Day 9 Spirit of Douglas Sector 2

To the Land of the Two Holy Mosques

On the Cairo motorway to October 6 Airport for our early morning flight. The same stretch of road that felt overwhelming two days ago now seems more familiar, though still chaotic to my untrained eye. It’s surprising how quickly humans adjust to new surroundings.

After loading, checks and take-off, we were again in luck. Our flight path to Hurghada took us near the Giza pyramids. Cameras and phones clicked furiously. Tracking south, the step pyramid of Djoser appeared in the distance, the oldest known large-cut stone construction in the world, dating to the 27th century BC.

Cairo soon gave way to desert, then beautifully folded hills. Settling into the rhythm of the flight, we approached Hurghada, framed by rugged hills and the Red Sea, a hotspot for diving.

After refuelling and clearing customs, we grabbed a quick lunch on the go and were wheels up, bound for Saudi Arabia.

Crossing the Red Sea, land finally emerged beneath the haze and cloud as we entered the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Spirit of Douglas flew on at 11,000 feet above extraordinary mountain and valley systems. Range after range, the terrain baked brown by the Arabian sun. The soft light gave a wonderful sheen to the worn, folded peaks. Hills gave way to green natural reserves, then back to desert. As the sun set, the ground burned red. It was a stunning sight.

We descended into the darkness of Riyadh. A new journey for all of us, except Gregory, who has been here before.Happy to say that Spirit of Douglas performed beautifully today.

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