Into the Sahara in a Nissan Patrol.

Our press car was a fully equipped Nissan Patrol with full roll cage, huge fuel tank, navigation aids, extra spare wheels, sand ladders, spades and in what space was left tents, sleeping bags & one bag of clothes.

Also in the back seat was Paul Round, his race car had not been ready so he was a passenger.

We enjoyed being in Tunisia again especially as this time we could go anywhere across the desert.

After careful driving through a mine field at the border crossing we arrived in Libya at Ghadames. There we filled up with diesel and paid just £15  for 240 litres!

When this herd of wild camels crossed in front of us we finally realised we were in the Sahara.

Finding the way using a road book, compass and GPS waypoints proved easy for Dot our ace navigator.

Drama at the Egyptian border and breakdown in the sand.

At the border crossing into Egypt an old mine exploded and the army made everyone stay overnight out in the desert while they cleared another safer route.

All along the route people would travel miles to see the bikes, cars and trucks roar past. They made greeting banners and would cheer and wave. The local people were happy to help in every way possible.

So most of us arrived a day late at Siwa where we enjoyed a rest day and a visit to this ancient oasis.

It was at Siwa that we visited the old tombs built into the hillside and managed at last to see some of the rally action out on the special stage.

Eventually the clutch on our car failed after 100kms  driving on soft sand. We were towed for 200kms by the other RallyRaid Nissan to the Farfara Oasis where we found a truck to take us down to Dakhla.

The mechanics repaired the car during the night and next day we set off across the desert again towards the river Nile.

                      The Red Sea, Suez Canal and Sinai.

  After spending a noisy night at Luxor airport we set off again towards the Red Sea.

 Which is of course a fabulous deep turquoise blue and we found a perfect lunch stop on the beach.

    It was strange to see the sea after all that sand and to be amongst the green fields and shady trees along the banks of the river Nile.

Letting the tyres down to cope with the sand resulted in yet more damage.

Contrast this old dovecot with the satellite dish on the roof.

Communication with the outside world is transforming the isolated lives of the desert inhabitants.

The last day's route was over 800kms and we had to leave the 'overnight' bivi at Abu Rish air force base at 0100 hours for the long drive.

North to Suez where we drove through the tunnel under the canal. Then back down the coast of the Red Sea through the beautiful Sinai scenery.

             The Red Sea Riviera and a cold shower.

The team were happy to reach the finish-Mick was delighted to be on the podium as was Derrick Edmondson on his KTM.

The mechanics had worked hard every night and were looking forward to a shower, cold beer and a decent meal!

  Waiting at Sharm el Sheikh to welcome us were Bob and Wendy Room and our son Chris and girlfriend Sandra.

After a monotonous diet of high protein French delicacies we were glad to sit at a table and enjoy a meal with waiter service!

After just two days rest and recuperation at this high class hotel we had to make the long return journey back to Cairo and to Alexandria along the desert road. There we would leave the Nissan race car at the docks for shipment to Europe.

                                     Long journey home.

   It was a long drive north, under the Suez canal again and into Cairo airport to book our flight back to France.

Then we followed the long straight desert road to Alexandria where we got completely lost in the hectic traffic. A taxi driver offered to lead the way to the docks and we had fun in the narrow streets blowing the air horns to move the pedestrians, donkeys and cars out of the way!

There is a regular coach service from Alexandria to Cairo and we both slept most of the way. The ride from the bus station  in a battered old taxi was terrifying.

Our hotel room overlooked the Pyramids but we were surprised at how close they are to the bustling town of Giza.

The evening light show at the Pyramids was well presented but did not compare with the glorious natural scenery we had experienced on our long drive across the deserts of Tunisia. Libya and Egypt.