The wind had started while we were eating dinner and then enjoying the music but it hadn't been too bad and we hadn't really noticed. My first indication was when 3 of the girls came and stayed in the big tent with me as it was too sandy and windy outside of their tent. From then on in the wind and noise increased - the big tent was bellowing from side to side, the ties became undone and sand kept blowing in - every few minutes you'd get a fresh coating - I genuinely feared if the big tent was going to hold and what my first reaction would be if it didn't ! The doorflap, held down by several big stones, kept breaking free and flapping across the mat making a huge noise. I got up many times to replace them and even ventured outside - my head torch picking out a major sandstorm - imagine a pretty serious rainstorm where the rain is coming in sideways, only this is sand and you're about there. It was quite an experience and didn't let up all night, so Sunday just got way harder. In some ways when the sun came up it was a relief as we could get started, exhausted though we were. Spare a thought for the Berbers who didn't even have any tents... those boys are hardcore. The camels however, were unfazed...
But it's fair to say that for the rest of us, we didn't enjoy the sunrise as much as other days:
And so Sunday began, with the winds still blowing, and amazingly the flies still all up in your grill - like the camels, they had obviously dealt with this before. We set off across a less varied terrain and it gave a real sense of isolation, even if it was still an amazing experience to be there,
And the ground underfoot became more rocky, and harder to walk across at times as you felt every pebble !
The sand was still blowing around us at times, and it was very very hot - the hottest day yet - possibly 40 degrees
But the strange thing was, that even with how hard it was, how hot it was and how tired we all were, for me there was such an uplifting sense of being somewhere amazing and certainly unique in my lifetime (I doubt I'll go marching across any other deserts !) that the miles just disappeared underfoot, ably assisted by Jamal and his reviving bag of figs, dates and nuts, and never ending supply of water - he brought one of the camels with us on this day especially for this purpose, and the Berber mischievously attached the rope to whoever wasn't paying attention...
Sarah unwittingly leading the camel on here, if you get my meaning...
We stopped for lunch and the lack of sleep plus the coating of sand (it isn't just stubble on my face !) was beginning to show:
On this day we did the lions share of the walk in the morning (Approx 5 hours) and so only had a couple of hours to do in the afternoon, which was more of the same:
The group was visibly lifted by the prospect of a shorter walk and this only increased as we got closer to practically the end of the whole thing and spirits were higher despite a couple of the girls really suffering with a bug they had picked up but heroically carrying on, and a special mention to Sophie Kennerley who suffered really badly but never once complained about her ordeal and was always smiling no matter how many times she threw up. Massive respect to you Sophie !
But we were at the final night of camp, and that meant there was only one thing for it - CAMEL RIDE !!
There was a really fun spirit around the camp on the last night, lots of group photos were taken and everyone was relieved that it was practically over and even though we were all dog-tired we were determined to enjoy ourselves.
Here I am with my man Joe who was who got me into this whole daft idea in the first place... its a bit warmer than Bolton eh Joe ?
Then the sun went down spectacularly again
The Berbers made a camp fire for us and led the camels away
Before showcasing their skills in making bread from scratch and baking it in the ground underneath the fire !
And of course finishing it all with a selection of songs
It's fair to say there was much rejoicing when the Berbers came in with the final nights meal and it was... Chicken & Chips ! Even though we all enjoyed the Moroccan food, it was fair to say that them pulling that out of the bag on the last night was pretty damn impressive...
Day 5 - Monday 20th October
After a thankfully calm night and some more awesome star-gazing, we awoke to our last day very refreshed and raring to go (if a little ripe and still covered in flies !)
We set off for a short walk (less than an hour) into a village to meet the van and begin our journey back home after an emotional goodbye with the group that had been looking after us, as the camels were led away:
We got in the van and set off for a straight through journey to Marrakesh in one day this time. The scenery was just as spectacular on the way back:
We stopped again at Ouarzazate for lunch (again, ace food) and to pick up our main luggage which had been left at the hotel, but after that we just went all the way through - making it back to our hotel in Marrakesh by about 8pm I think. After a meal of dubious quality we went up to the roof terrace for a drink (but alas, the hotel was dry) and to reflect on a great experience and a job well done by everyone.
We even got a nice certificate to say we'd done it !
And after months of preparation, miles of walking training, lots of equipment shopping, worry about what it would be like, the heat, the flies, the actual trek and the never ending isolation of the Sahara Desert, we were done. A once in a lifetime experience that I'm so glad I did. And all because we were...
Some thank you's are in order...
Thanks to all who read this meandering blog, thanks to Tracy for arranging this event, thanks to everyone on the trip for being such a great group of people to trek with and have a laugh with. Thanks to all my family and friends for the encouragement and thank you so much for everyone who made a donation to the NLH and helped me (almost) reach my target. Thanks to my bro' Andre for lending me so much vital gear, thanks to Pat for the hat, thanks to the man in the shoe shop who helpfully told me 'it'll be hot' and thanks to my mum and dad for worrying, caring and giving me a lift to Gatwick at 3am and then picking me up again.
But finally, my undying love and thanks to my darling Su who trained with me, shopped with me, helped organise me and provided more love, support and good humour than any man rightfully deserves. You are an angel and I am so lucky - I love you !
Keep supporting the North London Hospice - it's an amazing place with some amazing people !
Rob
http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/RobertDuffySahara2014
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