Out of Africa
Our family jaunt was never intending to get us to Africa. However, we have made it as far as to be able to see across to it. Our journey down the coast to Tarifa, the southernmost part of Spain, gave us our best opportunity to see a whole new continent. As we initially climbed out of Las Canos de Meca and then descended down into the bay where Tarifa is, we passed a quite amazing Spanish display of engineering. The wind on our journey was quite spectacular (and spectacularly frightening to drive Hugo in), but the Spanish have harnessed this in such a forthright manner, it was quite something. We must have seen literally hundreds of windmills generating electricity. They were all cracking around at a rate of knots, but it made the most fantastic sight. 
Then the final descent down to the coast also held an amazing view. The gold of the beach and the blue of the sea was interrupted by possibly 40 or 50+ kites. Kite surfing is the big thing here, another testament to how windy it is. Passing the appropriately named Hurricane Hotel, again, doffing it's cap to the weather, quite a spectacular view once again though!
Upon arriving in Tarifa, we eventually parked up, and strolled for probably a mile up the beach. 
The sand blasting of our legs was further acknowledgment that the wind was above a mild breeze. However, beyond the many ships out at sea, the faint blueness of hills and mountains began to slowly come into view. In addition, as the weather warmed up, the view began to clear further. It felt like a real achievement today. Not quite Africa, but just 'Out of Africa', apparently 14 km or so!
Feet now in the Mediterranean Sea with Africa looming out of the mist behind us.
The Rock
The drive onwards to Gibraltar was fine. The road wound it's way back down toward Algeciras, sadly for us there were bumps in the road all the way down. Not just bobbles, but full on speed hump bump road flaw type things to give us a test. Everything in the van stayed safe, and the bike rack managed to hang on from what was a bit of a pummelling. Clare and I managed to keep the van on the straight and narrow too as we found our way to the rarely signed La Linea or Gibraltar. The initial sight of the 'rock' was fantastic though. The top of it covered by the levant cloud that is often there apparently. It is huge though. Sorry to say it again, but quite an amazing sight to see. Incidentally, as a passing pub quiz fact, the rock itself is apparently upside down, the top of it being older than what's underground at the bottom. We parked on a football club car park and then went shopping in Gibraltar to get our tea....from Morrisons of all places!
The car park became our home for the night, and there the night endeth. More on Gibraltar tomorrow.
Ed
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