Saturday 1^st November

Off early and along road noticed knocking sound from rear. At first thought it was air cleaner working loose (later discovered it was bracket sheared from torsion bar!). Onto Iraq border over very boring country and bad roads. Arriving at the Iraq border we were put in quarantine for cholera. This was a large compound with a building for people to sleep. A ridiculous set-up  Does no good because of the overcrowding and bad water.

I’m sure more trouble starts than they are trying to stop in that camp. What can you do! We had to stay for 24 hours (every other country recognises the cholera inoculation but Iran!). We met a Swiss couple, German and some Pakistanis who gave us info on changing money in Afghanistan to double the value!!

We would not sleep in the rooms or tents provided as they were dirty so put up the tent – what a mistake. It rained so hard and so strongly during the night that I twice had to re-peg the flysheet. All done by the light of vivid lightening?