Ferry To Morocco

Kaliste, Ferry off the coast of Spain

Sunday 7 January, 2024

Incredible wind started yesterday’s journey.  It looked as if the tugs that pulled the ferry off the dock were struggling.  Today is the first day I awoke to a clear blue sky and a beautiful sunrise.

I have checked in through customs on the boat.  Tomorrow I will arrive in Morocco.   I am in the bar of the ferry.   It is a very interesting atmosphere because no one is drinking.  No one is being loud and no one is being rude.  Is this the world of Islam?  There is already a very different sense of being.  

Outside the whitecaps of the sea scud across the top of the waves and spray is blown away.  The sea is very dark blue. We have been enroute now for a full day and are at least half way. On he horizon I see one of the Balearic Islands.  Off to starboard the mountains of Spain are outlined in a misty cloud cover.

Traveling slowly takes some getting used too.  The rush of alway having something to do begins to fade, thought it really hasn’t faded a that much as yet. I know there are certainly easier, faster ways to travel than by bicycle, train and boat. Yet I would not have time to really see the ocean as it flows past the ferry and would not see towns as they pass by the windows of the train.  There would be no sense of satisfaction after finding a night stay, in the rain after biking through a European city.  

This way of travel allows one to think.  This is a dual edged sword.  At times the wonder of it all is just too much.  Seeing the accomplishment of the humanity's past makes me feel very small.  Often the sense of wonder leaves me empty.  As if I have missed everything and that life has passed me by.  I try to avoid the sense of loneliness but I can’t so I just accept it as it is.  By all means it would be easier to stay at home and work on projects.  The day of settling may come soon.  However, I’ll accept the loneliness in exchange for the wonderment and having something to write about.   This is just how it works!

In exchange for some lonely moments I am rewarded with an excellent dinner and a starlit sky out on deck. To the west is the outline of Spain and above me is Orion’s Belt.  A strong sea breeze to fills my lungs.  The ferry seems to be sliding over the water tonight.  This is in sharp contrast to last night where doors were impossible to open and once out it felt as if I could be blown right off the boat.  Last night was quite the wind storm   it was very difficult to get out on deck.  It was eerie to think that if I was blown overboard no one would know. I quickly shelved that thought and enjoyed the beauty of the moment. It was the first time seeing stars since arriving in Europe. The weather maps have shown successive low pressure areas covering most of the north. In the south another huge low covers most the eastern Mediterranean. There was a huge band of high winds stretching from Africa covering Italy the Adriatic and into France. I do think the climate has changed.

My carbon footprint is not zero as I would like it to be. Taking trains, this ferry and riding my bike makes me feel as is I am trying not to add to the pollution of our earth. 

It is odd how I've started to get used to the people on this ferry. I know none of them but they have become familiar. There is a young family riding bicycles. The Interesting part of this group is that the kids are both 5 years old.  They ride wiith the kids on their own little bikes attached to the rear of the parent’s bikes.  This doesn't seem very safe to me but must work for them.

There is a group of twenty somethings who appear to be traveling together. There are 4 women and a guy. They seen to be great friends.

I have become part of the group that watches football (soccer).  There are games every night. Tonight it was Arsenal Vs Liverpool. The late game is Paris Vs a team I've never heard of.

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