Book excerpt: Erica from America: Swimming from Europe to Africa tells the story of Erica who, as a child grew up wanting to do everything, and later decides to swim the Strait of Gibraltar. Her friends and family think she is crazy but Erica is determined and decides she is going to swim from Europe to Africa no matter what. But when she gets to Spain, her plans are interrupted by the winds and another group of swimmers from South Africa. They ultimately reach their goal but not without a lot of activity during the swim!