The route for the drive back can now be accessed on Google Maps at:
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=117268084029113221754.0004850a995d257ed74ed&ll=29.501769,34.266357&spn=1.611135,2.318115&z=9
The Saudi visa has been issued BUT only allows 3 days to transit the country. This has led to a revision of the Saudi travel plan. I will now go straight to the Wabha Crater from Doha (744 Miles) and head to Aqaba (789 Miles) from there the following day. These are two mega drives on the first 2 days, but pale by comparison with the consequences of over staying in Saudi.
I am told it is a good idea to carry condoms in the desert protect things like mobile phones and camera lenses from sand damage. I think I will wait for the new brand that the Pope is going to lauch on his visit to the UK.
Monday, 26 April 2010
Sunday, 11 April 2010
Qatar 11th April 2010
The date for the start of the trip is now finalized. I will leave Qatar on Friday 14th May for the first leg to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The visas for Syria have been obtained and hotels booked in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. I bought two foldaway chairs for night time chilling in the desert. One is for my imaginary friend, Charlie. I have decided not to carry any form of communication equipment on the journey. I want the arrival in London to be like Apollo Thirteen when it emerges from the dark side of the moon (That would make a great album title).
I watched “I am Legend”; I will need to make contingency plans in the event of a Armageddon while I am travelling through the desert. I may come back to civilization and find humans destroyed and only crack heads and Sarah Palin supporters have survived. I will start with a fast food diet to store fat as all food shops will be destroyed. As the last surviving member of the human race I will need a presidential palace to rule from. Poland looks favorite.
Temperatures have started to rise in the Middle East. It is in the 30C range and likely to be much hotter when the trip starts. By August, in Qatar, the ground will be so hot it will feel like your shoes are burning.
The visas for Syria have been obtained and hotels booked in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. I bought two foldaway chairs for night time chilling in the desert. One is for my imaginary friend, Charlie. I have decided not to carry any form of communication equipment on the journey. I want the arrival in London to be like Apollo Thirteen when it emerges from the dark side of the moon (That would make a great album title).
I watched “I am Legend”; I will need to make contingency plans in the event of a Armageddon while I am travelling through the desert. I may come back to civilization and find humans destroyed and only crack heads and Sarah Palin supporters have survived. I will start with a fast food diet to store fat as all food shops will be destroyed. As the last surviving member of the human race I will need a presidential palace to rule from. Poland looks favorite.
Temperatures have started to rise in the Middle East. It is in the 30C range and likely to be much hotter when the trip starts. By August, in Qatar, the ground will be so hot it will feel like your shoes are burning.
Monday, 5 April 2010
The Planning goes on and on and on....
Hotels are sorted in Cairo and the visa application is in to the Syrian Embassy. A woman in the Indian call centre of a well known car insurance company told me that you can't drive a left hand drive car in the UK without being arrested. I am amazed; But this would explain a lot. The UK immigration problem is clearly nothing to do with economic migration or refugees. It is caused by everyone driving a left hand drive car being locked up as soon as they arrive at Dover. This results in our own villains having to live 4 to a cell with Pedro, Luigi and Vladimir. I will be eternally grateful to the call centre lady as now I will re-route my entry to London across Iceland and up the Thames Estuary.
Thursday, 1 April 2010
Hotels have been confirmed in Damascus and Petra. Few more to go but getting there slowly. The wife has confirmed that she will join me in Napoli for the drive back to London. I am relieved at this as I had worries over the trip through Jordan, Syria and Southern Turkey.
I have decided to travel part of the way with an imaginary friend. I am going to call him Charlie. Imagunary friends are useful because they don't need hotel rooms or visas. Unfortunately, they don't buy beers but this is a small sacrifice compared to the company they provide.
I have decided to travel part of the way with an imaginary friend. I am going to call him Charlie. Imagunary friends are useful because they don't need hotel rooms or visas. Unfortunately, they don't buy beers but this is a small sacrifice compared to the company they provide.
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