My attempt at Wadi Bashing

MY ATTEMPT AT WADI BASHING The lockdown has been getting to me – I had been stuck inside the house for the last few months – not going to work – not going shopping – not going to church – no more mall strolling -no more visits to our favourite Marks and Spencer! I was going crazy. I had stifled the impulse to make a break for it and just go out and to hell with everything else – however, better sense had prevailed. Better to be, as they say – six feet apart (or more) than six feet under. And then- the authorities had said “stay home” so who was I to break the rules and all that …… So yesterday – yes just yesterday, the entire lockdown was lifted, and I decided this was it. Enough of being stuck at home. I guessed that even my poor vehicle was getting bored. So, I did what I had contemplated doing for the last month or so – phoned a good friend at around two pm and asked him if he would like to go for a long drive at around four. He is quite the adventurous type and it did not take much convincing. He was up for it. (Thank you- Neville and Susan Darukhanawala for planting this seed in my head). You are always planting something or the other. So, leaving the wives back home to cook dinner, we set off down the winding mountain road to Fujairah. I had traversed this road umpteen times so knew it like the back of my hand. It was an exhilarating drive to say the very least – great car, smooth road, sun roof open , cool breeze ,not much traffic ,good company , music blaring – oh for the wide open spaces . A sudden madness overcame us as we were on the road – why don’t we try some ‘wadi bashing’ ? Now I had heard about this – had a faint idea what it was about but had never tried it before. I guess I am not the adventurous type. Maybe scared of getting lost? Got lost as a kid once - but that is another story. If you are in the Middle east or have visited one of the countries here, you would, most probably have had one of these experiences. Everyone has been wadi bashing except me! Today was the day thought I! For the uninitiated, Wadi bashing is an experience to cherish and they say, you must do it at least once. So listen to what Google says …. d “A Wadi is a dried up river bed, that exposes the natural sediment of the seasonal flowing water including rocks, tree stumps, small pools of water and mud. The seasonal flow of water and floods, as with all rivers, carves a course through rocky terrains in its bid to travel through the valley. This has been happening for thousands of years, so the process is never ending and will obviously widen and deepen and change the Wadi’s look and feel each time the process happens.” For successful wadi-bashing, you need a four-wheel drive and I was sure my Land Cruiser was up to it”. Pulling out the throttle, you race along the wadis, making a run at the dunes. Some dunes are pretty enormous & can dwarf a three-story building. Lying between them are the wadis, old water courses-extremely dry and parched for most of the year. When it rains , they flood, and men and animals parched for water have drowned in the fast flowing water The bashing isn’t when you hit the wadis but when you top the dunes, a bone-jarring experience. I was a trifle apprehensive but decided that the adventure was worth it. Turning off the road and with a little help from my trusted GPS, we were soon off the main highway and “somewhere in the desert”. The area was obviously deserted, the road rough and sloping and a trifle disconcerting. It was around five in the evening and with a few hours of daylight remaining, we were sure we would have our little adventure and get back home to a yummy dinner by around nine. Oh, to be out of the house. Started imagining I was a carefree bachelor! Soon we were face to face with a lovely little stream. Cool flowing water beckoned and seeing another few vehicle there, we stopped to take in the scenery and to obviously click some Instagram able worthy photographs! We took off our shoes, waded into the water, splashed around, chatted with the people there – plenty of laughter etc. Not one to reject a hot cup of tea – we were delighted to be offered tea and snacks from people we had met just fifteen minutes ago. That is Dubai for you. We were having a swell time. One by one the others campers left, while we went around the area clicking snaps of the setting sun, I have often imagined myself as some sort of a photographer- just wishful thinking! By around seven we decided to start the journey back, so getting into the vehicle and full of energy after the refreshing evening, we set off. Strangely in the dusk, the whole terrain suddenly looked very different. My GPS was going around in circles and somehow there was no signal. The same with our phones. Should we be worried – no. We set off climbing up the trail- it was a slow bumpy drive but comparatively safe. After around a kilometer or so, we realized that we had emerged on to flat land but had somehow mysteriously gone deeper into the desert . It was now pitch black and the only light was that of the headlights of my car. The land around was rocky with a few tumbleweeds and rough tracks before me. The arid smell of the dry baked earth coupled with the grit in my mouth did nothing to make me feel confident. It did not help that our phones were still dead. I did not know whether I was imagining it, but I hoped I was not getting dehydrated as our supply of water got over a little after we reached earlier in the evening, and we had not had a sip for the last few hours. I guess that is what inexperience does. We had not planned this well enough. Both of us were so confused and began arguing as to whose fault this was. It seemed silly to be arguing in such a situation but when you are hungry, thirsty, lost and its pitch black, arguments are bound to happen. Did I mention that I was the only one who could drive? I was racked by an insatiable thirst. This was bad and getting worse. Was I trembling? Then just before I passed out, I woke – reached for the bottle near my bedside – drank a few large sips – turned over and went to sleep again No more wadi bashing for me.