November 23rd to November 26th


 We just got Boundless back in the water and it was time to leave Almerimar.
 I was going to wait a couple of days for Steve (my crew) to join me for our
 trip to Gib and the Canaries but the weather window looked great if I could
 get a quick start. So, Tuesday Morning, 11/23, I left Almerimar alone at
 5:00AM, for Malaga where I was to meet Steve who was flying in from
 Barcelona.
 
 I arrived at Malaga at 7:00PM, just after dark. The port captain told me
 where to tie up, so I did. The port police arrived and then told me the
 cost was 90E per day, with a two day minimum. Malaga is a commercial port!
 This was to stay for 10 hours. Needless to say I left there and moved about
 10 miles closer to Gib. I arrived shortly after 9:00. I pulled into the
 fuel dock where we spent the night. I told them we were leaving early. They
 said that the office would open at 8:00, and if I were gone before then, no
 charge. What a difference 10 miles makes. We left Puerto Deportivo de
 Bendalmodena at about 6:15AM for Gib.
 
 Once on our way to Gib I checked the weather.....our window closed. There
 will be a low approaching the Canaries about the time we would arrive. We
 have some decisions to make. We arrived in Gib, checked into Shepherd's,
 did some email and provisioning...lots of junk! We left Gib a little before
 low water which was the right time for us to get through the straits before
 the current/tide was against us. We wove our way across a couple of lanes
 of ship traffic while the winds continued to increase. By the time we were
 in the lea of Morocco the winds were gusting to 25 out of the East with a
 threat to increase. We became a real sailboat again! It lasted for almost 2
 hours. Then it all went away! No wind...all motor! It is now 11:00AM Friday
 and we are still motoring along the coast of Morocco. We'll be passing
 Casablanca soon. We intend to hug the coast and get in someplace when the
 winds get high and against us.
 
 Our first night out was quiet. No wind, no waves, a full moon and nice
 temperatures. The moon kept the night bright but the transition from night
 to day started dull. With the moon going behind clouds on the horizon, a
 couple of planets to the east and the sun trying to balance the picture,
 everything seemed very slow. Finally it was daylight again. The wind has
 increased a bit but on our nose. We're still doing about 6 kts and hope to
 have two more full days before we need to look for a place to hide. The
 coast here doesn't offer much so we'll have to see what we can find. We'll
 let you know in a couple of days!