Done and Dusted

I've arrived! After about 4 months and over 7000km on the bike i've finally made it to Muscat.

The last stretch actually turned out to be one of the toughest - 8 days cycling through strong headwinds and the incredibly monotonous Omani desert with precious little shade.

Oman is quite different from the other arab countries i've visited. It's instantly cleaner, more developed - wealthier i guess but still the locals seem as kind and friendly as ever.

It's not quite hit home yet exactly what i've done or even why i've done it but it's good to be here. Post match analysis to follow...

Pasta Del Sol

It's pretty hot around lunchtime in Oman so i wondered if i could save some of my precious cooking fuel and instead harness the power of the sun. Here goes..

Ingredients:

1 black pot (colour important)

1 bag pasta

2 tomatoes - chopped

1 onion - chopped

1 clove garlic - chopped

1 tbsp olive oil

1 packet tomato paste

1 tbsp sugar

2 tsp mixed herbs

1 tin tuna in oil (optional)

1 litre of water

Over a flame fry the onions in the oil until soft.

Add tomatoes and reduce them down before adding the garlic and tomato paste.

Fry for one minute more and then add sugar, herbs and mix in the tin of tuna including oil.

Pour in water (preferably pre-warmed on back of bike), season, stir and then turn off the heat.

Place lid on pan and leave out in the midday sun.

45 minutes later...

Last Legs

I'm now in Oman about to attempt the last section from Salalah in the south west of the country up to Muscat in the North East.
After the recent kidnapping near the Eritrean border i decided to give the country a miss and take a flight from Khartoum directly to the capital of Yemen, Sana'a.
Sadly bicycle travel in Yemen is also highly restricted because of kidnapping issues and as it's only possible for me to cycle in a small fraction of the country I've 'hotfooted' (actually cycling may have been quicker!) it by bus straight up to the Omani border.

Bit of a shame but kidnapping may not have been that pleasant and Yemeni men seem to have an unhealthy obsession with carrying AK47's coupled with chewing Qat all afternoon (a mild stimulant) - maybe not the best combination!