Simon and I went camping last weekend.  We camped in the same place we’ve camped many times before.  It’s easy to get to, which makes for a relaxed camping trip.

ONE TIME we went camping and I was driving my Ford Escape (cute, but not a 4x4) to this place we had never been that was listed in the UAE/Oman Off-Road book we have.  Despite the name of the book, this was not supposed to be an off-road camping location.  We drove up some dirt mountain roads for awhile, looking for a place to set up camp.  

Then we started driving down this downhill dirt road when we noticed that it looked like it recently rained and the road was rocky.  And by “rocky”, I mean “had giant boulders jutting out of the damp dirt”.  We accessed the situation.  Simon walked down the bouldery dirt track to determine how bad it was.

We decided it was “only 100 meters” (like I even know how long 100 meters is) and the “rocks” “weren’t that bad”.  

Big mistake.  I had only driven a few meters (I guess?) down Death Road (as I refer to it nowadays), when…

Wait, I didn’t mention that one side of this only-wide-enough-for-one-car-at-a-time road hugged the mountain, and the other side of the road hugged nothing.  Like, there was the edge of the mountain- and then nothing.  Not even a half-assed guardrail.  

I really wish I could tell this story better, I’m sorry.

So I started driving down this “not that bad” boulder road and the first rock I try to drive over scrapes the bottom of the “SUV” in that horrible sounding, did-we-just-puncture-something-important type of way.  The Escape then SLAMMED down onto more rocks as it came off the other side of that first boulder.  

Simon was out of the vehicle, attempting to guide me down, but after that first KACLUNK, I put the emergency break on and was shaking and slid over to the passenger seat so Simon could take over.  

I swear I held my breath the entire time Simon maneuvered us down Death Road.  It was scary.  Really scary.  

Simon got us through, but it was really hard to relax and have a nice time camping after that. 

That’s the biggest smile I could muster after Death Road.

It’s a shame, really, because that camping spot was beautiful.

If only I could be more like Beesly and forget all about Death Road as soon as Death Road ends.

I think it’s understandable why we sometimes opt out of being adventurous and trying new camping locations.  The last thing you want after a stressful week is Death Road. 

Plus, I think our regular camping spot is just perfect.

There’s also the smoothest truck road ever about 1.5 miles from where we camp, which is fun for biking!

And for spotting three running donkeys!

(They’re crossing the road if you can’t tell.)

Sometimes it’s just nice to be outside and cook steaks (and potatoes and green beans and mushrooms) over the fire.

The only bad part of our camping trip?  The freaking FLIES!

They’ve never been this bad before.  Luckily they were gone by nightfall so we only had to complain about them for a few hours.  We ate our lunch while walking around swiftly so they had a harder time landing on our sandwiches.  

We must have looked like weirdos…

Good thing we were camping!  Because no one could see us!  Ha-ha-ha-ha…