I seem to have arrive with some bad weather, torrential rain last night and fresh snow on the hills round Tetouan. So rather than my planned stop in Chefchoen I've gone to Essaouira.
Very light traffic on the motorway but god awful rain north of Casablanca. Originally the plan was to stop at El Jadida or Safi for the night but a new motorway spur down to Safi cut an hour off the journey so I pushed through all the way.
Got stopped by the police on the way at a junction, seemed very interested in my brake lights, odd as they could only see me from the front.
Weathers much better in the south, fresh snowfall reported in Imichil in the High Atlas and also Azrou. Might be a bit chilly up there next weekend, current forecast is a high of 22 and low of 7.
Handy tips for those about to come out. New motorway around Rabat, follow road signs if your heading south towards Casablanca as you sat nav might not have it on.
@ByronJ , from Hotel Dreamland to the Hotel in Essaouira today took my 8 hours with 3 stops for fuel etc cruising between 60-70. If I'd sat at the speed limit probably a little faster. At Casablanca you can follow the A3 motorway towards Marrakech and then west to Essaouira on the R207. Or you can take the A1 motorway towards El Jadida and Safi. From Safi I took the coast route we did on the way out last time, Sat Nav tried to take me on the N1 but the coast road is shorter and more scenic. If its going to mean travelling after dark for you then I'd take the Marrakech route, the motorways much safer than the back roads.
Not sure your exact plans but if you get in the night before the drive to Essaouira, then Asilah is not a bad stopping point about 60km along the motorway from the port or the campsite at Moulay we stopped at on the way home is about 2.5 hours from the port. Both obviously cut time of the next day.
BTW very warm welcome at Hotel Al Jasira when I arrived and 350dh B&B, I think this is cheaper than the online prices