Like every year before we move with the groups of 4x4 fans into Omani interior i preparing the “road-book” and checking potential locations for the campings. Last few days i was off due to the “Eid” vacation and i got five days for myself only. Without long hesitation i decided to go far away from capital town. I aimed to visit some interesting locations, include the Empty Quarter. There was just one issue. I was alone and any trip to the biggest sand desert on the world in one car is not a good idea. Had to find some compromise between that fact and travel safety. The plan was simple. I will not go deeper then 10 km from the last humans settlement. There is one particular part of Empty Quarter which i admire very much, Ramlat Hashman. The huge complex of the high dunes located 1000 km from Muscat only. Equipped with many of water, food and other stuff and, what is always important, experience i set off into the desert. I reached the last petrol station late afternoon. My pakistani friend who recognizing me every time, refueled my car. I had 140 liters of petrol what should be enough for short a day trip.
During the twilight i returned on the main sandy track leading me directly to the massive dunes on Ramlat Hashman.
Around an hour later i pulled over my car behind the big dune. The silence was absolutely incredible. The night was special. Full-moon made all “sandscape” very bright. I grabbed my camera and along with Trop moved on the top of the dune to capture some shots. Like every time when i experience being on the Empty Quarter i had an impression to be overwhelmed by this powerful nature. After around half an hour i got back to the car. Was very hungry and Trop implied that small bowl before sleeping would be a great idea!
We prepare our signature dish “The dessert risotto” contained only the white rise along with the smoked tuna. After small supper Trop went sleep just on the sand next to the car.
In the morning after quick coffee and breakfast i got back on the main track and marked its location on the GPS. Just in case. Trop was sitting next to me and was ready to explore the sands like always. Temperature was much higher then i could expected before. However was the second half of october but was very hot. I reduced a pressure on my tires to 16 psi and slowly moved. In every kilometers i realized that the dunes are higher proportionally to the distance from the main track. The biggest dunes were still a long way from me but even on the edge of the desert i could notice some impressive sand heaps.
In the middle of the day i was around 10 km from the place when i spend a night. Suddenly my car stuck into the sands. I was not driving with the low range. Engaged first time low gear and tried to escape from the sandy ambush. Nothing happened. Car just got bogged into the soft sand. I was glued to the sand even more. Quick review and i was sure that next hours i will get some exercises with the shovel. Indeed next two hours i tried to recover my car. In the middle of the day was almost 40 centigrades and wind was much stronger. It looked like a small sand storm is coming. Bitten by the heat and struggled with the hot sands finally i recover my car from the sand and could continue my exploration. The sand storm spoiled my photographic plans. Blowing wind and sand in the air effectively covered everything. I slowly moved back to the main track. Around an hour an a half i pulled over my car again in the wide wadi around 30 kilometers from the dunes of Ramlat Hashman. This is one place only in entire region where i could see more greens. The wadi periodically is covered by the water. The earth in the wadi was completely scorched and wrinkled by the sun. The wind still blowing strongly and sand covered the landscape. Was very moody.
I got back to the service station where i started my trip a day before and refuel my car again. I the evening i found a place for a next camping in the night. But this time i was a biggest landmark on the horizon. I spend a night on the most flat part of Oman.
Next day i turned toward to “Cinnamon Desert” and beautiful white sand dunes where i found perfect location for the November trip.
