We're on the road to nowhere

 Mark

07 Jan 2009

The last few days have consisted of long days, and sometimes, some rather long nights.....Three days ago we spent a couple of hours enjoying the buzz and activity in the central square of Marrakech after a four hour drive through the mountains from Beni Mallal. After this it was a simple case of joining the new motorway from Marrakech to Agadir for two hours - or so we thought.....

After following the signs to the motorway, and only a couple of miles from it, we saw signs with red crosses across our route - not good. A passing local assured us the motorway was open though and so we pressed on only to find the entrance to the motorway barred. Two men explained that it was shut for maintenance. However, as we all parked up to discuss our next move the men relented and said we could go on. Past empty toll booths and a motorway to ourselves! Fantastic! We felt like royalty as we roared along a deserted motorway - half a mile to the next block. However, these chaps were not so forthcoming and despite sterling efforts by the more diplomatic members in the group we had to turn back and take the long and slow alternative route. Apparently the motorway would have been opened the following day so bad timing on our part. Or maybe bad planning on the part of the Moroccan Transport Authorities given the miles of unworked hard core, unfinished bridges and incomplete slip roads we occasionally passed in the four hours it took to get to Agadir....So Shaun and I feel we deserved our Agadir beers and 4am bed ......

(And yes, we know we would not have done the same in Britain but all this African driving is clearly playing with our minds .....)