My taxi driver was on time this morning, and we got to the offices of Acciona in a quarter of the time it took us to find the place yesterday… Within minutes, I was being assisted by the staff there and had my tickets had been printed… I had been told that I would have to pay in a foreign currency and was prepared for this, but when the tickets were printed (Big Fella gets his very own ticket…!) I was asked for ADR 34 540.00, and advised that they would not accept Sterling or Dollars…!!
Hagni, Hocine and the beautiful Djamila of Acciona Shipping Lines all helped to get the Gypsy Biker on his way to Spain...
My taxi driver who drove me around Oran, getting my tickets sorted...
I felt a wave of panic start to sweep through me, but then Djamila, the girl punching my info into her computer, suggested I go to the Sheraton and perhaps they would change money for me there… We rushed around to the Sheraton Hotel, where I was told to try the gift shop… The guy behind the counter was very helpful, and changed my Sterling into Dinar at a good rate. We then rushed back to pay for the ticket… I was only able to relax fully once the tickets were handed to me over the counter… It felt like a weight being lifted off my shoulders… I let out a huge sigh of relief, which had everybody behind the counter laughing…
The plan to ride from Cairo to Oran and arrive on the 10th had all worked out… It has been a long hard ride to get here, and the ride through Libya with Masoud had been the key to achieving my goal… I had covered 4 285 kms since leaving Cairo on the 2nd of July and had taken seven days of riding with one rest day in between to make the journey.
On the 1st of July, while sitting in Cairo, I had scribbled “10th July” on the city of Oran on my map of Algeria, with an arrow showing the direction of Spain with the date “12th July” above it… Everything had worked out perfectly!
My ride through Africa had been completed, albeit a few weeks later than planed, and I could now focus on my route through Europe, from its most southern tip at Punta de Tarifa in Spain, to its most northern point at Cape Nordkinn in Norway… and the many places in between…!!
I love it when a plan comes together...!! A week before I had written my goal on my Algeria map... Now I had my tickets confirming that it had all worked out...
The staff at Acciona translated one final instruction to my taxi driver before we left their office:
“Be at the Houna Hotel at 9.00 am tomorrow morning, and guide the Gypsy Biker to the port… We sail at midday, so do not be late…!!”
Back at the hotel, I began repacking some of my gear that I would be making use of during the 10 hour ferry ride across the Mediterranean to Almeria in Spain… I feel strangely at ease now that I have confirmed our reservations on the ferry…
My “smile” muscles are working overtime…
©GBWT 2010
Whew. You made it. You should arrive in Spain to a jubilant welcome. After all, you represent the country that enabled them to win the World Cup. Surely that will get you a half price hotel room 🙂
What a journey!!!! – and even better considering you’re off African soil with a smile – looks like awesome riding the last few days. Looking at pictures on CNN the Spaniards are going to be hungover for months!! Enjoy the party :-)))))
Congrats on completing the African continent. Ole, Ole, Ole, Viva Torro….. Spain will receive you with open arms and happy hearts, not forgetting a few hangovers. Enjoy the ferry ride to the other side!
Have just been able to catch up on your blog…. so glad for you that you got there in time. And also that it was so much easier than what you expected. Here’s to an awesome time in Spain!!