12/12/2023
Chasing Desert Ghosts Expedition done and dusty...literally!
PPE completed another Sahara expedition in November 2023 covering some new terrain and having some planned and unplanned adventures!
This year we attempted to push further into the Great Sand Sea and really test ourselves against the dunes. Later, we attempted to cross the rocky plains, heading east towards the coastal mountains to search for historic sites related to the NZ Division in 1943. Our progress was halted however when we were hauled into a military garrison and politely informed we were in a restricted military zone. The soldiers treated us well and we had some laughs until finally sent on our way with a warning to stay clear of the restricted areas...which unfortunately are not marked on any maps! Good luck!
We had some new vehicles and crews this year including another Lightweight and a hybrid Disco/Lightweight. We were also joined by an almost fully kitted out WMIK (decommissioned guns and some armor removed) which did surprisingly well, even in the deep sand. New crew member Mick Doherty also brought along his 90, which is famous for climbing Ben Nevis with Mick at the wheel while he was serving with the Parachute Regiment.
We found more relics from WWII including more jerry cans and a Tommy gun magazine, along with more Vickers rotary magazines, bullets, vehicle parts, bully beef tins and the usual detritus of war.
Probably most interesting, one of our members, Bill, built a number of Bagnold sun compasses which we learned to use while navigating across the desert. The crews found them easy to operate once they had a bit of practice and we will certainly use them again in the future. Check out Travelbag Photography's Youtube video showing them in use.
Next for us is a short winter break while we all try to get the sand out of our trucks and gear before a pub meet in February to plan the next desert caper.
Cheers All!