Day 213
Day totals: 14 hrs, 22 .2 kms

I don't expect to make any earth shattering cultural discoveries today. It's basically going to be a 22 kilometer touristy beach stretch. No problem. A good opportunity to just soak in all that I've experienced on these epic hike.

It starts out with a wide, long boardwalk with multiple walking/jogging paths being put to use by the locals, many of them women. Women out on their own--exercising?! this was unthinkable here just a few years ago.

Then off on a ridge there the ruins of a large farm compound which catch my attention, so I go to check it out. It's a relic of another era, when Spain colonized a stretch of coastline of North Morocco. And then further ahead another odd sight: a little train station built in distinctive North Moroccan style: an Andalus design with an Arab twist to it. That's weird. So the Spanish built a railway here? Where are the tracks now? Most of the rail lines built by the French are still intact . My suspicion is that, after the Spanish left, this part of the country was pretty much ignored by the central government and the infrastructure just left to decay. Now things are different. There's not a railway, but there is nice new highway along the coast AND a freeway running parallel just a few hundred meters away...

One thing I must do is have a swim in the turquoise waters of Tamuda Bay. My swim stops have been the highlights of this Superhike... Ksar Sghir... Azla... Oued Laou... and of course my favorite swimspot in the whole world: Akchour. Today is just soothing moment, floating on my back in the calm, clean waters... a great way to end this adventure.

I continue on, past a new hotel resort being built... past Smir Restinga, the luxury marina enclave I visited in 2009... past a stretch of marshland... And finally, M'diq.

I've connected my trail of footprints. The journey is complete.

I need to celebrate by splurging on a delicious meal. Wandering the narrow streets that were full of election campaigners 4 years ago, I reach the restaurant strip. I need something that will remind me of this region, so I choose paella, a Spanish dish.

After all, for good or for bad, this part of Morocco has had and always will have a special connection with Spain.

I finish it off with a typical Moroccan avocado and nuts juice and a Spanish flan... slowly head to the collective taxi station... catch a taxi to Tetouan... back to Casablanca.

Goodbye North Morocco. Goodbye Tanger Superhike. It's been an amazing journey.