Paddle Tour
15-21 Oct 2022
After we did our first paddle tour on the Mediterranean last year, we dared to approach the Atlantic on this paddle tour, passing the Strait of Gibraltar, known for wind and waves...
A map should appear here soon...
► Gibraltar
► Algeciras
► Tarifa
and sleeping on beaches!
Source of the map:
OpenStreetMaps
After we did our first paddle tour on the Mediterranean last year, we dared to approach the Atlantic on this paddle tour. Tarifa, our destination, is on the east side of the Atlantic Ocean, but on the west side in the Strait of Gibraltar. This strait connects the two oceans. Here Europe and Africa come close to 15km.
So the current between high and low tide must be important for us paddlers, I thought to myself. I looked at the times of the tides in this strait. But the flow is complicated. There is a delay in the tidal current of about 3 hours after high and low tide, it is superimposed with a permanent current and also extends only part of the strait. The water flows calmer near the Spanish coast.
When we finally passed the strait, we didn't notice much of the currents, except that the sea here seemed choppy to us, even when there was no wind. Often the passage for paddlers is not possible because of the high waves, so many thanks to the weather gods! And here on earth we want to say many thanks to our friend Manfred, he lent us his canoe!
After I sent out the invitation, 7 people said they were interested in paddling with Murielle and me (Meenhard). Two days before the start there were still 3 people. And on the last day they also canceled. Something came up or the motivation dropped when things got serious...
During the tour, however, Daniel got in touch. He is an experienced paddler, met us on the penultimate day and paddled with us for a few hours. That gave us a lot of encouragement, because some people thought the route was too dangerous. "Yes, you will probably arrive in Tarifa with life jackets - but without a boat," said a young man who has a small boat in Gibraltar. The waves were sometimes a bit scary for us, but not really dangerous. However, Murielle got wet twice when she got ashore. Nevertheless, we liked it and would like to do more paddle tours.
Saturday 15 Oct 2022 (3km)
The boat, the baggage and I
From our garden: chayotes, sundried bananas and figs. Selfmade: sundried crackers from buckwheat, sunflower seeds, sesame, linseeds and wild plants. From the garden of a friend: pecans.
Sunday (12km)
Our sleeping place on a beach
Infinity towards the south
Some rain is forecast for the night. We look for a roof. This one looks good.
Monday (17km)
It doesn't smell good under the roof, and there is a disturbing noise. We decide to sleep outside and have the tarps ready. But it doesn't rain.
Murielle plays in the waves. The rock of Gibraltar is already clearly visible.
Murielle is walking now, I paddle alone. Our speed is about the same.
Tuesday (12km)
Our sleeping place. At night we see young people secretly bringing drugs ashore from a small boat. After the smuggling we can finally sleep in peace.
The waves are quite high. Murielle prefers to walk, I paddle alone, 2km along the town La Línea de Concepción.
Shortly before Gibraltar I go ashore - I catch the right moment and stay dry. We decide not to paddle around Gibraltar but to take a shortcut. We carry the boat and luggage 1.4km.
Suddenly Murielle falls down on the grass and is in severe pain in the foot. After about two hours she can slowly walk again. I carry the things alone to the next beach, where we set out to sea again. The waves are small there.
Wednesday (19km)
We are in the Bay of Gibraltar, an area with a lot of industry and shipping traffic. Where can we sleep here? From afar we see trees with no industry, we go there - and yes, it's the best place in this area!
Our little "house". Some rain was forecast for the night, but it didn't happen.
Have a look in our little house. Murielle's foot doesn't hurt anymore, but she still limps when she gets up.
The support of the roof of our little house is a small stick. We are north of Algeciras. I try to buy a life jacket in Algeciras, but I don't find one.
We're paddling south of Algeciras now. There are many ships in the Bay of Gibraltar.
Here we are in the Strait of Gibraltar. You can recognize a mountain of Afrika.
Thursday (13km)
I like to sleep under trees. It's less humid there, and the temperature is more even throughout the night.
It's a lonely bay between Algeciras and Tarifa.
Now I have a life jacket. We found it in the bay.
We meet Daniel. I know him from several events, last time he joined the Mulberry Retreat 2022.
He even has two kayaks with him. Here I'm trying the yellow one. I'm impressed how much easier the kayak rides.
He accompanies us almost to Tarifa.
We are almost there in Tarifa!
In front of the port of Tarifa we get higher waves one last time (here a photo from next morning).
Friday
We slept at the side of a restaurant.
I bought something to eat in Tarifa, but it was quickly eaten at the next meal. We still have a tiny bit of dried fruit from home.
Now the boat doesn't carry me, I carry the boat. I have a lot of lugging to do. We take public buses back to Estepona, clean the boat and give it back to Manfred.
Next Paddle Tour
Do you like to join us? Then see the
invitation to the next Paddle Tour
... and invite your friends too!
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