Meknes - Ceuta - Algeciras

The last day in Morocco is dawning.

The breakfast is in the Riad Yacout very good - as always in Morocco - even if it is not served on the roof terrace as the dinner was.

I refill some oil in the bike and then ride on for the last day in Morocco. Today I cross the Rif mountains in much better weather than at the beginning of our trip to Morocco. Everything looks a bit more friendly. However, it is getting so hot soon that I am happy about the refreshing wind sweeping over the mountains. I decide to ride along the east coast to Ceuta. I want to avoid the somehow barren Tangier med and also hope that the border to Ceuta may be easier.

The border to Ceuta is actually rather unproblematic, but maybe it's my routine with borders already. I just ignore the guys with the forms, who want to help you filling it out for some charge, and go straight to a booth and stand in front of the window, which obviously is annoying the official. But I insist that I need a form and he hands one out to me finally. He definitely wants to get rid of me. I fill in the informations into the form and then return to the booth and get it stamped. Another officer at the next booth signals me to come over to him with my motorbike. Another stamp or whatsoever, then I get my exit form/copy back and that's it.

At the harbor and past by all the ticket sellers and walk to the official ticket sales. Of course you can't get any information about which ferry goes next. One ferry company has announced a ferry for 9 pm on a sign. So I ask at another counter for the next ferry. 8 pm sounds good. Bought. It's more expensive than the ferry from Algeciras to Tanger med for two people, but I do not care. I want to arrive as soon as possible. Then I ask where I can exchange money. Probably there are none, but there's already a guy lurking behind me, who offers to change my remaining dirhams to an unfavorable course. Anyway, what should I do with Dirhams? Back to my bike I am sorting myself and then notice that the ferry is boarding soon. I get along the queue to customs. Customs searches the cars pretty thoroughly, even with dogs, but I'm waved through. I just want to get something from a kiosk as the ferry starts boarding. I like it this way. I'm on the ferry in no time at all, but in quite a far corner, so getting out it will take a while.

Well, I still want to book my hotel in Algeciras. Shit, the Moroccan SIM card does not work in Ceuta anymore. Already on the ship I change the SIM cards and quickly book a room in the Hotel Reina Christina, where we stayed at the beginning of our trip.

Well, it's time to say: Goodbye Africa!

It's great today that one can see both continents from the ferry. On deck I have a very friendly conversation with a grandfather and his grandson of Moroccan descent.

When leaving the ferry area, there is big traffic jam. The reason is that border police picks up illegal refugees from the roof of some trucks.

In the evening I meet some English motorcyclists while are on their way to Morocco and give them some tips and they invite me to a beer! Thanks folks!

I am quite excited and don't sleep very well that night.