Morocco and Western Sahara

Monday, October 16, 2023

Tuesday started wonderfully at the Maison Marocaine Hotel in Agadir. We arrived the night before completely exhausted, sank into bed and couldn't really see the accommodation until the next morning. In the middle of the city, surrounded by a large wall, it was like a small oasis. We were served an excellent breakfast and given advice on how to plan the day. While some drove to the local workshop with one of the L200s, everyone else filled up their water supplies and handed over the first donations to our great host. He has great influence in Agadir and the surrounding area and has agreed to send the power generator, the emergency backpack with medical equipment and the toys to the people who need them most after the earthquake.

At the same time in the Mitsubishi workshop, “Hollywood” was actually able to get back on the road and we were able to get hold of an air filter for a Transit.

Then, with a little delay, we head to the “theoretical” border area between Morocco and Western Sahara. Since Morocco occupied Western Sahara, we were basically always in Moroccan territory until Mauritania. Lots of military presence and lots of street checks.

In the evening we reached the destination area and met our guide for the rest of the trip, Karl, and his son Tiijan. We collected them and drove together to a laguna where we had planned to spend the night. It was a lagoon/bay guarded by the military. We were promptly welcomed by the military and, after a passport check, we were given a suitable place to camp.

This was followed by the first set-up of all the tents and the first dinner outside. Even though everyone was completely exhausted, it was still very sociable. But then everyone sank into the pillows or sleeping bags.

Conclusion of the day: Insanely friendly and helpful people in Morocco, “Hollywood” is fit again for the next 2,000 km... at least and everyone should have a Ronald!

Tuesday, October 17, 2023

We started Wednesday with a very dim sunrise on the Atlantic coast. It was then that we were able to really see the unusual surroundings: a rocky “sandy beach” above a cliff.

After a good “Trek'n'Eat” breakfast, we hit the slopes. We actually wanted to reach the rest of the route to Dakhla (the actual capital of Western Sahara) in daylight and everything looked good until 200 km from our destination. After a short stop, “Rooster” spewed a lot of soot and then lost more and more power until it came to a complete stop before a climb.

It didn't help, we had to drag him back to the previous gas station. When we got there we discovered the full extent of the problem: the particle filter was closed. After some advice and remote maintenance tips from Germany from our Pneuhage crew and the son of our fellow driver Ronald, we decided on a radical but effective method. Our secret weapon Ronald drilled open the filter and, accompanied by a cloud of death escaping from the side, “Rooster” made it to Dakhla with the others.

Here everyone had a good dinner in a restaurant, where we decided on the strategy for the next day and then everyone fell into a comatose sleep.

The hotel was very simple, but it was ok for an overnight stay and by now most people had already passed the point where the condition of the hotel should play a major role. The main thing is a bed and a shower and no uninvited guests. They would appear for the first time later...

Conclusion of the day: “Rooster” became “Rußter” and everyone should have a Ronald!

Wednesday, October 18, 2023

Plan for the day: 4 vehicles drive to the border area with Mauritania, look for a suitable campsite, and 3 vehicles stay in Dakhla to find a workshop for “Rußter” in order to prepare him for larger tasks.

Said and done. While “Viper”, “Goose”, “Iceman” and our guide Karl made their way to the border area, “Hollywood” and “Maverick” stayed with “Rußter” in Dakhla. We then went straight to a local Ford partner in Dakhla and an extremely friendly employee there referred us to a local mechanic. When we got there, he already knew about our problem and started right away. After 6.5 hours, some reprogramming on the control unit and some welding work, we followed the vanguard and, after a smooth journey, arrived at the fully set up overnight camp before 8:00 p.m.

There was still dinner, a bit of leftover wine, as everything had to be destroyed before the alcohol-free Mauritania and we still had to “save” the harassing entry of Ogidi and Sadick with our telephone joker Joe. The two were detained at the airport in Nouakschott because only cash was accepted there for the visa. Luckily, Joe was able to reach our contact in Nouakschott and Mamadou immediately set off and rescued them both. …In Ramon’s words, “UNNECESSARY”.

Shortly before going to bed there was another brief excitement: a scorpion paid us a visit and after it disappeared as quickly as it appeared, suddenly the last people in the camp miraculously had long trousers and sturdy shoes on. Then we went to bed and an extremely stormy night followed. Strong squalls affected some people during the night.

The conclusion of the day comes from Reiner: “Please don’t catch any scorpions with my coffee cup!” and everyone, really everyone should... well, you know.