Sometimes, the weather has its own plans. Indeed, on July 2, our forward progression by boat came to a standstill. As we docked in Barbate, preparing to journey eastbound through the Strait of Gibraltar, we found ourselves in a “no go” position.
Navigating the Strait of Gibraltar requires a meticulous balance of wind, tides, currents, and lately, avoiding playful orcas. At its narrowest point, the Strait is just 8 nautical miles wide, connecting the vast Atlantic Ocean to the serene Mediterranean Sea. This gateway is one of the busiest and most challenging waterways in the world. To traverse it smoothly, one must find the perfect combination of wind direction, currents, tidal stream, and timing. With the Strait’s narrow, steep-sided nature, the wind usually blows either from the east or west. We needed to head east, but the prevailing winds pushed fiercely to the west. Additionally, the current, traveling at a brisk 10 knots westward for several days, outpaced our boat’s speed of 6-8 knots. Thus, the combined forces of wind and current would only send us backward!
Our situation left us with an unexpected opportunity to explore. Docked in Barbate for several days, we decided to seize the moment and venture to the beautiful country of Morocco. The journey was an adventure in itself: 1 hour by bus, 1 hour by ferry, and then 2 hours by bullet train. Finally, we arrived in Casablanca, where the incredible Chahine awaited us, ready to guide us through the wonders of northwest Morocco for the next four spectacular days and nights.
built in 1684
the fortress is of Berber origin &
dates back to the 18th century
traveling at 186mph!
the chicken curry cooked in a tagine was spectacular!
