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Ob poslušanju zgodb policistov sem nehote naredil primerjavo z našimi, ki se z laserji v rokah skrivajo za kantami za smeti. Vem, da ni vseh za metati v isti koš, a kaj morem, tistih 72 km/h na Tržaški 311 v nedeljo zvečer mi še kar bremeni želodec. Fantje tukaj na obhodu južne meje dejansko ne vedo ali bodo doživeli naslednji dan.

Western media speak a lot about al-Qaeda, which definitely also exists in the Sahara, but the smugglers and Chadian rebels are said to be more annoying. The media will instantly tell you when two Austrians are kidnapped (on these latitudes I was repeatedly told it was an agreed business rather than kidnapping). The story about police patrols, killed for a fully equipped Toyota pick-up, or about ears and noses cut away with plyers until a Thuraya phone was handed over, and about truck drivers carrying goods to Chad that never know whether they will survive the journey and sometimes they don't (they are simply shot or left in the desert with no phone or water) no media would speak. I also listened the unwritten story of the pretty much publicised kidnapping of Europeans and Egyptians some year and a half ago in Gilf Kebir and the police race after the kidnappers through Chadian and Sudanese territories.

On certain days I felt the police to be a bit tense. Camps were never pitched on a dangerous spot, they would be instead always crossed during daylight when a chance of an incident was almost null. But the one could feel when they were not at ease.

The new Bridgestone VS Jamal 14.00R20 proved to be a good investment. In the first two days of desert the pressure was dropped to 1,3 and 2 bar, pressure I left practically till I returned to the tarmac way North (excepting a small incident during my solo journey 720 through the desert after the assignment was finished when I got seriously stuck - this time pictures were taken). With the mentioned pressure I was driving over extended periods of time 70 kph, but also reaching 80 kph with no apparent overheating. I was even unfaithful to the rear right tyre twice on a surface with sharp stones, but no marks were left on the tyre.

After a couple of days we reached on the Sudanese border the only water spring on the journey. Next to which a military post was built as is common in the Sahara. I pampered myself with a two-1,5-litre-bottles-shower. What a luxury! And I dressed a fresh T-shirt!

Later on we passed through the border crossing with Sudan and Egypt where we got some fresh bread (fresh bread!!!), tunafish and juice.

What followed was the only camp where we spent more than one night. And the place was simply magical! Images follow in the next post.