We would normally give ourselves a break between camping trips but this weekend coincided with the UAE National Day celebrations and so provided an extra long weekend. So back to back camping weekends gave us an ideal opportunity to introduce our style of camping to some Abu Dhabi friends – Andrew (a work colleague of Nigel’s) and his wife Gerri.

A reasonably clear sky and a late moon rise gave Nigel the chance to photograph some star trails. The straight lines are aeroplanes – we are under the flight path to Abu Dhabi.

Having arrived in the dark, sunrise gave Andrew and Gerri the chance to see their surroundings for the first time. Gerri was suitably impressed after finding a perfectly placed flat rock on which to perform yoga meditation and watch the sunrise. Sue and Andrew missed it!

Our brand of camping is best described as glamping. Sue prepares gourmet meals to cook on an open fire, we have hot showers and cold beers and wine to match the meals. There are some things you just can’t do without…

We took a scenic route to our swimming hole, opting to climb up to one of the numerous lookouts to enjoy the views rather than the more direct route through the wadi.

It was definitely worth the effort.

The swimming hole provided a refreshing dip for Nigel and Andrew while Sue and Gerri opted for a more gentile toe dip.

Sue is determined to claim the prize for the best dragonfly picture but Nigel is equally sure that he can do better. Even if it means joining the dragonflies in the water.

Afternoon entertainment came in the form a camel and her very young calf. They walked right through our camp site and posed for pictures, before following a circular route back to the area from which they had appeared. Later in the evening a man came looking for them. We pointed him the direction that they had travelled but he reappeared, on his own, some time later. So we don’t know whether he managed to find them before dark.

Day 2 provided another stunning sunrise during which Gerri confirmed that meditation can cure hangovers. Sue and Andrew missed it!

We drive past the beehive tombs at Al Ayn every time we come to Wadi Jil but it is a while since we visited. Obviously our camping guests had to see them, so we took a 30 minute stop on our way home to see the UNESCO world heritage status, 5,000 year old stone structures, in their eye-catching location, on a ridge in front of Jebel Misht.

We were saddened to see some deterioration in the structures since we last visited. They survive the elements for 5,000 years and then morons pull them apart for no good reason.

Thank you Andrew and Gerri for a magical weekend. It was great to see our old familiar places through new and enthusiastic eyes.