Crossing the Empty Quarter #2

Three months on...........mission accomplished.
I got home one week ago after a successful expedition through the Empty Quarter from Salalah in Oman to Doha in Qatar. The journey took 49 days - starting on 10th December (the same date Bertram Thomas started 85 years ago) and ending on 27th January 2016.
Although I was only a member of the Support Team, it was a busy time some days. Responsibilities included support vehicle driver, photographer, quartermaster, medic, money man.
The walking team stuck to their knitting and averaged 26-27 kms per day throughout the 1300 km journey. We started with 4 camels and finished with 3 - the 4th was red-carded after about the 10th day and sent back to bootcamp because of bad behaviour. The support vehicles performed well throughout the entire journey, and although they got stuck on multiple occasions, the drivers were able to extricate their vehicles without support - a pretty good performance considering the terrain.
In total I captured ~4300 images. I have now whittled these down to ~250 for use in lectures, expedition book, etc.

The walking team deep in the Rub Al Khali

The Oman - Saudi Arabia border

Sand Boa - the only snake we saw

First steps on a moody day

New moon in southern Oman

The only arrowhead found despite extensive searching

Riding through the sabkha at the northern limit of the Rub Al Khali

Typical terrain the middle section of the Rub Al Khali

Only ever seen in January - the Southern Cross and the Pointers - at dawn

I will post a further eight images in a day or two. I don't want you to have all the fun at once!!