I am up early as I cannot sleep as I have a slight head cold. At 6:30 AM we pack up our tent and bags and get ready for breakfast at 7:00AM. We then pack up the camp site and get ready to leave on our long drive south to and through the Western Sahara. We fill up the water tank as water will not be available for the next few days until we get to Dakhla. Water management will need to improve as what we have needs to be conserved so that we do not run out.
After departing the camp site at 8:10 AM, we first head into town where the next three cook groups shop for food. We wander around town, stopping in a cafe for mint tea and writing some postcards. We leave town at 10:20 AM. We stop for lunch by the road side at 12:30 PM, and are off again by 1:30 PM.
The drive today is initially along the coast. We then move inland and travel through the hills. We had a few amusing sights today, including goats in trees eating (the leaves) and a small car transporting a camel in the back. It was one of the small Renaults, and we only noticed when the camel shifted around, the car bounced up and down and swerved a few times and the camel then stuck his head out the window (just like a dog). We do not know how he got the camel in.
At 5:30 PM we head off the main road to look for a camp site. We find a fairly suitable spot, but there are lots of rocks. Before we can set-up our tent, we have to clear quite a few rocks from the ground (now we have an idea what is like for the local people to clear their fields for planting). While setting up our tent, some one walks up and offers to be our guardian, but he is politely declined.
The temperature drops quite significantly and with a strong wind, it is very cold. We are glad for our fleeces and wind breakers. We have dinner at 8:30 PM, just as the (almost full) moon is rising over the hills. The sky is clear and you can see quite a lot in the moon light. Other than the cold, it is a wonderful night to enjoy.