Phew!
Time seems to have flown by and we have already been in Djibouti for a week. We are planning to leave at dawn tomorrow (Tuesday 14th March) to head into the Red Sea. We will aim for Suakin which is a city in Sudan, just south of Port Sudan and about half-way along the Red Sea. The forecast is not ideal but it will only get worse if we wait to leave over the next 10 days, so we will have to keep our fingers crossed. Passages through the Red Sea are rarely easy because there are often contrary winds and much dust in the air.

We estimate this passage will take about a week, depending upon how fast we can motor-sail when the wind is not behind us. There will undoubtedly be some motoring in calm conditions but that is preferable to strong opposing winds and waves. We shall have to see what we get.

We have enjoyed our stay in Djibouti, but it certainly feels as though it is time to leave. The dusty city is not particularly appealing to tourists but we did go on a two-day inland trip that was quite interesting. At the northernmost point on the African Great Rift Valley, Djibouti has some impressive canyons, the second lowest terrestrial place on earth at 155 m (510 feet) below sea level (the Dead Sea is the lowest place) with a large salt lake, Lake Assal, and huge areas of volcanic rocks that look relatively recent as there has been little erosion or vegetation, but are mostly several hundred years old. We spent the night in a camp in the mountains only to wake up to rain. It was a pity as it prevented us from hiking up to some waterfalls (ironic, eh?) but we did walk for several miles back down the track that we had driven up which was surprisingly enjoyable. Considering how bumpy the ride was with 12 people crammed into a Toyota Land Cruiser with side benches, walking was a more comfortable way to descend.

We saw plenty of goats and camels, including some young ones (see photo) in a creche waiting for their mothers to return with the herder from grazing elsewhere. There was also a Dorcas gazelle, various monkeys, and a few interesting birds. All of this I will write about during our passage and post when we get to Suakin. Now we have to prepare ourselves and the boat for a bit of a slog.