With the car fully loaded with food and camping gear and essential supplies disguised or hidden inside tents, we headed into Oman (no alcohol allowed). We have experienced a variety of border crossing but this was the best yet. At a deserted border post on a back road a smiling Omani guard asked “Do you have insurance?” I told him yes. Then “Do you have passports?” “Yes” and that was good enough he did not want to see any documents. Next question “Do you want some Snickers?” and we were offered his half eaten Snickers bar. He was laughing as much as we were and that was the border formalities completed.

Our first hike was to be to the summit of Jebel Sumayni at 1,073m but by the time we actually found the track it was too late to climb all the way. We still walked through spectacular scenery and wonderful views

At an oasis plantation where we stopped to ask for directions a very helpful gentleman drew us a map consisting of a forked road with ‘no’ written on the left fork and ‘ys’ written on the right. We never found the road.

Lunch before we start the climb.

Next stop was Wadi Shuwayhah where the prime camping spots under palm trees were all occupied so we headed down a narrow tributary wadi and set up camp.

Sue and Claire took charge of firewood collecting while Jonathan and I pitched tents and set up camp. The result of their foraging was a blazing camp fire that was still smoldering in the morning.