Trailer Shakedown (Day 1) – Oman

At the end of a tough week for both of us with work we emerge from our office Saturday morning with our eye down on Bruce the Jeep and the trailer desperate to take them for the first shakedown and test run. 
 
We quickly load, gather camera equipment, make a detour via the supermarket for provisions and then looking at each other the killer question still to be answered…..where too? 
 
As we debate the best direction to head, we spy a stowaway on the the trailer. Seriously, one night parked in the largest carpark in DIFC and a pair

of doves decide to make a nest on the trailer, conveniently on the ladder to the side door. Quite sweet really, but sorry we really cannot take you on our trip today.

So we head off down the road and take a the opportunity to pick up some equipment on way at ACE, well we say equipment, we mean locks! We have a couple of Jerry cans on the side. These have given me a little concern since fitting. Yes, it is great having reserve fuel of course and we need some petrol for testing the generator, but with the price of fuel, you just do not know how tempted people would be. That said, I feel more safe in the UAE and Oman then anywhere else, but we get some locks anyhow for peace of mind.

We then decide Oman it is! We loved our last trip and traversing the border again will be good practice anyhow. So we head to the Al Ain border and we are treated by a very beautiful and very smiley female border officer who tells use that we cannot cross at their border and we need to drive 30 minutes more to Mezyad Border crossing. (Grrrrr slowdown Darren and read Becky’s notes it clearly stated not this one). Well the detour was not too bad and the border staff were kind enough not to make it difficult or us feel stupid.

Watching the sunset we are concerned about the time and we still need to go through the border. Well the good news was that was one hindered time easier than last time. We were through in less than 20 minutes including a very interesting search were we end up with five very interested border staff wanting to have a look at our trailer and enquire how much it cost. They were super friendly even when I joked about it costing me a kidney to buy the trailer.

So we are through, but we decided not to go too far into Oman to park up for the first night. There is a old restored fort over looking a palm plantation and Jebel Hafeet near Bu Baqara. There is a public carpark around the fort and though it is currently having work undertaken, with scaffolding and fencing around it we managed to park up and put the coffee on.  
 
We are then joined by a local builder on the fort. He lives just next to the fort and we offer a cup of coffee. We give him some snacks and make polite conversation with the very little English he speaks, but he is super pleasant and tells us we have no worries staying here. We thank him and tell him we are only here for one night.

He heads off prey and comes back on his push bike bearing fruit for us. We thank him for his super kindness and say we will have for our breakfast. Wow we are in Oman only one hour and the country proves is kindness and generous hospitality. Happy Eid Adha.

So now for the trailer…… the list of faults quickly starts and the first is the taps is leaking and at both ends of the pipe to the tap. More water leaks out than comes out of the tap. Also, the stove burner is a little hit and miss, how many matches did I use to get it burning, too many, yes it was windy but it should still work. Bloody hell, how does the boiler work? The mattress does not fit up in the trailer tent grrrrr! We can’t see how the tent poles go in grrrrrr! 

All that said, we manage to get dinner on and enjoy noodles and vegetables followed by Papua New Guinea fresh ground coffee and maltessers. Oh yes happy days! Now to test the trailer out for the first night in Oman mid summer.

Oh heck in hell on high water, it was a warm night! I would suggest it was equivalent to sleeping in a sauna. I dropped a sleep maybe twice to be woken by sweat trickling across my back or forehead. Not great and I know Becky did not sleep either. At 4:30am when I broke and moved outside as it was at least a couple of degrees cooler with a slight breeze.

The challenge was I was not too keen on putting the generator on for the trailer a/c as the carpark was super quiet and I did not want to disturb the locals.  I should have really and I am sure they would have not minded, but respect your environment and never, and I mean never, upset your temporary neighbours.  

So here I am, sat in a random carpark in Oman sweating like a Royal Marine on a spelling test and hoping that spider I saw early does not take a fancy to me again. The good news is call to preys have been called and the carpark light has just gone out, so it is darker. Honestly I am not complaining, this is all testing the situation on the road for 247Overland.

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