again and the sea was a noisey bubbling froth.
I spent the evening drinking with Dave and Diane in their much posher than mine camper. Dave and Diane are in their late fifties, early sixties, live in Manchester and seem old hands at the camper van thing. That night there was a storm of biblical proportions, the wind howled and the rain lashed. I awoke to this at about 6am and could not get back to sleep. It stopped about 8am so I walked the dog. I saw D&D and we agreed to head to Essouira splitting the journey into 2 days. We left seperately but then bumped into each other that evening in El Jadida. The weather improved all the way down and when I got there it was sunny and warm.
Just outside town I spotted a golf course so I popped in to have a look. It was beautiful, very green and lush. The green fee is about 38€ so I may treat myself tomorrow and have a round. It doesn't do my budget much good but I can live cheaply for a few days after.
So now I am parked up on a public parking spot and the beach is about 5 metres away. It's a great spot. Close enough to be just a quick walk into town, far enough out to be fairly quiet. There is a camp site just round the corner but I thought I would skip it and save the money.
Palms in El Jadida
