October 22, 1996

We were up at 5 am on Monday wrapping road around our radials. 400 kilometers passed our treads and in return we left a bit of tread behind, pressed into Spanish roads. We reached Almeria before noon. An early arrival meant time to buy ferry tickets, stroll the beach, have lunch, have dinner, swim and stroll again. By 8 pm we were fighting our natural desire to shut down all systems and sleep. But sleeping then would have meant a boat would arrive in Melilla without one Janet and John. No, we had to hold out until we had boarded, another two and a half hours away.

The particular ferry docking that night had only two classes of accommodations and one didn't really qualify, a seat in the lounge. For our eight hour journey we opted for the more expensive, though not necessarily more luxurious, double cabin complete with bunk bed, bathroom with shower, and two life preservers tucked at the bottom of the closet. "John, don't look at the floor, it comes with cockroaches too. Hey! don't use my shoe."

We dragged our pillows and toiletry kit to room 160, showered, tiptoed around bugs and crawled into bed. "Good night John." "Good night Janet, tomorrow we'll be in Africa."