stu dowell

Last night was spent at Camping Abba in Nouadibou, hit the town for a Chinese and a beer , returned home and snuggled up to the cockroaches and set myself for an early start.Well before dawn I awoke, don't know if it was excitement or apprehension, either way as soon as first light broke I was on the road. Got to the border post and filtered past the trucks, thought it was 24hr obviously not. Just as I got to the barrier a guard nodded and lifted it, I was first in, through the myriad of douane/police/customs/moneychangers and I was into no mans land, this is the 5km stretch of bare desert that is mined east and west, not so daunting this time but still difficult as first in and no tracks in the sand to ... read more

Good day today all told, nice breakfast, chilled start to the day and rattled off 250km's, filled up and did another 100km by this time it was getting rather warm and the scenery had definitely moved into the desert/dune territory. Intuition told me to fill up at this little filling station even though 1/3rd full, good job i did because it was another 200Km before fuel, did pass one in the desert but had been shut for a considerable time looking at it.Was getting well into the afternoon and wanted to get to Tan Tan as was recommended an Auberge there, heading into town police check point checked my docs, very friendly and directed me to said hotel. Into town stopped by interior police, checked again the third check point waved me through !!!! got to ... read more

Yesterday I went on a ride into the mountains of northern Israel, they are called the Gollan heights and it is edged by the Jordan river which feeds the sea of Galilee (or Tiberias as it is now known ). This is the Garden of Israel and full of banana plantations and other market gardening ventures set up by the multinational company's.Is is a very fertile area and the mountains have a rugged beauty about them. The air Is much cleaner and also a dammed sight cooler. I stop by Nazereth, known for being Christ's home town, bit like growing up in Luton, not alot to be said for this place, developed without thought, a mess without character or many redeeming features at all.Moved quickly on to Tiberias and did a lap of the Sea, found ... read more

Journal Entry: Monday, October 12, 2009 Time: 10:01 PM Started the day with a very nice large leisurely breakfast, then went for a walk, didn't get lost but found myself at the gates of prince Hussein's residence on the Israeli border (its that close )the checkpoint phoned the gaffer and he invited me in for drinks as he likes England ! The captain was a very nice fellow and we had Arabian coffee, was almost clear and none to sure of the flavour and a glass of orange juice. Returned to the hotel via the market again, little else to do, called in at a diving center, liked the guy and booked a session for the afternoon. Diving was fun, had 40 minutes at 12 meters me and two Aussies, my ears have almost returned to ... read more

Hmm, thought it prudent to visit the consulate on the way out to the border, got there half an hour to early so took tea with the cops guarding outside, this seems to be a recurring theme, maybe its like donuts in the states. got in to a better reception this time and my forged docs from work helped, he took passport and papers and said return in an hour, another cup of tea later this guy who i kept seeing approached , we did the salam ala cum bit and he asked how i was getting on, the police said he was a good guy, so i filled him in(not like that, we had a chat ). He was Iraqi and had a mate at the border, gave him a call on my behalf and ... read more