#owswimming

After posing for a quick photo on the African rock, Emilio who was driving the RIB waved at us to get back on the boat.  So we swam back and inelegantly clambered on to the RIB.  It took us to the pilot boat before speeding off back to Tarifa.  The return journey was equally as choppy and took more than an hour (usually 40min).  I took my wetsuit off soon as I could and felt much better without being strangled by a layer of neoprene.  Suzanne and Geraldine didn't feel so great...

Rafael greeted us on the shore and took some photos to put on our certificates.  We found out we'd taken 5hr 50min and almost 18km to swim the strait due to the strong current, apparently we almost got pulled out at the last part but we just managed to push through.  Our route was plotted on the map and where the dots are close together were the tough parts.  

Filip drove us back to our accommodation to shower and change.  We headed out for dinner afterwards. Surprisingly, there was little appetite, we couldn't finish 2 delicious pizzas between us...

A few days later we met up with Bobbi-Jo and her swim mates Tony and Christian for a swim down in Playa Chica.  Their crossing on the day after us took 3hr50 around 15km.  Rafael said they had normal predictable current while conditions were broadly the same.  Nick Adams, Prince of the channel who crossed it a few years back talked me through all the details before the trip said they waited for a whole week without a window of opportunity for 3 times, and it was the 4th attempt before they could head out.  Just goes to show how every crossing is different and no 2 days present the same challenge. But "With a bit of luck" and "A little help with my friends", I've "Had the time of my life". (thrown that in, just so you know how it feels to be sea sick).