On the road in Oman

The plan is to do this route. Down at the bottom there is Salalah. I tried to make it interactive buti won’t let me. Its all road but i will find a bit of gravel for fun.

I stayed 3 nights at Hubbers this is an outdoor center in Hatta camping showers and charging is complementary which is fantastic. Although the distance to the showers is a bit of a long way its just nice to be able to stay somewhere and chill. But the wind/was up to 45kmp and way too strong for me to cycle.

The afternoon of the second day Nicola turned up, he is Italian and riding a recubent, and totally immersed in to travelling, and had been at Tom’s in Abu Dhabi when I was there. So we chatted the afternoon away.

We set off at the same time but we ride at a different speed so we said our goodbyes and went our ways.

The border is about 10kms away and i was through in seconds. I had to pay AED 30 about 15 quid to leave but i was given 4 small sachets of delicious dates. The irony of getting those at ramadan just as it got light.

Tho Omani border was a breeze all so pleasant interested in my direction and all, a real joy

Then i was through and riding. Somehow i had accumulated lots of food and water at Hubbers that was in my rucksack cutting heavily into my shoulders. The road was pretty up and down sequences of 12/13/14/15% gradients it was tiring. Then at the bottom of one of the valleys there was water flowing, i squeezed the brakes (those shimano GRX brakes are spectacular) and slowed to a snails pace. But slime got my tire and i found myself arse down in the water bike on top of me.

New levers now not looking new any more.

Ramadan is upon us and so no eating during daylight hours. Well at least in sight. I hadn’t had a coffee this morning so at about 10 i was feeling weary so i cycled into a gully out of sight of anyone and in the shade, i fired up a coffee then lay for 30 mins.

One of the thing i had been given was a kilo of dates. The only way to eat is to bite into, avoiding the pips.

I felt a bit more chipper after my snack.

The scenery changed from mountains to flat desert.

With an intermittent back wind i made fantastic headway and by 2 o’clock i could see Al Buraimi. I got to the hotel, went to the wrong entrance and when i did eventually find reception the guy didnt speak English but seemingly had no idea about what to do. Then inspiration hit him and he called a guy from the next room who sorted everything in seconds. Im really a bit grumpy when i arrive hot and tired. Anyway settled in, bike in room. Expensive but normal for here.