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A Land Cruiser is not just a car. It is a part of the culture and important element of the local Oman's environment and landscape. Despite their poor condition, these old vehicles, still run on the local roads and sandy tracks...

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Reconnaissance

The autumn expedition is coming quickly, so rely on the Khareef (monsoon) season in Dhofar i went to Salalah for a few days trip. The purpose was mainly to recognize some places located in the Dhofar mountains as well as the beaches stretched along of the Indian Ocean shoreline. The summer in the southern part of Oman is unique. The arabian Peninsula mainly associated with the sandy or stony desert scorched by the strong sun without many of greens, and if it already with small desert shrubbery only. In Dhofar in the summer is strong monsoon and rain constantly raining in the higher part of the mountains, and quickly changing entire landscape into a huge green meadows with plenty of green trees It really remains me a spring in the Eastern Europe. Equipped with a Land Cruiser 76 and all my travel stuff i moved in the evening of thursday 4th of July 2013 from Muscat to Salalah. The first section of the road ran through the flat sandy desert and would not be interesting if it was not a massive sandstorm. Suddenly the huge mass of sand came from the desert. The visibility had been dramatically reduced to a few meters and whole went dark.

My plan was simple. I wanted to reach a town called Hayma, refuel my car and go to sleep somewhere close to the road. I stopped the car exactly 400 km from Muscat. Early morning after small cup of coffee move quickly toward Salalah.

In the morning i set off to the southern direction and after around hundred kilometers. turned  into the Empty Quarter for a quick check.  I found a sandy track and the first dunes appeared after around 15 kilometers from the asphalted road. I went deeper for around 10 kilometers between the sand dunes still holding on the track. Just wanted to recognize the potential location on the autumn camping. Near 10 am the sun operated stronger, so i decided to back on the black top road. Next point on my map was away only 70 kilometers. After less the an hour. I stopped in the small oasis located near the edge of the huge concentration of the sand dunes on Ramlat Muqshin. The temperature approached 47 centigrades and the sand was very soft and hot. Driving was not a pleasure in that conditions so considered that i was alone i did not go deeper into the sand dunes. I parked my car in the shade of the big tree and prepared a small lunch. after a half an hour break i was ready to continue my trip to Dhofar.

 

This particular day was very long. I had to do 600 kilometers. In the evening i reached the top of the Dhofar mountains where is a small police checkpoint. The weather dramatically changed. From the sunny heat and dry desert conditions into the wet, rainy and foggy mountains weather. My destination point was located just 45 kilometers after Salalah on the rocky beach near town called Taqah.  Beaten by the summer heat on the dessert and long driving i went to sleep quickly, listening to the ocean’s waves and the wind.

 

 

Next day i woke up around 9 am, and strengthened of big sweet tea moved in to the mountains and the green valleys (wadies). The whole nature changed completely. was 25C the little rain watered whole time. I went in to the small muddy track and reached some gorges little valley along with many of fresh green trees and small streams. After six years in Oman views like this make impression. My new small land cruiser FZJ76 is still equipped with 31 inches Bridgestone Dueler AT tires, so driving on the muddy track was full of fun. The car is much lighter then FZJ100 and the diving without special mud terrain tires was much more predictable then last year trip to Dhofar in 2012, when i used to use series 100.

I recognize many potential locations on the future expeditions and in the evening went to small but very old town called Mirbat. The weather in Mirbat was very gloomy. In the night temperature was around 19 centigrades. Next day i decided to recognize some beaches near Mirbat and later back into Jabal Samhan. The research turned out to be fruitful, and i found great spot for the future trips. White sand beach surrounded by the rocks and ocean water. In Jabal Samhan the rain was stronger then the previous day and the visibility was really reduced. I continue my “mud driving” experience that is really rare here in Oman.

 

Early afternoon i make some short break on the service station in Thumrait behind Salalah and back into the sandy and hot part of Oman. Ahead of me was around 1000 km way to  Muscat. The way back was long and slowly. I stopped a few times to check another locations in the angle autumn expedition. When i reached Al Wusta region i was driving in the strong wind and nice sandstorm which made surrounded landscape very photogenic.

 

It was my firs long trip with Land Cruiser 76 and one of the purpose was to check the car in many different situations. The smallest Land Cruiser from the series 70 has great off-road potential. The first time i was driving on the sandy surfaces without deflated tires. Some places i had visited again and have compared to the series 100.  Ultimately going to put 33 inches tires into the serial suspension and change the roof rack for more practical. it is everything what this car need to be perfect for desert driving in Oman.

Jerzy Wierzbicki

Team DiscoverOman