Crossing Saudi stage 2 week 1 and it is hot. I am not absolutely sure how hot hell is but I think we are approaching it. That and water are our two big challenges at the moment.
We started in Madinah 6 days ago on Friday morning at the same spot we finished in February. This time it was just after dawn prayers. On the streets on the way out, a lady was serving tea and coffee to worshippers for free. She was an ordinary citizen being welcoming. There were boxes of cold water along the route for people to take.
By the next day we were out in the Harrat. These are the giant black volcanic fields that stretch through Saudi. The last eruption near here was 769 years ago and the lava spread right to the city and stopped just 8km away from the Prophet’s Mosque. For us it meant a day through a brutal landscape punctuated by pylons.
Juicy and Lulu
But at the end of it was our camp tucked into the side of a hill with our two camels Juicy and Lulu waiting. Did they recognise me as I ran towards them armed with orange peel and cooing, “Juicy, Lulu, how are my babies?” Of course they did! Or at least they were sensible enough to fake it for the peel.
It is fantastic to be with the team again. Khalid, the owner of MAD Adventures doing all the logistics, Shaya my walking partner, Alan our navigator extraordinaire and two new members, Abu Ahmed from Sudan for the camels and Abu Sagheer from Yemen who is our cook and support vehicle driver. We are also lucky enough for this first week to have Abdullah along – he is a very funny man and Shaya’s best friend so they are a comedy double act.
We’ve already found Stone Age tombs, met a herder shepherding his flock on camel back and a Bedouin woman driving a pick up, “I’ve just been taking my kids to school,” she told me and we agreed that having a car was great.
Half a marathon
Every day we are doing a half marathon and so far – I want to say it quietly in case I jinx it – no bisters!
Heat really is an issue though. I feel battered by it. It gets to the high thirties by 1130 and stays there until 1730. Typing this now, I keep moving my chair to try and stay in the inadequate shade of a thorn tree. The hot wind blows constantly like a hairdryer full on in my face. You can’t escape it. It is a lesson in acceptance.
Where to follow
If you enjoyed Crossing Saudi stage 2 week 1 check out my pictures on Instagram or X and a little taste of Juicy and Lulu on YouTube. I’m alternating the blog with my podcast, Alice in wAnderland, available on all platforms.
