Day of Preparation and Reflection.

I wake up on my own. My gaze falls on the neighboring bed. My roommate has barricaded himself behind a sheet over the lower level of the bunk bed so that he remains undiscovered today as well. It is Tuesday, November 23rd.

I get ready, shower, wash my laundry and hang it up. Then I pack my bag for today's mission and make my way to the Queensquay Marina in Gibraltar, which is a 20-minute walk away. It's not busy yet, sailboats and yachts sway leisurely between the docks. The sun is shining, the sky is blue, and it's mild.

I inquire my way to the office and leave a printout on the notice board there. Since I want to add a photo of myself, inspired by Arthur and Kristof, I go to a cyber café ten minutes away. It's closed and will only open in two hours. Therefore, I decide to create a Word document on my smartphone. I sit in the perfectly trimmed grass of a park in the sun. There is no one else sitting here. I bought some fruits and yogurt for breakfast at Eroski on the way and write here while taking occasional bites. When I'm done, I go straight back to the marina because I hope I can have my document printed there. It works. The lady is very friendly and I go happily towards La Línea.

At the Jungle, I meet Martin, Julien, and Francesca. They are all very interested. They have already found a captain who will take them south. They wish each other courage and good luck on the journey.

I ask Arthur if he can take a photo of me at the marina. He is a journalist and therefore doesn't have a good camera. I want a recent color photo on my advertisement for the marina in La Línea. He is very willing, and so we have a little photo shoot at the harbor. Afterwards, he even helps me revise my document on his laptop.

Then I look for a store where I can print my work in color. I ask around and am a bit pressed for time. The siesta is about to start. When I arrive at the right store, the shutters are already down, even though I still have two minutes. Through the holes in the barrier, I call inside to the employees who are still at their desks. One lady is kind and I can quickly send her my document. Satisfied, I return to the marina. On the way, a gust of wind comes and snatches two of my three precious copies from my hand. I catch them in the wind and get annoyed at the carelessness of my hands. The paper is slightly dirty and wrinkled, but I stroke it back to its original state and hang one of the copies at the entrance of the marina. It is probably not allowed inside, but I still leave my face on paper in two good places there.

Then I am invited to Ineke's boat. She saw my post on Facebook and invited me for tea on her catamaran. She is also a yogi. The boat belongs to a friend who is currently unable to sail it himself. She has been in La Línea for two days. Her crew is already traveling further inland, and she will stay on the boat until she feels like moving on.

I spend the afternoon with Ineke and we exchange travel and sailing experiences, but also personal and spiritual matters. I receive encouragement for my plans and feel like I am cultivating more serenity. It really is a matter of inner attitude. I am encouraged to create what I truly desire. It is an authentic encounter with Ineke and I feel comfortable. She also invites me to sleep on the boat until I have found a way to continue my journey, which I gladly accept. Then I say goodbye until the next day because I am invited to go bouldering in a gym in Gibraltar with Martin, Arthur, and Kristof at 6 o'clock.

In addition to the Jungle Camp meeting point, Evan is also there. He comes from the USA and has been traveling in Europe for almost two years. Especially in Holland, where he was born. He also stayed in my hostel until today. He lives off of what is given to him, as I later find out. At first, I experience him as the knowledgeable guide of our group, very present in the climbing gym, constantly gathering his thoughts. Later, we climb a lot together and he is very inspired and motivated. Time flies in the climbing gym, and I feel well engaged. Physically, but also socially. On the way back, I get something to eat at the Indian restaurant - on Evan's recommendation. He seems to already know everyone here, even though he himself has only been here for a short time.

While eating outside the hostel, Evan tells me how he came to travel. He is completely in his element and speaks of accepting things as they are, trusting his own path, and having reverence for what we cannot know. For the greater things that as humans we cannot grasp. I feel somewhat like Momo and listen attentively. He seems surprised himself by the flow that is coming out of him. I take everything as it comes through him and am satisfied with my dinner and the depth that Evan brings forth from himself.

Then it's time to go to bed. I am tired. My roommate's bed remains unoccupied tonight, and so our paths miss each other.

https://youtu.be/lPVBrRd9wCo