Reflections from Rabat

OOJAH's AWESOME ODYSSEY
Peter & Christene Tanner
Tue 18 Sep 2012 12:45
We decided to leave at 0630 (half tide falling) which as we arrived at the same state of tide would give us a minimum clearance of 1 metre. We paid our harbour fees & agreed the time yesterday morning. Last night the pilot came along & said we could not leave until 12.30 by which time my calculations suggested there would be too little water. However we took the boat to the police pontoon to check out at midday only to be told there would not be enough water (which I suspected). He agreed to stamp our passports at 1300 & the pilot who turned up at 1230 agreed with the new plan. The passports were returned at 1315 but we now need a further approval so we're sitting on the police pontoon watching our chances of a daylight arrival evaporate but at least the tide is rising - we could be here all afternoon. The people are charming but ...
We've also heard from our Dutch friends further South that they were given a very hard time by officials involving bribes of £80 & a refusal to check them in for one night so we're going to skip half the rest of our plan & focus on 2 destinations Mohammedia & Essouira 200 nm further South if we ever leave here!
We may also loose contact as wifi is erratic & the local sim card does not work, in which case we should re appear 28 sept in Lanzarote


Love from Peter & Christene

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