DAY 72 - 78 THE WESTERN DESERT What a week...we had the most fantastic time driving through the Western Libyan Desert. Highlights included bushcamping in the White Desert, where we were totally alone in the most incredible landscape; visiting the remote oasis towns where children were fascinated in us; driving in the sand dunes near Dakhla (and getting stuck!) and having a dip in natural hot springs in the oasis'. It was wonderful to be out of the hussle and bussle of Cairo and to be bushcamping on our own - not only a peaceful experience but great for the budget too! The dune driving in the Western/Libyan desert has been amazing. It has been real English Patient stuff - sand dunes, stars, oasis', hot springs, cave paintings - the whole lot! We plotted a coarse in the direction of the Gilf Kabir (the Cave of Swimmers, made famous by The English Patient), but sadly we didn't have enough fuel or water supplies to complete the 8 day round trip in the desert. Instead we made do with sitting in amongst the incredbible landscapes of the white dersert and the Dakhla dunes, reading trashy novels and soaking up the desert atmosphere. The sand ladders got more action as we got bogged down again in soft sand but it all added to the adverturous experience. Given the chance we would love to return to the Western/Libyan Desert for a serious trans-saharan expedition. We may have to wait about 20 years until the funds will allow for it, but we are sure the desert will still be there in a 20 years time! Next onto Luxor, Aswan, and the famous temple of Abu Simbel on the Sudanese border.