Thursday 29th October

Agadir bay at night

Looks like they're building the beach by digger, Dubai stylee, but they're not!

My favourite thing about Agadir, the lights on the hill of the old town (demolished by an earthquake in 1960), that welcome people to the town from sea

A later start, but not by long. Tea, coffee, cereal and porridge were all produced by Tom who got two thumbs up for the porridge, with Jossy instantly declaring it better than hers. Quite an achievement given it's cooked using powdered milk... the ton of sugar everyone added probably helped! Compliments from our French neighbours on being English and friendly came when Nicki struck up conversation with them whilst lusting over their breakfast, history doesn't quite relate as to whether this cunning ploy meant she ended up with a scrap of bacon or not, but no doubt it was worth a try.

Afterwards the truck and trailer were packed up once Tom had had a look for his passport (no luck) and we moved into town to give everyone a morning of internet and shopping, sight seeing and sunbathing. Tom took the opportunity to contact the bank in Marrakech where he thinks he left his passport, unfortuntely it seems that they claim otherwise. Next stop the police station to report it missing and for the rest of the group, less Tom as the police were taking so long, Agadir.

At 3pm Tom was able to go and pick up the police report and then go and find a bus to take him the 170km to Agadir, which he was on by 4pm and on the road by quarter past. In the meantime, the others had been making their way along the coast, southbound towards Morocco's next package holiday destination. They arrived at the campsite in Agadir just before 8pm and Tom, playing catch-up, walked in 15 minutes later, having not had to stop for lunch or the supermarket.

A quick drink at the campsite was followed by a walk into Agadir's new waterside development, rows upon rows of upmarket restaurants, hotels, shops, bars and clubs – more like the Mediterranean or Thailand than Africa, and a very strange experience for those on the trip that know Africa quite well. We ate well and what was likely to be out last western food for a good while to come, and afterwards there was a small exodus to a bar or two, with talk of karyoke and shisha pipes.