‘twas the second outing for “the beast” into the great outdoors. Some more pools, yes more pools, and some rough tracks awaited the little big beast. First to Shawqah.

We arrived: the beast (our little Mitsubishi Pajero IO), the irritable little pack horse (ILPH aka the wife) and I at the edge of the tarmac. Into four wheel drive and we were off. After 10 mins we made the briefest of stops and experienced a UAE first for us a local beggar. We pressed a little flesh and with a little bewilderment we went our way. Into the wadi behind Shawqah dam and a small crunch and scrape was audible. “Oh, I’ll go slower next time.” I said to the ILPH. After another dordling 3km of taking it slowly we could no further. Out of the beast and a glance at the under side. No damage but there was and is a low hanging bar. I assume it was for protection but it was so low hanging that what was going to protect the low hanging bar!

We proceeded on foot up the wadi and there were pools. The first pool was the deepest and good for a wallow and the odd bomb. As we progressed the pools became shallower but became more and more life filled. Dragon flies, tiny fish, strange leopard print not quite tadpols not quite frogs, and a variety of other insects. The main thing that came out of the wadi experience was that the ILPH needs to improve her rugby pass... (private joke)

After dordling back to Shawqah we nipped into a neighbouring valley. All the way the ILPH was on navigation duty. We winded our way up the wadi and then gates; a farmstead. We were considering our options when the farmer opened the gates and beckoned us thorough and out the other side. Strange I can only assume he had built his farm over the track. After this the track gets a wee bit rougher and that bar under the car was brushed a few more times. Eventually the track defeated us just below Jabal Darah. A quick recci and we found a perfectly formed westerly facing valley to camp in, perfect apart from the short walk with all the camping gear.

The camp was enjoyed; then to bed. We had that sinking feeling during the night... yep the airbed had a leak! Each time the ILPH and I tossed and turned, about once every 15mins, for the rest of the night we wondered if we should get up. We didn’t and with the risk of an over statement we carried on through the night with a resolve that Shakleton would have been proud of!

We had breakfast, packed the car then looked up at the moderately sized Jebel Darah looming over us. I do not know what daunted me more the climb or getting the ILPH to the top.... actually I do. I had to engineer a devious way of coaxing the ILPH to the top. We set off and walked directly into a heard of sheep herding them back up the mountain. 10 seconds later an unimpressed farmer firmly gestured to us to walk round in the adjacent valley. In the next valley we rounded a corner and then we met another group of about 20 sheep and again we began herding them up mountain eventually passing them. Two-thirds of the way up my miss givings about the ILPH were miss placed not a negative pep out of her just causal banter. However, shortly after ILPH began to express doubt of reaching the top. The next 40mins involved coaxing the ILPH in stages repeating the blatant lie that “The top is just there come you can do it.” followed by the ILPH trudging the next short stage up to the next false peak. Eventually we made it to the top! On the top the lack of sleep from the deflating bed kicked in and we snoozed for a blissful 1 hour in the mid day sun...