Crossing Saudi stage 2 week 7. We are now so far into the expedition that our routines are familiar and comforting and we are able to admit to each other that we are weary by the end of our walking week. We cover roughly a half marathon every day and rest every 7th day.

Lulu and Juicy, the camels, are spoilt princesses and have worked out they can get away with murder when I am leading them. The team is doing really well. Alan navigates us through the wide wadis and can often be seen up a mountain filming. Khalid is constantly reprovisioning and restocking on water – often driving long distances. His company MAD Adventures is doing all the logistics for the expedition. Abu Ahmed looks after the camels and slips me camel facts. Abu Sagheer always has tea and coffee ready and slips me extra bread for the camels. Shaya is a constant companion on the road, always positive, always up for a prank.

Wild and exciting

The scenery is wild and exciting. Big, broad wadis and narrow black mountain passes. Every day we watch the sun rise and set orange and pink. Clouds have been following us for days but no rain and the trees are just waiting for water in order to bloom.

We have been in an area that belongs to the AlQahtani tribe and stopped for cardamom coffee in their encampment. Sweet dates and a chance to warm our hands at the fire in the tent.

Something rare happened too. A bedouin family stopped in their pick up. The mother, Bakhita Al Shahrani got out of the car and agreed to be filmed and to have her picture taken. We have been walking so far out in the wilds that I have only seen a very few women and none of them have agreed to pictures or film. She was so lively and sociable and loved petting the camels. Now she WhatsApps Shaya every night to see how we are getting on.

I can’t believe that we only have three weeks left but I have to also remind myself that that means a lot more walking and I need to keep focussed and also to enjoy every moment.

If you enjoyed Crossing Saudi stage 2 week 7, do check out the podcast which I do on alternate weeks and my Instagram and X for photos (yes there are a lot of camels). Walking with Nomads tells the story of another crossing: Morocco and the Sahara. For more info on Saudi, check out www.visitsaudi.com