Not in Kansas Any More!

There's only so much I can write in here, and it's all second hand words. I wish all of you could hear the tone of wonder in mum's voice at times. This is a huge experience, it's no holiday. Having said that, spirits are still high as they take the road for Dakhla - this may or may not have something to do with the fact that they and their friends have decided to go for the four star Regency hotel when they arrive in Dakhla, rather than go to the main campsite. The belief (and partial excuse) is that they will find a better class of guide there too. After Dakhla the roads truly disappear and all teams will need a guide to find their way across the Sahara. Mum and Jane are hoping to find one with very nice shiny sandals, who obviously doesn't end up walking very much!

Police checks are getting tougher but it seems they are much nicer with women, more willing to understand that they are on a charity mission too. Mum and Jane are thinking about going first in the convoy now because they are giving the boys at the front a much harder time. They've also divided up the goods for bribes across the vehicles, which was bound to happen sooner or later. At one point this morning the window stuck open after one of the checks, which needed to be repaired very quickly - it would be bad enough to have your window stuck open in Pembrokeshire today, as the wind is up here too, but at least here you would only have a fine drizzle blowing in. Instead they have an effect somewhat like sticking one's face in a sandblaster. It's mind boggling to think of the range of conditions on the planet where life can be found - there are still plenty of camels and hawks to be seen, it's a wonder they aren't sanded smooth!

It's not only roads that disappear the other side of Dakhla - we can't expect a mobile phone signal for around five days. Mum is going to check in each day using the satellite phone, but it may well have to be just a quick call to say they are ok, so for a while after today, updates might be reduced to a simple daily affirmation that everyone is alive and well, until they are through the other side of the sahara.