Sunday 19 October

Woke up this morning to very dark clouds so decided to move near to the Syrian border. The garage owner at Messin was away (Sunday – Arabs seem to be adapting all their holidays plus many of ours) so could not get gas topped up. A very fast road to Iskendesum, past three crusader castles, two in very good condition, and camel and goat herds.

The camp site at Iskendesum was badly flooded so we decided to move on to Antakya. Stopped at Information post and was told we could camp behind the office on the grass. Before doing this we drove to the coast at Samandag – what a disappointment. A good beach really ruined – so back before dark to the “camping ground”. 

The local football match had just finished and so to a vast crowd we started to put up our tent. Such an audience! At last a man with a whistle arrived and they all vanished! And so to bed.