Team Morgan departing for Assilah, their stop for the night, left a cheerful Peter overseeing the service crews attempting to lengthen the car by 6 inches or so to regain the manufacturer’s original dimensions.This also appeared to entail plastering the entire radiator with fibreglass filler, but leaving a small aperture for appearances – but more later. The Navigator made an excellent job of finding the road to Casablanca (it had to appear somewhere in the rally write-up!) en route to Rabat and our overnight stop.
Equally important, potential picnic areas were identified just to the north of Casablanca. The excellent dual carriageway ensured that the outskirts of Casablanca  were reached in good time. The picnic spot by the sea was more problematic. Persevering, we found a suitable site besides the pounding Atlantic surf leaving the Morgan in the safe hands of the local militia! Regretfully no photos of the custodians were allowed. Suitably refreshed we arrived at another of our favourite hotels, the Al Alba at Assilah. Arriving as dusk was falling we received a great welcome and refreshing Moroccan tea. Luis and Nihal couldn’t have been more helpful with our two major tasks for the evening. One was to find the times of the ferries to Algeciras the following day. The other as important was to find where we could buy an authentic Moroccan tagine for the Driver’s wife (the Driver being seriously in need of brownie points having been away for over two weeks!) In respect of the ferry times, Luis searched the internet and even phoned the ferry company coming up with a list of “possible” times. The tagine problem was quickly solved by Luis insisting on GIVING us one from their stock!! We enjoyed a great dinner with them, accompanied by the best Moroccan wine of the Driver’s experience.

Leaving in the morning  we were bowled over by Luis insisting on GIVING us a bottle of the wine to take back to the UK!!! Reaching Tangier in good time we realised that Moroccan ferry schedules are indicative only!

In addition Moroccan burocracy entailed a lengthy wait  We did, however, have the pleasure of joining up with Robin Eyre-Maunsell who had  reached Tangier with the temperature gauge round the stop! Once on the ferry Robin entertained us to a series of anecdotes from his career as works rally driver for Rootes. About the rest of his career, Robin said (I quote)  “I never really saw the point of working”!!!

Leaving Robin to nurse his car to Malaga, we left the ferry port for Hotel Sindhura in Veger. At this point we have to admit that the hotel was found only with the assistance of a most helpful local (the Driver once again in the usual place through not providing sufficient information to the Navigator!)




Yet again the hotel proved an excellent choice although once more we were the only residents! This did not prevent the proprietor, Alejandro making us most welcome and providing an excellent meal. He was most taken with the Morgan, as we were with the view from his hotel.


The following day we had a 450 Km drive back to our friendly Vina las Torres hotel in Trujillo. On arrival whilst the Driver was sorting out the side light electrics (optional extras in Morocco!) and the radiator cap leak (more important) the Navigator was assisted by the hotel proprietor’s son Alejandro in cleaning (yes it does happen occasionally) the Morgan. Alejandro and Marina tried out the Morgan for size with a view to a future rallying carreer. Rides were provided up and down the drive to the hotel.


The hospitality was as usual superb. Briefed on the birds of prey in the Extramuerda national park, we departed to Santuario de Monfrague to await the sight of 200 or so Griffin Vultures taking to the thermals. The site also features an Arabic castle on the promontory with spectacular views.




Whilst waiting for the vultures to take to the air we learnt that the number were declining as EU regulations no longer allowed animal carcases unfit for human consumption to be put out as food, a sad by product of wide ranging food legislation.

After the occasional bird had tested the thermals, there was a mass exodus as the whole group took off .

After a very pleasant journey on a mixture of minor roads and the excellent motorways (both devoid of signicant traffic) we arrived at the small rural hotel in Villefranca de Oca. The next day was a long drive to the border into France and up to Surin near Ruffec. Chateau de Cibioux (www.chateau-de-cibioux.com) proved a gem! The loggia adjoining the rooms was straight out of Romeo and Juliet.


The15th century chateau is owned by a laid back proprietor, Jean-Claude Corbin, who proved an amusing and attentive host. An aperitif was served in style and a superb dinner was to follow. The chateau is being restored at a leisurely pace, as Jean-Claude does not do stress! The Navigator found lots in common with him!



It was with great regrets we left for the final day’s drive to stay with rallying friends near Giverny, alongside the Seine. En route we bought a couple of dozen oysters from a stall alongside the road (as one does in mid-November in France!) and the Navigator excelled once again in choice of picnic spot along Le Loir. The Driver spent a happy time opening them on a very conveniently placed picnic table.

A great reception awaited from our friends, Pascal and Patricia, who we first met when Pascal was involved with the organisation of the Pyrenees Autosur Autoclassic, an excellent regularity rally which ran for several years between 2002 and 2007 They had just moved into a delightful farmhouse and barn. Situated on the banks of the Seine. They were in the middle of a major conversion programme making the house habitable and (later) providing shelter for Pascal’s classic car collection. Despite this they made us very welcome and we were privileged to be their first guests in their new home.

Starting off for the ferry the following day we were to be driving into the teeth of a gale and what felt like sub-zero temperatures. We reflected on the ferry back to Portsmouth how lucky we had been in general with the weather, even to the extent of a picnic in the sun the previous day.