Day 196 - The Countdown to a New Chapter

Another early morning greeted us in Sidi Kaouki.

For some reason, Kia and I seem incapable of sleeping in here. Whether it's the unfamiliar bed, the excitement of what's ahead, or simply having too many thoughts running through our heads, we both found ourselves awake well before the kids. Rather than fight it, we made our coffees and headed up to the rooftop while the village slowly came to life around us.

The mornings have become one of my favourite parts of the day here. Before the wind picks up and before everyone starts moving around, there's a peacefulness that settles over the town. We sat together, coffee in hand, watching the morning unfold and talking through the next stage of our journey.

The focus for the day was planning.

After months of travelling, we'd finally reached a point where some major decisions needed to be locked in. We wanted to book our flights to Mexico, organise the trans-Pacific cruise that will eventually take us back towards Australia, and start putting some structure around the next few months.

For the first time in a while, everything ahead felt exciting.

Once we commit to a departure date from North America, the path becomes clearer. Mexico awaits, followed by the freedom of exploring Central, South and North America over the coming months. There are still plenty of details to work through, but the broad direction is starting to take shape, and that feels good.

The challenge, of course, is actually making the decisions.

Travel planning sounds glamorous until you've spent days comparing flights, accommodation, visa requirements, transport options and budgets. After nearly seven months on the road, decision fatigue is very real. Every choice seems to create three more choices.

Still, progress was made.

I spent some time working, chipped away at my memoir, and together we researched accommodation and transport options. Rather than heading out for breakfast, we walked to the local shop and bought supplies to cook for ourselves. It was a simple change, but after weeks of eating similar meals, it felt nice to prepare something of our own.

Lunch was equally simple. A pasta dish put together from whatever we had on hand, eaten while surrounded by partially packed bags and travel gear.

The reality was beginning to sink in.

Tomorrow we would be leaving Morocco.

Throughout the afternoon we started organising luggage, sorting equipment and preparing for the trip to London. There's always a strange mix of emotions when you're about to leave somewhere. Part of you is ready for the next destination, while another part is already becoming nostalgic for the place you're still standing in.

Later in the day, the kids started campaigning hard for one more bodyboarding session.

The surf hadn't been great lately, and the wind had been relentless, but they were determined.

Eventually I agreed.

Emmett and I wandered down first to assess the conditions. They looked rough, but not impossible, so we headed back to collect Maddie and our gear.

As we were getting organised, a French father and his son, who were staying nearby, asked if we could take the boy down to the beach while he finished something. He said he'd join us shortly.

The boy was around ten years old and spoke only French. Unfortunately, his dad wasn't there long enough for us to establish much communication before the boy enthusiastically headed off toward the beach.

By the time we reached the water, he was already out there.

The conditions weren't ideal. The wind was howling across the shoreline and the ocean was messy and unpredictable. The current was pulling strongly down the beach, and there were sections of exposed rock that made entering and exiting the water tricky.

The French boy was drifting toward one of the rocky sections and didn't seem particularly aware of the hazards around him. I tried waving him over, but with the language barrier and the wind, communication was difficult.

Meanwhile, my priority was keeping Maddie and Emmett safe.

We moved into a safer area and spent some time trying to catch a few waves. The conditions weren't offering much. The swell was inconsistent, the wind was chopping everything up, and even the better-looking waves seemed to disappear before they reached us.

Still, the kids managed to catch a few rides and enjoyed being back in the water.

The French boy eventually paddled across and wanted help catching waves. I did my best, but bodyboarding is one of those things where positioning and timing matter. Without being able to explain what he needed to do, it was difficult to help him effectively.

Eventually he paddled away again and continued drifting further down the beach.

At one point he was a considerable distance from us, being carried steadily by the current. I was preparing to bring Maddie and Emmett back to shore so I could go and check on him when, thankfully, his father finally arrived.

The timing couldn't have been better.

Not long afterwards, the conditions deteriorated even further.

The water became increasingly chaotic, and even some of the local instructors were recommending people head in. That was enough confirmation for me.

I called the session.

The kids would have happily stayed longer, but sometimes the ocean makes the decision for you.

We packed up, climbed back across the rocks and returned to the accommodation.

After hot showers and a chance to warm up, Kia cooked dinner. We sat down together and enjoyed a simple homemade meal of lentil curry and fresh bread from the local shop.

It wasn't a particularly adventurous day.

There were no major excursions, no dramatic discoveries and no bucket-list moments.

Instead, it was one of those in-between days that seem to happen during long-term travel.

A day spent planning.

A day spent preparing.

A day spent looking forward.

This past week has been challenging in many ways. The weather has been less cooperative, the constant decision-making has been exhausting, and we've all been feeling ready for a change of scenery.

But tomorrow brings exactly that.

Another country.

Another chapter.

Another opportunity to see where this incredible journey leads us next.

As we packed our bags and climbed into bed for our final nights in Morocco, there was a growing sense that it was time to move forward.

And honestly, we're ready.