6,500 Kilometres through Libya

[Kuno]

...I have just come back from a fascinating 3 weeks trip through the desert of Libya and would like to show a few impressions, concentrating to the several truck wrecks we had found

[Kuno]

Our supply truck

[Kuno]

...and a bullet riddled wreck of a CMP

[Kuno]

The supply truck in tow through the soft sands due to radiator problems and constant overheating

[Kuno]

"not so easy going" in a huge field of sharp stones

[Kuno]

Another CMP which did not make it home - lost n a supply route of the LRDG.

[Kuno]

The endless dune ridges of the Calansho-Sandsea

[Kuno]

...and crossing them

[Kuno]

Stucked in soft sand

[Kuno]

Looking down....

[Kuno]

And a FORD wreck.

Anybody having a clue, what this could be? The cab stripped down & doors removed. Also brackets for sand ladders....

...and LRDG-patrol vehicle?

Have never seen a reference where the LRDG was using such FORD.

...and it had a "roundel" on the hood; looked like "RAF"

[Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP)]

Excellent photographs, Kuno, thank you. Any chance of getting a nice story to go along with them? I'm sure many here would be interested to hear details of your trek!

Jif

[Kuno]

Hi Goeff; will prepare a short "diary" - but after 3 weeks of absence from the job such will take a little bit of time....

[Kuno]

...have "cancelled" the diary and started planning for the next trip

[Tony Smith]

Kuno, may I ask a question? Libya has recently re-opened it's borders to tourists, but only it seems for those tourists on organised tours. Free roaming does not seem to be readily accepted yet for independant travellers. We have seen your tantalising pictures from many visits to Libya, both here and published in books (Barce raid, for one). Can I ask, do you travel with an organised operator, or do you yourself organise these tours? If you organise these trips, or know of an operator that conducts trips with a "wartime" interest, perhaps it might be of interest to make that information known here on MLU.

[Kuno]

Hi Tony; the truth is a little bit a mix of all your assumptions. Since I am interested in the country, the desert and naturally as well in the desert war - what else than to discover it. Most of the kilometres driven were without any organization, even alone (and with just a normal personal car ) but in the meantime I could share my knowledge to other interested people several times and have organized such tours. I will not do it as my profession but only if it is of interest for me as well and if it is not already covered by "normal" tralel agencies (Libyan and other ones). About 9 years of chasing of the traces of the desert war ...and still... there are always some rumors about another wreck etc....

However; if other people come for a tour with me, then I ask for the services of a local travel agency as well; just to not have the hassle of organizing the trucks and getting the permissions etc.

You have asked for the website (in German language):

www.watani-travel.com

And this is "my space" on this site:

http://www.watani.ch/index.php?optio...d=15&Itemid=46

Do not bother about the German language (only one of the brochures is in English)... they understand English & Arabicas well (and I am also available for translation).

As a tourist, you hardly have the chance to enter the country without an invitation of a travel agency and then followed by the company of one of the travel agency for the whole trip. This is the rule - I cannot change it

[zemsi]

Originally posted by Kuno

You have asked for the website (in German language):

www.watani.travel.com

... think that's the correct link:
www.watani-travel.com

[Kuno]

Danke Zemsi! Have corrected it

[Kuno]

So; after a long planning period and running for permissions, I have the chance again to "drive out there". Temperatures are forecasted to be slightly about 40 degree in average and the longest distance between two fuel stations is about 1'300kms. Hope that all will run well and as foreseen (and that I can bring back at least some pics of lost trucks - hopefully not one of ours!). The route will not strictly follow the traces of the LRDG (and their Italian oponent) but the LRDG will be our "main topic". First of all we want to verify the conclusions and "new information" we got during the research for our book and in addition we hope to see a TV docu about the LRDG and our journey soon...

[Kuno]

Done :-)

Temperatures went up to 51 degree centigrade. On engine, one raditor and one gearbx have left us and two people got problems with the heat. Fuel stations closed. Short on water. 2 out 3 days were enriched wth "sandy air" and the route had to be changed several times - but finally we got all what we want; the filmcrew is very happy and Brendan O'Carroll even more. Need some rest and will post then a short overview about the trip here...

(And: one of the New Zealanders could explain to me what "Vegemite" is!)

[Mike K]

Originally Posted by Kuno

(And: one of the New Zealanders could explain to me what "Vegemite" is!)

Dont ever ask a kiwi about vegemite .. you will get a rude answer , something to do with how thay pronounce 'vowels'

Mike

[Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP)]

Originally Posted by Kuno

Done :-)
(And: one of the New Zealanders could explain to me what "Vegemite" is!)

Vegemite is Australian, not Kiwi... and if you do a search for the word here you'll get 141 threads which mention it. Have fun! Don't say I didn't warn you...

BTW, we look forward to seeing your pics and hearing about your trek!

[Kuno]

The Kiwis have mentioned that the Australians use / eat Vegemite as well. BtW. I told them the joke about the female Gorilla in the Melbourne Zoo :witch

[Tony Smith]

Originally Posted by Geoff Winnington-Ball

Vegemite is Australian, not Kiwi... and if you do a search for the word here you'll get 141 threads which mention it.

Vegemite IS Australian, New Zealand has it's own spread, which REALLY IS an acquired taste:

[Tony Smith]

Originally Posted by Tony Smith

New Zealand has it's own spread..

Sorry, wrong pic!

[cliff]

yes and Marmite is far, far better then vegemite as well!

[Kuno]

Please allow me to set a link to my "home forum" regarding the short report about the recent journey - just to avoid to post everything again.

http://www.afrika-korps.co.uk/forum/...pic.php?t=4426

Will come up again with two separate posts about the wrecks of two trucks later then.

[Howard]

Hold On there Cliffy~ You have opened a can of worms there!!! I vote Vegemite. I think it is the Brewer's yeast connection thing that gives Vmite the edge...
So...
Marmite 1
Vegemite 1

Originally Posted by cliff

yes and Marmite is far, far better then vegemite as well!

[sapper740]

Originally Posted by Kuno

The Kiwis have mentioned that the Australians use / eat Vegemite as well. BtW. I told them the joke about the female Gorilla in the Melbourne Zoo :witch

My one experience with Vegemite happened, in all places, Petra, Jordan. I stopped for a cold (and very expensive!) beer at the one and only watering hole in Wadi Mosa, one of two concessions to we Infidels. (The other concession: flush loos.) I joined the only other Westerners, a delightful couple from Australia at their table and during the course of the conversation mentioned that I had never tasted Vegemite. Quicker than you can say "G'day mate!" she whipped a jar out of her purse and presented me with my first taste of that marvellous stuff. Do all Ozzies travel with Vegemite always close at hand? Derek.


P.S. Pray tell, what is the joke about the female Gorilla at the zoo?

[Kuno]

The Gorilla-Joke is to be found here in the "Seargants Mess" in the thread "Some Funnies"...