2019-10-19 Summary of Swimming the Seven Seas

On October 19, 2018 I returned from my five month swimming adventure, six weeks in Portugal, five weeks in Spain and 12 weeks in Morocco. 145 swims/kilometers @~40 minutes each (20 of these swims in pools and 125 in the Atlantic and the Mediterranean). I was greeted at the Airport by my son Ryan, and we proceeded to chow down at one of our favorite Mexican restaurants. Then I spent a memorable weekend with my son Todd his girlfriend Nicole, her parents Paul and Annette (top notch people) and granddaughter Frankie Lee. I will be traveling to Utah to see my mom and other family and friends, then to Jackson Hole, WY to spend Thanksgiving with my son, Gabe. I love my travels with a passion, but Seattle is always in my dreams, and has been my heart's home since arriving here May, 1987. I loved working until retirement in the construction industry, rain or shine. Working with my hands and back outdoors was so fulfilling. It truly broadened my outlook on life. My fellow carpenters, including my son's, are my heros they know what hard work is. The adventures I go on are an extention of the spirit of physical labor, since the developing world is primarily just that. I know that's why I feel comfortable in these cultures. The Peace Corps was so valuable for cross-cultural training as well. I don't know what the future holds, I still have so much curiosity about the world that cannot be fulfilled without experiencing through travel. Many people think I'm rich to travel so much, but I'm fortunate through technology to be able to organize my travel so that is costs no more than living in the US. I hope I can keep this up. After all, these are my final laps in life, and I want them to count and to continue to follow my heart, where ever that leads. My son's are always at the top of my list, and I appreciate their support. And Seattle? It will be, at least my favorite vacation destination ️. 

October 7, 2018 Blog Update Announcement

Hi all:
Updated my blog and added some short video clips of my swim at Aftas Beach, Mirleft, Morocco on September 28th.

miketmatthews2.blogspot.com

Well, for five months I've been swimming my way from Portugal through Spain and Morocco. I've completed all of my ocean swims which tallied:

Portugal - 43 swims/kilometers out of 45 days in Portugal;
Spain - 27 swims/kilos out of 32 days in Spain;
Morocco - 67 swims/kilos out of 74 days so far in Morocco (8 days in a pool in Casablanca-nice);
Morocco - 10 days remaining and I should get 8 swims/kilos in the pool here at my Airbnb in Marrakesh.

My purpose for this trip was to get out of the pool and back into open water. Having swum 2 years in the Caribbean and Pacific I was yearning for the open water again. So I targeted the Atlantic and Mediterranean. However, between the 16c degree waters of Portugal in May; the 8 tons of jellyfish in the Mediterranean at Malaga, Spain in June (I dodged for the most part); a large (according to some onlookers) shark sighting near me while I was swimming in Tamraght, Morocco (fortunately he wasn't interested in a tough old bird); and the rocks and rip tides of Aftas Beach, Mirleft, Morocco (thanks to my good friends and local lifeguards Elhosein, Mohammed, and Ossaima I survived with flying colors), I am more than happy to return to a pool.

With only 11 days left on this adventure, I'm not sure there'll be much more to report. My return flight to the US on October 18 is part of a round trip ticket allowing me to return to Marrakesh on February 6, 2019. I will decide during the next five months if I'll use it or not. If I do, part of my pipe dream will be to travel south to Dakar, Senegal. I've read several blogs on how I might accomplish this, but southbound public transport ends half way through Western Sahara leaving me to my own devices to travel the rest of the way through Western Sahara and Mauritania. However, I just got a tip that I can take the CTM bus (excellent bus system) down to Dakhla, Western Sahara and a reasonably priced plane to the Canary Islands (property of Spain) and then a Ferry to Senegal. The pipe dream continues with travel through Africa to Cairo, Egypt. Not sure what to call that adventure. I guess I'll jump off that bridge when I get to it.

mike

2018-10-06 Marrakesh, Morocco-Woodworker with manual lathe in Medina

2018-10-06 Marrakesh, Morocco - Visiting the Medina which is the Original City Center

2018-10-06 Marrakesh, Morocco

2018-10-06 Marrakesh, Morocco-Walls surrounding Medina

2018-10-06 Marrakesh, Morocco-Community Oven in Medina

2018-10-06 Marrakesh, Morocco-Construction in Medina

2018-10-06 Marrakesh, Morocco-Entering the Medina (Historical City Center)

2018-10-06 Marrakesh, Morocco-Firewood for Community Sauna in Medina

2018-10-06 Marrakesh, Morocco-Motorcycle Repair Shop in Medina

2018-10-06 Marrakesh, Morocco-Mule drawn cart in Medina

2018-10-06 Marrakesh, Morocco-Museum Marrakesh in Medina

2018-10-06 Marrakesh, Morocco-My Airbnb Host Hamid and the First French Cafe of Marrakesh in Medina

2018-10-06 Marrakesh, Morocco-Sheep head is a delicacy in Morocco in Medina

2018-10-06 Marrakesh, Morocco-Spices in Medina 1

2018-10-06 Marrakesh, Morocco-Spices in Medina 2

2018-10-06 Marrakesh, Morocco-Streets in Medina 2

2018-10-06 Marrakesh, Morocco-Streets in Medina 3

2018-10-06 Marrakesh, Morocco-Streets in Medina 4

2018-10-06 Marrakesh, Morocco-Streets in Medina

2018-10-06 Marrakesh, Morocco-Tannery in Medina

2018-10-05 Traveling from Mirleft to Marrakesh, Morocco

2018-10-02 Fellow Travelers and Lamb Tajine at Aftas Beach House, Atas Beach, Mirleft, Morocco

L-R: Cecilia a school teacher from Norway and world traveler; Jennie a social scientist from USA who has lived and worked 3 years in Kenya and Ethiopia plus other parts of Africa.

Jennie from Steamboat Springs, CO & Jamal from Agadir, Morocco and Philidelphia, PA 

Nordin from Mirleft, Moracco and Callihl from Agadir, Morocco

Lamb Tajine by Jennie

2018-10-01 The Mysterious Aftas Beach, Mirleft, Morocco