Bailey’s Sahara Challenge feels like it took place so long ago now. The memories are definitely still fresh though!
If you’ve read the first two instalments, you’ll realise you’re at the point in the trip now where I drive a motorhome for the first time abroad. And not on a standard road, oh no. Around the twisting, winding roads of the Atlas Mountains.
And when I say road, I say that term very loosely.
One challenge down, one to go
Christina, Bailey’s Marketing Manager who I was sharing the motorhome with, drove the first stint from Ouzarzate. As we left the city and hit the open road, I could feel a mix of calm and nerves. I knew my time to drive was coming.
Having got over the hurdle of travelling to Morocco on my own (and making it in one piece), driving was the next biggest thing I had been anxious about.
After driving the winding trails, up high with no edges and then spiralling down again through remote hamlets, we came to a stop at this beautiful bridge. I wish I knew the name of it but to be honest, I didn’t know my own name at that point.
Ok, sounds dramatic but when I get nervous, I lose my senses a little! However, the sun was shining, the team were chill so I felt quite comfortable. It was time!!
The perfect first drive abroad
Now, you would think that your first time driving a motorhome abroad should be on a nice, well paved road. One that is straight and flat.
But here at team LBB, we don’t like to do things the easy way. As I slid in to the drivers seat after our pit stop at the bridge, I had that little rush of adrenaline.
I was grateful for the motorhome being automatic, it felt like one less thing to worry about. And on first impressions, the Ford cab was actually really nice.
As I started the engine and set off in the convoy, something clicked. Suddenly, I was comfortably aware of the vehicles dimensions. I got to grips with the view in the wing mirrors easily and made good use of the wide angle lenses at the bottom.
After a couple of bends, I eased in to the driving. On reflection, this was probably the ideal situation for a maiden motorhome drive. We were not going that fast so getting accustomed with the motorhome felt smooth.
Plus there wasn’t much oncoming traffic, just the odd public mini bus and a few cars. Oh and one crazy guy on a motorbike who was far too close to the edge for my liking.
I didn’t want to stop driving
In fact, by the time we pulled over for our lunch break, I wasn’t ready to stop. Until someone waved sweaty lunch-meat sandwiches under my nose and I realised I was quite hungry. And the view was incredible, parked up on the side of the road.
Don’t be too concerned about the sound of catering on this trip, no one got ill from sweaty meat. In fact these lunches had become a bit of a staple by the time I had joined! Think Billy Bear Ham type fillings and you should get the idea.
Quick pit stop lunch and it’s all go again
A week before this, I never imagined I would say it but I was excited to get driving again! It was such a rush but also a huge sense of achievement.
Driving past some of the land slides was also nuts. HUGE chunks of rock were laying at the side of the track, I can’t imagine what that would have sounded like when they fell.
We drove on to Ouzad, it was quite a long driving day but it didn’t feel it. Maybe it was the beautiful sunshine, the rush of finally driving or the incredible landscapes we were driving through.
When we arrived at the campsite, it was another assault on the senses. This was my first experience of a Moroccan campsite and it was gorgeous. Like something out of a film.
Vistas for daaaaays
As you drove through to the end of the campsite, where the motorhome would be pitched, it sloped down and then the vista opened up to beautiful landscape.
And our pitch had a wonderful wooden shelter at the back, with table and chairs, finished off with a beautiful lantern hanging in the middle. It was the perfect place to chill and process the day!
We all congregated at one of the caravans to enjoy a meal together. Jamal, one of the Bailey employees who also happens to be Moroccan, cooked up a wonderful feast for us all on the Cadac.
Seriously, it was like I was in some sort of dreamy movie! The icing on the cake was sitting in the bar/lounge later that evening (where the free campsite wi-fi was!), relaxing and chatting.
Driving a motorhome abroad for the first time had actually been an incredible experience. I felt like my Moroccan adventure was really beginning now.