Wednesday 29^th  October

Woke up at 7.00 to finish packing car. The Brigadier sent someone to collect our visas (we had visions of a midday start) and so at about 8.30 we left Amman led by Mohammed and Christina (they showed us to the outskirts – there’s no map so it’s impossible for a stranger to find his way – all names in Arabic).

Passed about three police checkpoints onto the out pipeline road leading to Baghdad. This just stretches for miles and miles in a near straight line. Over the border without too much trouble and in to the Iraq check point of Rutba (about 70 miles between customs ports).

A bad diversion around the pumping station of H3 to avoid army camp (17kms of sand and gravel). The Iraqis were the first to open all cases – what a bother.

We camped in the gardens of the Government Rest House (charge 350 riyals – tried to change 1 dinar – worth it as we used the wash room and toilets – Arab hotel charge 200 riyals per person, but will start bargaining at a dinar!!). Early to bed as we have lost one hour in time, heard the radio news [still clear on medium wave] and the tensions seems to be lessening in the Middle East now we have left!