After breakfast again in the majlis we are warmed and ready to leave for the Dead Sea. As we get to the other side of the valley we cannot believe our eyes, there is snow across the fields and along the side of the road. We take the opportunity to stop, build and snowman and have a snow ball fight. It has been a while for us to see snow, nearly 3 years, except at the indoor ski slope in Emirates Mall.
It is not a long drive to the Dead Sea and we take it fairly steady, watching out and looking to see who spots the sea first. It takes us along the southern coast line where there are multiple factories. There are also many camps and a ridiculous amount of fruit and veg sellers on the route. We arrive at the location where we believe we could stay the night. It is a busy carpark along the edge of the road jutting out to what would have been the edge of the sea but this is now some 500m away down an ankle twisting slope. I had heard that the Dead Sea is shrinking and this is sad to see.
Whilst we are here we take the opportunity to walk down to the Dead Sea. Taking our swim trunks and some fresh water, the walk down is rather precarious as the crusted salt is rather sharp and uneven, so I am super careful not to crack a tow or cut a heal, as that would hurt and the salt would make it a hundred time worse. We find a quiet part of the coast line where we can enter and paddle out. The water is cold compare to the blazing warmth of the air, but we push on and the water actually feels lovey again the skin. It is everything you hear, incredible, you just float on the top and almost cannot physically sink. We mess around for a while, giggling and playing, before gathering a little salt to dry out and have for the salt mill, then as we dry on the shore, the salt encrusts us like a ancient mummy. We have never been more thankful for a hot shower on the trailer.
We decide not to stay by the sea that evening as it looked like it was not going to get any quieter as the sun set and the flies were enjoying the dozens of tourists that were coming in and out of the carpark. We head back on ourselves and head a little way back up the mountain to an iOverland spot that was recommended. We are still not sure if we missed it or never made it, but we slipped of a side road and found a new spot. The view and sunset was amazing. Below us was Tenner Dam. I do not think I ever looked down from so high over a dam. As we set up, we are then greeted by an old Bedouin sheep herder with a magnificent grey beard who lived and tendered his massive flock and pack of dogs on the side of the mountain we had parked. He was super nice and both invited us to have dinner and even stay with him and his wife in his tent, and then even suggested that we move the trailer closer to his tent se he can look out for us. We politely decline the offer to stay, but warmly agreed and thank him when he closes the gate to the road so we are not disturbed. Truly outstanding generosity and kindness shown by the Jordanian people.