Camping Los Gallardos, Almeria, Spain

Angela is through the worse of the virus and John seems a lot better today. The last few days have been difficult. We've hardly eaten anything, just snacking, taking paracetamol and drinking lots of fluid. Today we didn't intend to drive too far, but of course that plan went out the window. Our journey took us back along the edge of the Sierra Nevada, the road climbing and then descending into valleys.

Marge didn't know if she was coming or going. Viaducts, tunnels, it was all going on. The drive was long and we desperately wanted to stop, but because of the difficult terrain there was no service area. When at last we came across one, we had to wait for a member of staff to unlock the ladies loo. The picture outside portrayed Angela's distress!

The service area turned out to be a perfect stop. For the first time since leaving home Marge was washed.

It was nice to see the dirt and dust of Morocco disappearing from her. Despite the intense heat we thought we would drive through the area of the Tabernas desert, stopping at a restaurant which had camping at the rear. The camping we didn't fancy, the area however was interesting, the rock formations fantastic. So we drove on to the next town, decided staying there wasn't for us either and in the end found a campsite half an hour away, where we are now. Us, and some bargain loving Brits.

Late evening we walked around the site, stopping to check out the on-site supermarket, garden centre, swimming pool and restaurant. One of the English residents recommended we stay here until Sunday, when a, 'cracking' Sunday lunch is served. Sadly, tomorrow we must be away. As friendly as the campsite is, we are struggling to understand why people would want to live here as it is in the middle of nowhere. But who are we to judge?

Camping Valle Niza, Benajarafe, Costa del Sol

Yesterday evening Angela's appetite had begun to return. She really fancied a pizza. So we located a place with good reviews not too far away. The walk was just far enough for John, who'd spent most of the day asleep.

It was lovely to sit out amongst the street cafes and not be bothered by anyone. We returned to Marge just in time to witness yet another top sunset.

This morning, still not really feeling it, we knew we needed to pack up and move on a little. Two hours away, was Camping Valle Niza, where we stayed for a couple of nights on our way down to Gibraltar. Of course, a couple of hours for Marge is around three and a half hours, plus coffee stop. John drove first, then Angela took over. The journey around the outskirts of Malaga slow.

Angela hasn't driven Marge since our first day in France. She'd rather John drove her, as he is used to her little foibles. Surprisingly the campsite was almost empty.  It is now high season here, so the overnight cost of just over thirty pounds seemed a little steep, after Morocco. We don't really mind. We were just glad to return to somewhere we'd stayed before, do a wash, and just sit.

 Fortunately, we have time on our side, so will slowly make our way along the coast towards Perpignan before heading across France.

And thank you Harry Kane for rescuing what looked like a dire situation against the DR Congo. 

Instructions for using the loo at the service area. Next match, let's see the whole England team push a bit harder!

Alcaidesa Marina, Gibraltar (day 2)

John is unwell, which is not really surprising as Angela has felt under the weather for almost a week. So our planned departure from Gibraltar today stalled. Angela's not surprised we've been unwell. Morocco was a bit full on. The stress, and lack of sleep would never make a good mix, and our bodies have reacted to this. Lunchtime,  Angela walked over to the rock of Gibraltar. Her timing was wrong to venture out as it was the sun was high in the sky, but we needed some medication from a pharmacy and she preferred to visit a British one, where she knew they would stock the items she required. She also had been very keen for us to return to Europe when she couldn't control her coughing over the last two days.

At the Spanish border she once again had to go through the rigmarole of being scanned and having her fingerprints taken. And upon her return, once again on the Spanish side she had to repeat the whole process. We have been in Spain less than twenty four hours and three times Angela's had to go through the process. What a right carry on! No wonder there are delays at ferry ports and airports! And the most annoying thing at today's border crossings, the Spanish were just waved straight through on the U.K. side! So why John spent the afternoon sleeping Angela looked into our return route back to France, avoiding mountains. As it goes at the moment, she thinks she'll have to drive Marge. So why we sit and wait to see what our next move will be, here are some figures from our Moroccan trip to bore you with, or perhaps even interest some of you. £305.20 was spent on fuel, thank goodness it was cheap! Our twenty eight overnight stays cost £222.90, which equated to an average of just less than 8.00 a night. These costs we will miss. To stay here at Gibraltar marina it is £13.00 a night. When John feels better, Angela will ask him if he knows how many 'terrifying miles', we drove whilst in Morocco. There's one thing for sure, we don't miss driving with the Moroccans daily. The Spanish however might not be happy about driving alongside Marge, particularly with Angela at the wheel! A final thought to leave you with tonight. Is the man parked in front of Marge aware he's at the marina car park? Thank goodness Marge isn't easily offended. We are. There's a time and a place for very tight beachwear!

Alcaidesa Marina, Gibraltar

We are now back in Spain. Today has been a very long day. When we purchased our ticket to Morocco we were told it was an open ticket, which meant we could return when we wished. The police in Morocco can check your documents at any time, and they must be able to see you will, at some time be leaving the country. So our ticket was dated June 13th, which confused us a little. Angela googled how to use an open ticket, and she was informed that she should stop at the office of our ferry provider at Tanger Med Port. John googled as well, using slightly different wording, like change, and we were sent on a wild goose chase into the busy streets of Tangier, where Angela visited the ferry operators office, only to be told we needed to sort out our return ticket at the port. The temperature and stress rising, Marge negotiated some very steep narrow streets back down to the seafront. Don't you just despair with Google maps sometime? Almost another hours drive along the coast road and we arrived at the port. Our return ticket was purchased, Marge was scanned, and sniffed by a security dog.

Steady Marge. Inside the vehicle we had 6 eggs, some butter and cheese, almost a whole melon, and some fruit and veg. Oh dear Marge, there might be a problem. After numerous checks of passports and Marge we were on the ferry.

It was a quarter past five when it left. We were shattered! Angela in particular, whose been coughing for four days now, with no sign of it stopping. We think she may have covid. Before winding up our trip to Morocco, we'd like to tell you of some of the pro's and cons of visiting this north African country. John loved it. He liked the vibrancy, the coastline, the coffee, the food, the architecture and some of the people. Angela did not love it! She was glad we went, and really enjoyed visiting Marrekech, hoping to return and stay in a riad on the square. She did not like the mess. At first it was like driving through a rubbish tip, and even as we left today we could see bags of waste amongst the pine trees. She didn't like the poverty, and the fact not all children attended school. She did however take joy from the smiling faces of the children and adults when we waved to them. She didn't like the hassling by some individuals wanting to show us around for money, and the fact we couldn't just stop for lunch at a pull in, as someone would be on you in a moment hoping you'd give them a few dirham. Despite the conditions of the campsites, she didn't mind, preferring to stay than park on street with a guardian. She also loved the food. We both hated the way the Moroccans drove. Fast and dangerous. It made each day very stressful. All that aside we plan to return in the winter months sometime, which is the season here, when more overland vehicles like Marge will be around.

Tonight we're staying once again at the marina opposite Gibraltar.Tomorrow we will probably pop across the runway into town to visit Boots for some medication. Yes, it does seem surreal seeing some high street names on Gibraltar, especially Marks & Spencer. Well you never know when you might need pants. Especially if you've just spent almost four weeks driving the roads in Morocco.