Timolgra made me do it

[Richeyroo]

So the motivation for this ride came from reading Timolgras wet and windy ride around North Wales. He had just gone out for the day on his bike, for no reason other than he really wanted to ride his bike that day. And where he was, it was cold, wet and raining. And where I am, it is lovely and warm, always dry and very sunny.

I had to get out on my bike again, it had lingered in the garage too long

The beast awakens :rofl a mighty DR650 (albeit with a big tank and pumper carb )



An extensive, professional roadbook is produced



the breakfast of champions is consumed



and soon I'm leaving the cultured, manicured surrounds of Muscat in the Sultanate of Oman behind

 

[Richeyroo]

I want to go to the top of here

 

[Richeyroo]

So where in the world are we ?????

Right here....on the right hand side of the Middle East just below Iran and next door to Yemen




seemingly amongst all of the bad guys in the world 1

But in reality Omanis are amongst the most friendly and polite and respectful people in the world. Their hospitality to travellers is legendary and after a long period cut off from the outside world, they are opening up to tourism. That means sadly that things will change in the future but for the moment they are the nicest people in the world

 

[Richeyroo]

Quite often weekend trips for off road bikers in Oman involve this



and a CRF450X



but today it's the turn of the DR650

 

[Timolgra]

I want to go to the top of here

Bring it on ya lucky bastard!

 

[Richeyroo]

I have recently been reading a book about the 1924 expedition to climb Mount Everest with Irving and Mallory. Epic stuff. Hobnail boots, woolley hat. When it got cold, they put on an extra jumper.

Following in their fine tradition, I am heading up to about 5500 feet today so feel an extra jumper might be necessary.


I don't do ATGATT. Jeans, t-shirt, (jumper if it's cold) open face lid. I find it more friendly when passing through Omani villages to travel this way, and it encourages slow speed. Desert stuff on the CRF means full bdy armour, this sort of trip is relaxed

And so suitably attired, your correspondent hits the road




And heads for the hills

 

[Richeyroo]

I'm heaing into Jebel Akhdar through Wadi Satan (Akhdar means green in Arabic)

The riding is smooth and fun and not a car in sight for miles







The lowlands get a bit of rain, in a mostly arid country and with some cunning irrigation, there is a surprising amount of agriculture here - pomegranates, apricot, peach, walnuts







And here is where I want to end up in the village of Yasib




So up we go up, up, up

 

[earthmover]

More!
Mark

 

[Nutty]

Did you take a cameraman with you?

 

[Reporter]

Don't stop now !! We need more

 

[Richeyroo]

There are many, many hairpin bends




This sign (of which there are many varieties on the side of the road) says Alham Du'Allah (Praise be to God) Given the nature of the road ahead, which you can see just above the sign, I'll take spiritual help, even as a Christian guest



Oddly, it is warm work this rding up the side of a mountain, so the brown jumper is discarded, and refreshments taken




Occasional glimpses below give a beautiful view of Wadis (river beds)



and then looking in the other direction shows the route taken so far

 

[Richeyroo]

Did you take a cameraman with you?

yeah Claudio whatisname. And a support truck. Fixers in the UK and at every bend. Oh no, hold on. My bad , I just got on my bike and rode it

 

[Richeyroo]

Don't stop now !! We need more

I wish I could but my Photobucket has just gone tits up

 

[Paul G (BHT)]

Stunning images there Richey

Until now when I used to visualise Oman I just saw..... sand, sand and more sand.

 

[Richeyroo]

Thanks for that. I ought to post a lot more about biking in Oman - it's a beautiful country with amazingly friendly people

SOme of our other rides have been documented on this website www.rideoman.com but that is a lot about sand !

I'll try and post a lot more in the future, like this place nearer the coast at a place called Tiwi where there is a 5km plain from the sea then a vertical rise of 4000ft onto the plateau. Another good ride (although I ran out of petrol, hence the big Acerbis tank nowadays!)




But I'll try and finish this report first

 

[Richeyroo]

To get to the top I had to go deeper into the mountains



and still kep going up



but it's a nice view at the top - No Giftshop or carpark though, sadly

 

[Richeyroo]

I thought that was pretty much my day over, as there is no known route down the other side of the mountain

However, as I started my desecent, I saw a trail on the mountain range on the other side of the divide

I think you can see it on the right hand side of this pic, squirreling up the side of the mountain. I could tell from my GPS that home was approximately in that direction, I'd previously filled my tank full to the brim with 20 litres (ahem, about 3 quid - the red bull and snickers cost more than the petrol did) and so I did more exploring

 

[Richeyroo]

I prefer going up to going down

Up = rear wheel sliding

Down = front wheel sliding

I should probably have rolled my sleeves down for extra protection

 

[Richeyroo]

All good

 

[Kritou]

http://s265.photobucket.com/user/bewdleybiker/media/P1030608.jpg.html




This is a cracking shot - how did you compose and shoot it - I note the dust at your rear tyre and what might be some sort of support under the right handlebar?