Thursday 27 February 2020 – Sidi Ifni to Tafraout

Yesterday was very much a do nothing sort of day, nice and warm once the sun came over the cliff top. Another of the couples who came over with us turned up mid-morning so we had a nice catch-up before taking Jamie onto the beach, not the best we've been on by quite a long way which is a shame, then just relax for the rest of the day. It was nice to come back to see the place but we'll probably not visit again.

Sidi Ifni to Tafraoute - 111 miles

So today we'd planned to move on into the mountains to Tafraout so an earlyish start into a cool morning, that is until the sun got onto us when the temperature rose rapidly, forwarning us of another hot one. Chores done, bye-byes said and dues paid we set off back up the road, past Erkounte Park and on to Tiznit where we parked up by the supermarket in the centre to top up on a few goodies. Then refuel and head off east.

It's not a bad road, a two lane carriageway that isn't the smoothest we've been on and with the occasional rough patch so a good lookout was necessary, but at least it was quiet. And hot! Entering the foothills of the Anti-Atlas mountains we paused for lunch in a valley at a spot we've used two or three times before starting the long steady climb up to 4000 ft amsl. We were following a French motorhome who was towing a car on a trailer but he was going fast enough for us and anyway overtaking would have been a bit hazardous on the somewhat twisty road. Not being in any rush we took the time to once again enjoy the scenery.

Entrance to the souk in Tiznit

As well as the load there were 4 passengers in there!

Approaching the mountains

The Anti-Atlas mountains

Impressive arch town entrance

After a steady drive, passing through a number of small towns and villages, we eventually rolled into Tafraout and the guardian parking site just on the edge of town. Now we know where everybody had gone to when all the sites we'd used up until now mysteriously emptied - they've all come here! We've never seen so many motorhomes here, mostly French who, as they usually do, were all huddled up together close to the entrance despite there actually being plenty of room a little further into the site. We estimate over 500 units here but there is easily room for 500 more, although that could possibly overwhelm the facilities, not that there's much on offer apart from some strategically placed rubbish skips.

Further back we found the Dutch and Germans, all leaving plenty of space around them so we found ourselves a nice sunny spot, coincidentally quite close to our other Funster friends who had apparently arrived yesterday. As we plan to stay for a week got ourselves set up, initially deploying the awning but the late afternoon breeze was a little too much until we can get proper tie-downs sorted so wound it back in and just enjoyed the last hour or so with a nice cuppa.

There have apparently been a few changes as regards waste disposal so tomorrow we'll investigate further. But the water truck still trundles around and we'd barely turned the engine off when the local patisserie/boulangerie man on his bicycle came calling. No doubt there will be more tomorrow. But finally, when the guardian came round for his money, we found it's been reduced from 20 dirhams to 15 dirhams per night – that's £1.25!