It had been a short night. We’d arrived at camp well after dark, with the focus on getting the camels to rest, changing out of our riding clothes, cleaning up any injuries, and getting some sleep. No sooner had my head hit the bag I was using as a pillow than my alarm was sounding in the pitch dark at 0600.

Craig and I had surveyed the first five legs of the route the previous December, following our rider training in Tabuk. I remember vividly standing at the chosen location for Camp 5, staring at the ridgeline across a dried-up riverbed, and saying, “I hope to Christ we can find a way through that”.

On day six, I woke slightly before my alarm, which was set for 0600. Despite the cold of the night, I’d been cosy.

Simon packed up camp.

We navigated by rock pillars.

And yes - there’s a volcano we nicknamed Big-Boob Mountain.

What more do you need?

Craig’s camel bit Shagra.

Shagra (mine) bolted. The rest followed.

Day one of the trek and we were already 10km over our planned distance.