Things are falling into place. Certain protection measures have been been ordered for the car from the dealers in Doha. A wrap around front protector and grills for the rear lights are on order and will be in country in about 3 weeks. I spent 300 quid on camping equipment and car accessories. I will bring these back with me when I travel to the UK on 29th April.

The decision is made! When my employment in Doha (Qatar) finishes I am going to drive back to London. I originally came up with this idea when I finished working in Bahrain in 2007. I must admit to bottling then and regretting it ever since. This time it will happen. The route has been finalised and the preparations are underway. I am going back to London to study Law and doubt I will venture back to the Middle East again. So this is the last chance to make this drive. The plan is to stay in low budget accomodation as much as possible but I will be carrying an 8 man tent ( As long as the 8 men are only 18 inches tall!!) just in case of emergencies. I enjoy sleeping under canvas so I may have to engineer an emergency.

The route will be through Saudi Arabia to Aqaba in Jordan. From Aqaba there is a ferry to Nuweiba in Eastern Egypt. After crossing the Sinai desert and Suez canal, Cairo beckons for a few days of sight seeing. This is more for the wife and friend flying in to join me on the journey. I lived in Cairo for 2 years and there is little I haven't seen before, but the break will probably be welcome. From Cairo it's back to Nuweiba and the return ferry crossing to Aqaba. Ever since watching Lawrence of Arabia I have wanted to visit Aqaba. I have no idea why but it will be good to finally get it done. From the ferry we drive north to Petra for a couple of days of sight seeing. Then upwards and onwards to Damascus in Syria. Following a day of exploration in Damascus a border crossing to Turkey and an overnight in Mersin to the south. Ankara beckons the following day then on to Istanbul for a 2 day break. Crossing the border into Greece (and the EU), Thessaloniki is the next port of call before heading to Igoumenista and the ferry to Brindisi in Italy. A day touring Napoli and Pompei preceeds the run north to Rome and on to Venice. Still haven't worked out how to drive the motor around Venice yet but I am working on it. Venice to Munich over the alps should yield amazing scenery (Depending on the weather). Then comes the longest leg of the journey from Munich to Amsterdam. This will be 8 hours of hard driving (Shared with the wife of course) but by leaving Munich early enough there should be no problem reaching Amsterdam at a reasonable hour. We will stick around in Amsterdam until after England beat the USA in the opening game of the World Cup and head for blighty.
No teary eyed moments as the white cliffs of Dover come into view as the journey back will be from the Hook of Holland to Harwich. Harwich to London and home. I am guessing by now I wil have developed a hatred for driving that will make me never want to get behind the wheel again.