Sue’s broken rib has ruled out any off-road adventures since we retuned from NZ. It is now almost the middle of March and even at 780m in Wadi Jeel it is 30 degrees during the day. So this is our last chance for a weekend under canvas before the arrival of the great furnace that is the Middle Eastern summer.

Our camping days follow a predictable pattern. Nigel is up early to photograph the sunrise. Sue stays in bed until the heat forces her out of the tent.

We explore wadis and mountains during the day before enjoying drinks around the camp fire while we cook dinner.

A simple recipe for a great weekend.

The reward for an hours walk in the sun was a refreshing dip in a rapidly shrinking, but still cool pool. With no enthusiasm for more excertion we spent a couple of hours in the shade while Sue attempted to photograph a highly elusive blue dragonfly.

More lazy wildlife photography the next day. We watched these Egyptian vultures while drinking coffee in the shade of our awning. The black and white birds are the adults the others juveniles.

We always bring firewood and then seem to take the same amount home. This time we collected more large pieces than we could sensibly take away, so we shall see if it is still here in November which, realistically, is the earliest we can expect to be back.